Allegheny Trail Alliance

Allegheny Trail Alliance
General Information

	Event Calendar			Plans for Trail Construction			Related Web Sites			Our online guide to planning long rides
	Request More Information			Trail Guide Bookstore			Site Map			Our online guide to planning long rides

In western Pennsylvania, the trail builder's grand dream is a motor-free connection between Pittsburgh and Washington DC. In practice, this means a connection from Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland, where you can pick up the C&O Canal towpath for the final 185 miles to Washington. The Allegheny Trail Alliance is working to make this dream come true.

Trail Status

The Pittsburgh to Cumberland trail system covers 204 miles, of which 125 miles are constructed and heavily used. The trail system goes through five counties in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland.

Trail Partners

The Allegheny Trail Alliance is a unique group of seven trail organizations who have joined together to bring this trail to completion. Each trail group is as different as the section of trail its members are building. Click on these links or on any logo on the maps for information about each trail organization. The affiliated trails and the lengths of their trails are:

	Trail	Completed Mileage	Mileage Underway	Total Mileage
	Three Rivers Heritage Trail	1	5	6
	Steel Valley Trail	4	12	16
	Montour Trail	25.5	21.5	47
	Youghiogheny River Trail, North	41	2	43
	Youghiogheny River Trail, South	28	0	28
	Allegheny Highlands Trail in Pennsylvania	23	19	42
	Allegheny Highlands Trail of Maryland	0	21	21
At Cumberland, the ATA system connects with the C&O Canal Towpath *Totals do not equal 204 miles because of rounding.
	C&O Canal Towpath	184.5	0	184.5

The individual trail organizations sponsor special events throughout the year. The major events appear on our coordinated calendar. Check with each trail organization for more events. The ATA itself sponsors an annual ride between Pittsburgh and Washington DC, the Yockatomacktrek

These trails exist only because of the dedication of many volunteers. Your favorite trail has something for you to do, too.When you find a trail you like, please join the trail organization. They need your energy as much as your money. For more information, to join a trail group, or to volunteer, please request more information.

If you're planning a multi-day trip on these trails, our trip planning page may be helpful. In the fall of 1999, we published a booklet of planning advice for trips between Pittsburgh and Washington.

For books and guides about this trail system and the region, please visit our bookstore. Some trail organizations also sell hats, shirts, water bottles, and other trail-related goods. Check the trail organization's web pages for information.

See the related web sites for nearby trails, community information, related organizations, and periodical publications.

Review past news alerts.

About the Allegheny Trail Alliance

Mission

The Allegheny Trail Alliance is a coalition of seven trail-building organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania and western Maryland whose purpose is to assure the construction, maintenance and use of the multi-purpose trail between Pittsburgh, PA, and Cumberland, MD, where the trail will join the C&O Canal Towpath Trail, which continues on to Washington, DC.

Benefits of the Trail

… economic stimulus for communities: the completed portions of the trail are attracting new businesses, such as bike shops, restaurants, and other services. The trail will be a destination point, adding to the many tourist attractions of the region;
… extensive exercise and recreational opportunities: free to people of all ages and physical abilities;
… presents the heritage of the region: from native American campgrounds, remains of beehive coke ovens, railroad towns, and Pittsburgh's great "Valley of Steel";
… protection of the river environment: this corridor is valuable wildlife habitat and allows a natural buffer to develop along the rivers;
… educational opportunities: along the trail from history and culture to geology and ecology, the trail provides many educational opportunities.

For more information

Contact the Allegheny Trail Alliance at

419 College Ave
Greensburg PA 15601

724-853-BIKE (853-2453)
888-ATA-BIKE (282-2453)

ATAmail@ATAtrail.org

[Overview Map] [ATA Information]

This page is part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance's site in support of the Pittsburgh to Cumberland Trail, a motor-free recreational rail trail connecting Pittsburgh PA and Cumberland MD. Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 by Allegheny Trail Alliance, Bill Metzger, Mary Shaw, and Roy Weil. Amenity information courtesy of FreeWheeling Easy. We encourage you to create links to this site and to print copies of the maps for your personal use. We prohibit other uses of this site, especially if they generate spam or other mass communications -- see our Privacy Policy.. This page was last modified on 01/01/01. Send email to ATA or contact the ATA or member trails.

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