Allegheny Passage: Ohiopyle to Confluence

My husband and I recently took a staycation. (For those of you with more bountiful vacation funds, a staycation is a vacation from work where you don't really go anywhere). To decide what we would do on our staycation, I had the idea to jot ideas onto scraps of paper and draw them out of a hat. Biking from Ohiopyle to Confluence was Matt's idea, and it was definitely a good one. Here's why.

The trail is part of the Allegheny Passage, part of a trail system that that connects Pittsburgh to DC, or so Wikipedia says. (I doubt I'll ever validate this fact by riding the whole distance, so we'll trust the online encyclopedia for now.)

At Ohiopyle, we began at the train station, which, if you're familiar with the area, is in the little town of Ohiopyle proper near the bike rental shops and restaurants. It's a good place to begin because there are restrooms and you can grab a drink or a snack at one of the restaurants before you embark. There are maps in the train station building, and a gentleman there directed us in the direction of Confluence--NOT across the bridge, which looked like a fun ride--and explained that it was 10 miles to another bridge, one leading into the town.

It was a steady uphill climb, which made sense considering the trail ran parallel to the Youghiogheny River and the river flows from Confluence to Ohiopyle, not the other way around. It was work, and it was a hot day. We were shaded for nearly all of the ride, so the weather was tolerable.

At the 10-mile mark, the trail indeed led us over a footbridge, then through a residential area. A BBQ place beckoned to my husband, but I wasn't ready. I wanted to explore some more!

We took another bridge over yet another waterway, eventually finding a sign and a map for the area. We walked the town square, but not much was open on a Monday. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a tourist community--at its best it's a very small town. But it's charming, the kind of small town that can be either painfully or peacefully quiet, depending on your mood.

After parking our bikes at a bike rack we stepped into the bike shop/antique store that welcomes trail riders in need of an emergency part or an allen wrench. They even sell bikes.

Another boon to cyclists on the Allegheny Passage there are plenty of homes people have opened up to the public as bed and breakfasts or guest houses. It was at one of these bed and breakfasts where we wanted to have lunch on the river, but alas it's closed on Mondays. (Remember, think small town, not honeymoon destination, when considering these guest houses.)

If you're looking for a new place to ride, or want to get away from your usual local parks, try this ride. I would advise against going on a weekend, because I'd estimate we passed 30 people in 10 miles, which seemed to be a lot for a weekday. The distance is comfortable for novice cyclists and it fits comfortably within one day's activities. Check out the photos below to get a peek at the trail.

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TRAIL RATINGS
Distance: A little over 20 miles round trip

Direction: SE

Grade: No data

Traffic Density: No data

Trail Composition: 100% limestone

Scenery: 5
Bathrooms: Plenty at both ends of the trail
Bathroom Quality: 3

Bike Rental Available: Yes

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Frick Park

This was supposed to be the season's first Rides, then Writes ride. It proved to be an unsuccessful ride for me, only a novice cyclist, but I hope it proves to be a worthwhile blog post!

I'd heard my pastor, Jay, a BMX biker, speak of Frick Park and its bike trails. His BMX reputation, and the fact that only days before I'd seen him stoke a fire with his boot, should have been enough to make me realize that there are differences between my cycling skills and his.

It was the warmest day this spring, in the 80s, when my husband and I decided to try out Frick Park. Though I'm a native Pittsburgher, I know very little about the city neighborhoods, so I had never been there and enjoyed finding our way through Squirrel Hill to the park.

We entered at the Frick Park Nature Center on Beechview Boulevard. We pedaled to the first trail we could find, a steep, windy one made of small pebbles, leaves, and other nature trail debris. The trail wrapped around the hillside before rising up on the other side to overlook a highway.

And just like that, the trail had ended. Back to where we began. If not for our struggle up the hill we'd have been done in 10 minutes!

Craving more adventure, my husband found a park map. It was a network of trails that branched out in all directions. We'd seen them diverge as we rode, so we sought the one Jay recommended, which meant retracing our steps down the hill we had just climbed. I must have been riding too fast, because my back tire slipped on the dead leaves and I had to catch myself before losing traction and slipping off the path.

