The Conemaugh Valley Conservancy is conducting a West Penn Trail user survey. Please take 2-3 minutes to tell us your thoughts about the trail and how you use it. The West Penn Trail is a wonderful resource and we want to help make YOUR user experience even better!
The West Penn Trail is a 17-mile rail-trail between Saltsburg and our Westinghouse trailhead near Blairsville. West Penn Trail is now recognized as a National Recreation Trail!
The WEST PENN TRAIL is an important link in the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway™, a 320 mile corridor of linked heritage and outdoor recreation sites that is “creating new connections between old neighbors.
In addition to the canal, there were four railroad grades built in this section of the Conemaugh River valley: the original 1864 Western Pennsylvania Railroad that was largely built on the old canal bed; the 1883 line relocation built by the Pennsylvania Railroad that straightened out many of the original curves and made the railroad more efficient to operate; a 1907 rebuilding where more curves were eliminated and the new stone arch bridges built; and the current railroad built in 1948 to elevate the tracks above lake level in the flood control reservoir (Conemaugh Dam).
We've designed this site to give you the information you need for an enjoyable trail experience. Print our trail map and driving directions and Happy Trails! And for more information, look us up on Facebook.
|
