Tredway Trail

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Tredway Riverfront Park

Along the Allegheny River from Lower Burrell to Kiskiminetas River junction in Westmoreland County

The Tredway Riverfront Park runs for 5.1 miles along the Allegheny River in the Northwest corner of Westmoreland County. It is a former railroad grade. The entire length of the trail was resurfaced in the summer of 2023. When we rode it in Feb 2024, it was in excellent shape. This trail is part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail (page NE-16<?>).

Tredway Riverfront Park

Location northwest corner of Westmoreland County

Trailheads Lower Burrell, Garver Ferry Road, Freeport Bridge

Length, Surface 5.1 miles crushed limestone

Character Shady, Isolated

Usage restrictions No motor vehicles

Amenities bike rental at Country Club

Driving time from Pittsburgh 35 minutes Northeast

The mileposts start with zero just north the town of Breaburn at the southern township line and runs northeast to the Kiskiminetas River at the northern township line. This is across the Allegheny from Natrona. It is an isolated limestone trail at this point on a bench about 40 feet above river level, with the magnificent views up and down the river on one side, and a 300-foot cliff on the other side. At about mile 2.3 , just past a marina, the trail moves away from the river and there is a road and some very nice homes between the trail and the river. On the land side there is the River Forest Country Club Golf course. 1.6 miles later under the Freeport bridge, at trailhead parking, the limestone surface use to end, but now continues for another 1.5 miles to the junction of the Kiskiminetas and the Allegheny Rivers. The township is developing a park at this juncture with a grassy area and picnic ables.

At milepost 2.3 a side trail heads about a third of a mile up a ravine to a trailhead parking just off of McCane Hollow Rd. This trail is very steep and has sections of gravel where the asphalt has been washed out.

Local history, attractions

The section of trail from Breaburn to Garver Ferry Road was originally created with a gift from Clara and Wynn and was named the Clara and Wynn Tredway Trail.

River Forest is a development with a golf course, clubhouse in the valley, and homes along the river. The intent was to sell lots along the stretch of land from the Freeport bridge to the Kiskiminetas, but it turned out not to be economically feasible. The number of possible lots would not support the infrastructure nor the necessary utilities, so the township got a grant to purchase the trail from the developer.

Extensions of the ride

A northern connection to the Pittsburgh to Eire Trail will continue across the Kiskiminetas River and connect in Schenley to the Armstrong Trail See page 87. At present (Dec 2024) this requires an illegal on-grade crossing of the Northern Suffolk Railroad tracks. See Development section.

An eastward connection to the IHTC Pittsburgh to Harrisburg corridor will travel the north side of the Kiskiminetas River to Leechburg, and eventually to Apollo to join the Roaring Run Trail see page .

The southern connection to the Erie to Pittsburgh crosses the SR366 bridge and connects with the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the west/north side of the Allegheny.

At the Freeport Bridge, the road climbs the hill to the bridge and connects with the Butler Freeport Community Trail at the top of the hill at the south end of the bridge.

From the junction of the Kiskiminetas, one can follow an old road for a least 2.3 miles on the south side of the Kiski towards Leechburg. We have not yet explored it further, but it looks like ATVs are using the road, so we suspect it will connect to Leechburg.

Development plans

The township is developing a park in the area just south of the Kiski Bridge. In 2/2024 they had cleared out trees and installed some picnic tables to develop a township park.

Armstrong Trail is working on the trail from Rosston to Schenley and the Kiskiminetas Bridge and hopes to have that section completed by spring 2024. At which point there will be an illegal crossing of the on-grade railroad tracks to connect to the Tredway Trail.

The Armstrong Trail is also working to complete the trail from Schenley to Leechburg and is expected to by finished by the beginning of the summer 2024.

The township, along with Westmoreland County is in the planning stage of an overhead crossing of the Norfolk Southern tracks by the Kiskiminetas Bridge to replace the illegal on-grade crossing.

Access points

Vicinity: Directions begin on PA 28 headed north from Pittsburgh.