When we reached a fork, we saw that the the trail we needed to take was a donkey path through the Grand Canyon. Admitting this course was more for mountain bikers, we sought an alternative--Braddock Trail, which looked to be more flat. We found it and rode a ways before encountering steps, further proof we were in unfamiliar, unpredictable territory! We headed back to the car with plans to ride at North Park next time.

Frick Park, clearly, is a beautiful place to spend the day. I love to hike, and certainly would have enjoyed walking the trails. We'll definitely be back for a picnic or a walk in the woods--I'd love to see what's down that steep, breakneck trail we avoided!

Thanks for the tip, Jay, but we just aren't that experienced yet! : )

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TRAIL RATINGS
Distance: Variable
Direction: Variable
Grade: Variable
Traffic Density: No data
Trail Composition: 40% dirt and leaves, 40% pebbles and rock, 20% asphalt pavement
Scenery: 4 for the woodsy views and picturesque neighborhoods
Bathrooms: Encountered only 1, but I'm sure there were more.
Bathroom Quality: N/A
Bike Rental Available: No data
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Points to note: This park is NOT family biking-friendly--portions of the trail are only accessible by sidewalks that flank major roadways; parts of the trail are too steep and paths too precarious for child cyclists.

Panhandle Trail: Midway to Burgettstown

Last time I rode the Panhandle Trail I ended my ride at Midway, disappointed that I'd have to save the what lied beyond the picturesque hills for another time. But that other time was today.

I discovered I can use my Garmin to monitor my speed, distance, and elevation. What a surprise! (My husband mocks me for this, but I really am excited I can use it this way.) I brought it along for the ride.

It was a beautiful fall day after a week of rain and cold weather. In just two weeks the landscape had brightened--saturated, even--and there were already more leaves on the ground.

The trail started off a slight incline of 1.4%, parting two hillsides. After that, more hillside and a smooth ride downhill (less than .3%).

This ride was much quieter than previous portions of the Panhandle Trail--I only passed 7 people the whole way out. It was so quiet, in fact, that a praying mantis felt totally comfortable spending the afternoon smackdab in the middle of the path. I snapped a few photos before he dragged his long body into the brush, safe from an approaching cyclist (I hope).

After passing through Bulger I picked up speed. It wasn't because I had eaten a big breakfast, but because the trail had begun a gentle descent.

This portion of the rail trail feels more small-town with each passing train stop. Backyards have tractors instead of trampolines and at times bare hillsides roll up and over the treeline. The feeling continues until passing over Rt. 18 into Burgettstown.

There I made a stopoff and explored what was nearby: a bank, a gas station, a small flea market auction house (still no room for a vanity mirror), a hardware store, and a landscape supply business. If I were taking a longer trip, this would have been the perfect place to take a break for an hour.

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TRAIL RATINGS

Distance: 5.3 miles

Direction: west

Grade: .3% downhill overall

Traffic Density: 1.3 people/mile
Trail Composition: 99% crushed limestone, 1% sand

Scenery: 3.75

Bathrooms: 3, all outhouses

Bathroom Quality: 1 - no hand sanitizer

Bike Rental Available: none

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Points to note: This segment of the Panhandle Trail is definitely less family-friendly because there are no benches or water fountains. It's a little more remote.

The Panhandle Trail: Sturgeon to Midway

After riding west from Rennerdale to Sturgeon, I figured I'd try to make it a little further to Joffree. I wanted to see if the trail connecter I mentioned in my previous post was finished. If so the entire length of this Pittsburgh bike trail would total 29 miles.

This time again I began at Rennerdale, but since I've already rated that portion of the trail, I'll only review Sturgeon to Midway.

This ride feels significantly less uphill than Rennerdale to Sturgeon, although it's just as straight. I estimate it's around 8 miles between the Sturgeon and Midway trail stations, but I can't say for sure without an odometer.

As for smoothness, this portion is a little lacking. It starts out as smooth crushed limestone, but just before crossing through McDonald the path turns into cinders and gravel; unfortunately that trail surface lasts nearly one uncomfortable mile. (Like I said before I opted for a fitness bike without shocks.)

Despite the rough ride, McDonald could be a quaint diversion; I thought about stopping off there to see if there were any antique shops (I'm on a quest for as many vanity trays as I can find), but I decided to keep riding. It looks like there are some shops to explore and streets to walk if you need a break; the first one on the left in this photo is a consignment store. There's also the McDonald Trail Station, offering historical information. Learn more about it here.

