Ride Local Rail-Trails

If you are new to Western PA, you’ve come to the best place to ride. We have SO many rail-trails, gravel roads and mountain bike trails. If you want to join a ride group, check out our Ride with Us page. Below, you’ll find links to all the best trails. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask our team members in-store and ask for a map. We generally have maps and brochures available for all the local rail-trails. If you are more interested in gravel routes in PA, head over to our sister site, RidePAGravel. For mountain biking trails, your best source will be AllTrails where you’ll find trails in every major park in the counties of Beaver, Allegheny, Butler and beyond.

The Montour Trail, Allegheny County, PA

The scenic Montour Trail’s main line travels from Coraopolis to Clairton. Branch trails extend into Bethel Park, Westland, and the Pittsburgh International Airport. The Trail is continuous from MM 0.0 near Coraopolis to Library, around MM 36. The mostly volunteer Montour Trail Council (MTC) is working to close several short gaps in the south. People enjoy the Montour Trail for bicycling, walking, running, cross-country skiing, dog-walking and nature appreciation. Hunters and fishermen also appreciate the access the Trail provides to prime spots. To learn more and view/download maps, check out The Montour Trail.

The Panhandle Trail, Washington County, PA

Thanks to good people in Washington County, the Panhandle Trail offers the most direct and scenic route for self-propelled travel between Oakdale (Allegheny County) and Colliers, West Virginia with the majority of the trail's length spanning Northern Washington County. Although the trail follows an old railroad grade through the hilly terrain, there was only so much the railroad builders could do to flatten the route. Expect a steady climb to the town of Midway, the high point on the rural journey. The Panhandle is one of the few trails that are completely paved. For more info, see The Panhandle Trail.

The Great Allegheny Passage – Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD

Starting in Cumberland, Maryland and ending in Downtown Pittsburgh, the Great Allegheny Passage is a spectacular 150-mile nonmotorized path that soars over valleys, snakes around mountains, and skirts alongside the Casselman River, Youghiogheny River, and Monongahela River on a nearly-level, crushed-limestone surface. Tracing old footpaths and railroad corridors through the wilderness, it offers glimpses into the country’s westward expansion and industrial might. When paired with the connecting C&O Canal Towpath, it makes long-distance trail travel possible between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. For many people in Western PA, the GAP Trail is their first rite of passage in bikepacking and touring, including our family. To learn more, head over to The GAP Trail.

C&O Canal Towpath – MD, WV and DC

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was started in 1828 as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years, the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market.
Today, the C&O Canal National Historical Park contains over 20,000 acres of historical, natural and recreational treasures! The Park is the 16th most visited National Park in the nation, with over 5 million visitors a year – that’s more than Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon! Featuring a 184.5 mile towpath, the Park is popular with hikers and bikers, as well as paddlers who enjoy the neighboring Potomac River and its offshoots. For more info, check out the C&O Canal Towpath.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Allegheny County, PA

Thanks to the hard work of the Friends of the Riverfront, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a designated National Recreation Trail system in the Pittsburgh region. This 33-mile nonlinear trail has segments on both banks of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers within Allegheny County with access to city of Pittsburgh neighborhoods, river town business districts, and local attractions. For more info, check out the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

Allegheny River Trail, Allegheny County, PA

The trail is 32 miles of flat, smooth, asphalt surface from Oil City to Emlenton. Through Sunny Slope, 14 miles south of Franklin, take the dirt road about a 1/2 mile until it reconnects with the paved trail. Bordered on the west by the Allegheny River and on the east mostly by woodland, the 8-foot wide paved surface built on an old railroad grade is parallel to a dirt access road suitable for horses. For more info, check out Allegheny River Trail.

Armstrong Trail, Armstrong County, PA

Armstrong Trails currently has 35.5-miles of trail, including one share-the-road section (Phillipston), available for cyclists to enjoy. Trailheads at Rosston, Ford City, Kittanning, Cowanshannock Creek, Templeton, Rimer, Redbank, Phillipston, East Brady and Sarah Furnace give easy access to hours of cycling enjoyment. For maps and more info, go to Armstrong Trail.

Butler-Freeport Trail, Armstrong County, PA

The trail offers a safe, quiet, peaceful, green, asphalt-free place for daily walking, jogging, health-enhancing physical activity, and simply strolling. Benches or picnic tables are placed at regular intervals in scenic locations. Restroom facilities are available seasonally from May to October. For more info, see Butler-Freeport Trail.

Westmoreland Heritage Trail

The Westmoreland Heritage Trail is a scenic bicycle and walking trail covering 8.5 miles from Saltsburg to Delmont and 9.3 miles from Export to Trafford. Future expansion is in progress to connect the two sections to complete the goal of a 22 mile long trail from Saltsburg to Trafford and extend four miles to connect to the Great Allegheny Passage. For more, head over to Westmoreland Heritage Trail.