Lower Burrell trailhead: MPzero (40.6201264,-79.7048475) - Take PA 28 to the Tarentum/New Kensington Exit (exit 14). Exit east bound on PA 366. In about a mile you will cross the Tarentum Bridge. From the end of the bridge go 0.6 miles to Leechburg Road and turn left/east on Leechburg Road In about a mile Leechburg Road will bend right at Edgecliff Road. Take the left hand turn onto Edgecliff Road. Go 0.8 miles and turn left at the Tee to stay on Edgecliff Road where Garver Ferry Road starts on the right. Bear right when Edgecliff road gets to the river and changes name to Lowe Road. Follow Lowe Road along the river, past the lock and dam. Stay on Lowe road when it bends right away from the river where straight is “No Outlet”. About a block after the bend turn left on Arnold, just after the fire station. Just past Boggs Street, continue to follow the road (now deteriorating) as it bends left then right past a garage. Continue on this unpromising road past some trailers and docks for about a half mile. There you will see a sign for the trail head and parking.

Freeport Bridge Trailhead: MP3.6 (40.6667547,-79.6910292) - Take PA28 to the Freeport/Millerstown exit #16. Turn right/east at the end of the ramp. Go 0.6 miles to the tee and turn left/northwest onto Freeport Rd. Go 0.7 miles and turn right/south across Allegheny River on the Freeport bridge. Go 0.6 miles and shortly after crossing the bridge take a right/southwest onto River Landing Drive. Go 50 feet and take another right to go downhill along side the bridge. Continue downhill to the trailhead parking lot.

Garver Ferry Road Trailhead: MP2.0 (40.6455407,-79.6851813) - Not recommended because of the steepness and condition of the trail. Take PA 28 to the Tarentum/New Kensington Exit (exit 14). Exit east bound on PA 366. In about a mile you will cross the Tarentum Bridge. From the end of the bridge go 0.6 miles to Leechburg Road and turn left/east on Leechburg Road In about a mile Leechburg Road will bend right at Edgecliff Road. Take the left hand turn onto Edgecliff Road. Go 0.8 miles and turn right at the Tee onto Garver Ferry Road. Go about 0.3 miles and bear left where Wildlife Lodge Road comes in from the right. In about 4 miles turn left onto McCane Hollow Road. There is a trail sign on the left, however it is pointed the opposite direction from your travel and is therefore easy to miss. The intersection is a short distance up the hill as you begin to climb out of a dip in the road. The trailhead is about 0.1 miles down McCane Road. There is space for only 2 or 3 cars at the trail head, so you may want to park along McCane Road, shortly after the turn off. Be careful not to block or clutter up any driveways, access roads or gates. This gate is the only way for an emergency vehicle to get access to the trail.

Amenities

Rest rooms, water: None at the trail heads, An out of order SST along the trail 1.5 miles from Lower Burrell or 1 mile from Garver Ferry Road Trailhead.

Bike shop, rentals: Bike rentals at River Forest Country Club, Gattos in Tarentum

Restaurant, groceries: none along the trail. Along Leechburg Road on the way to the trailhead and in New Kensibton.

Camping, simple lodging: None

Swimming, fishing: There are the remains of several summer camps along the River, which could give you access to the river.

Winter sports: Cross-Country skiing.

Wheelchair access: The trail down from Garver Ferry Road is quite steep dropping 300 feet in 0.4 miles. The main trail is railroad grade with crushed limestone. Gates are at least 3 feet wide.

Trail organization

Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County
136 Community Building Road
Leechburg, PA 15656
Phone: 724-842-4641
Fax: 724-845-9290

Supervisors@alleghenytownship.net

https://alleghenytownship.net/

Maps, guides, other references

USGS Topographic Maps: New Kensington East, Freeport

Version

Text version of 29 Jan 2024 based on personal observation while bicycling Breaburn to Kiskiminetas River junction and upto the McCane trailhead 1/2024. Conditions may have changed; you are responsible for your own safety. Oldest segment check 1/2024.

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