Sunshine splashed on the subtly changing leaves as the warm breeze, rich with the scents of autumn, pushed against me gently. At this time of year that breeze could bite, but summer’s touchlingered still along the rail-trail.
This mild October has been a blessing to bicyclists, many of whom normally would’ve parked their bikes for the season by this time. But regional rail-trail activity is winding down for another year.
However, trail operators and developers are gearing up for trail developments to come. Riding season is giving way to planning season, and at least two of our region’s trails should see sizable extensions in early 2017.
The Ghost Town Trail is continuing its evolution intoa trail network. Currently, its principal trail runs for 32 miles up the western flank of the Allegheny Front from Saylor Park in Black Lick, Indiana County, to Ebensburg in Cambria County.
There also is a relatively short, 4-mile spur called the Rexis Branch that splits off just west of Vintondale and climbsalong the North Branch of Blacklick Creek to U.S. Route 422, where it currently ends. Next spring the Rexis Branch will grow another nine miles.
This will be an important extension for two reasons. First, because it will offer a new riding option for bicyclists – and bicyclists love options. They’ll be able to park at Vintondale and decide whether to ride east to Ebensburg (26 miles out and back), west to Saylor Park (36 miles out and back) or 26 miles out-and-back on the Rexis Branch.
Not only will this extension add significant mileage, but it will bring the Ghost Town Trail system to within seven miles offering a complete 30-mile loop from trailheads at Vintondale and Nanty Glo. And if there’s anything that bicyclists love more than options, it’s a loop ride that brings them back to their vehicles without having to backtrack.
Another regional trail, preparing for a significant extension,is the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, which currently begins in Saltsburg and extends for nine miles southwest to Delmont. Construction of another 5.9-mile section from Trafford to Murrysville should happen next spring.
For awhile, that will be an isolated section, unconnected on either end to a finished rail-trail. But that’s okay. Disconnected sections of completed trail tend to get connected more quickly becauseof user-demand on each end.
The potential for a fully connected Westmoreland Heritage Trail is tremendous. On the Saltsburg end the WHT merges with the West Penn Trail and other parts of the Trans Allegheny Trails system. Eventually, on the western end, the WHT will connect to the Great Allegheny Passage.
And if there’s anything that bicyclists love more than loops, it’s connections between major trail systems, where loops can be measured in hundreds of miles and riding options become almost limitless.
The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition knows that. Toconnect major trail systems is the major reason for its existence. This coalition crosses four state lines and seeks to link Erie, Cleveland, Akron, Pittsburgh, Altoona and Parkersburg with more than 1,400 miles of shared-use trails.
While that’s an ambitious goal, almost half of the mileage has been completed. If all of the existing trails get connected, this will become the largest shared-use trail system in the United States.
Trail operators, developers and volunteers, representing the corridors of the Industrial Heartland coalition, will come together for a summit on November 4 in Cranberry Township, north of Pittsburgh, where they’ll network and share best-practices for trail development and marketing.
To learn more about the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition, visit where you’ll also find information about the trail summit.
If you are an avid bicyclist, you may want to go, because if there’s anything that bicyclists love more than riding major trail systems, it’s planning – no, that’s a lie. These people would rather be riding. Why do you think the trail summit is in November?