Just as the bike trail transitions back to crushed limestone on its perpetual straightaway west, it runs under the McDonald Trestle. Despite its strength and size, it's just a footbridge for the Montour Trail which crosses here. Further along there's an interchange you can use to get on the Montour Trail and take in the view from above.

Eventually the landscape changes. Cattails replace goldenrod and the trail opens up a bit. The towns are growing quieter. In Midway a church steeple points to the sky. The trail takes the high road above the streets and I can see this town seems the smallest yet. There are fewer other riders on the trail, as if the remoteness suggests a certain seriousness or dedication. There were so few, even, that I even passed a pheasant in the brush.

When I saw this vista, hillsides cleaved by Pittsburgh's Panhandle Trail, I knew I'd gone a long way today. I didn't make it to Joffree, and I won't know what's ahead until next time.
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TRAIL RATINGS
Distance: approx. 4-5 miles
Direction: west
Traffic Density: 3.33 people/mile
Trail Composition: 90% crushed limestone, 10% cinders/gravel
Scenery: 3.75
Bathroom Frequency: 1
Bathroom Quality: n/a
Bike Rental Available: None
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Overall Assessment: It's difficult to assess this length of trail. For me, less desirable riding conditions are counterbalanced by the peacefullness of the ride around Midway. It might be difficult to ride with children because there are fewer bathrooms and fountains. In fact, I could tell only the more serious cyclists were on this part of the trail. For a quick, out-and-back ride I recommend Rennerdale to Sturgeon.

Panhandle Trail: Rennerdale to Sturgeon

The Panhandle Trail runs from Walker's Mill Station (Collier Twp.) to Joffree. One trail map shows a planned trail beyond Joffre connecting the first half of the trail to the second half, but by now it might be complete. If so, the whole length of the trail takes nearly a straight shot into Burgettstown for a total of 29 miles.

I started at Rennerdale, a small, quiet town near Robinson. There are two points of entry at Rennerdale; I always take the one off of Noblestown at the crook of a tight bend.

For most of the distance the trail is about 8 ft. wide--plenty of room for two riders to pass each other without either having to move to the shoulder. It's a smooth ride on crushed limestone except at road crossings where it gets a bit bumpy. Right before Oakdale it's evident that this was once a train route: there's plenty of gravel and cinders to me wish I'd bought a bike with shocks.

But the fact that the Panhandle trail was laid on former railroad property means the ride is flat--the whole way, actually. Makes sense because the steeper the hill, the less weight a train on this line could have carried. According to a map at the Sturgeon Station, between any two rest areas the % grade maxes out at just 1%. The incline is hardly enough to detect until the ride seems suddenly easy on the way back to the car.

Besides the trail map, Sturgeon has a few other assets for bicyclists. There are permanent men's and women's restrooms, a water fountain, drink machines, and a pavillion. There's even a deli/pizza shop where you can stop for ice cream, probably a favorite a spot for the many parents and kids I passed.


It's the middle of September and this trail fits perfectly into an Indian summer day. The leaves are just starting to change, and goldenrod grows among tall grasses and new sycamore trees. Small yellow butterflies flitter about, sometimes difficult to distinguish from the few falling leaves that have already loosened from their branches.

I like this ride because it's a straight shot, the scenery is nice, and the former railroad towns along the way have character and charm. I imagine living there, where life is quiet and the only thing between me and a relaxing bike ride is a patch of tall grass.

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TRAIL RATINGS

Traffic Density: 4.25 people/mile

Direction: west

Trail Composition: 95% crushed limestone, 5% gravel/cinders

Scenery: 3.5

Grade: 1% max

Bathroom Frequency: 3

Bathroom Cleanliness: 3

Bike Rental Available: no

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Biking Beginnings

I'll admit it-- I'm new to biking.

If you are, too, or you just want to find some good bike trails in and around Western PA, I write for you.

We're the not-so-serious ones whose afternoon rides fall comfortably between coasting through the neighborhood and taking 2-day journeys into West Virginia and back. (I said comfortably.)

But we still need to know where the good trails are. That's why I'll ride 'em, rate 'em, then write about 'em.

Enjoy!