Youghiogheny River Trail, Northern Section

Along Youghiogheny River from McKeesport to Connellsville, in Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fayette Counties

The trail begins in McKeesport’s McKee Point Park on the east side of the Youghiogheny River just south of its confluence with the Monongahela River. This is milepost 15 of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad route (P&LERR); if milepost 0 existed, it would be under the Smithfield St Bridge in Pittsburgh. The trail alignment runs through McKeesport and splits at the 15th St Bridge; either side of the river goes to Boston on a combination of trail and low-traffic roads. From Boston the trail remains on the south side of the Youghiogheny all the way to Connellsville. Volunteer trail monitors, usually wearing distinctive gold shirts, ride the trail carrying first-aid kits, basic tools, and cellular telephones. Flag one down if you need assistance or have questions.

Youghiogheny River Trail, Northern Section

Location South Versailles and Elizabeth Townships, Allegheny County;
Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County;
Perry, Franklin, and Dunbar Townships, Fayette County

Trailheads McKeesport, Boston, West Newton, Cedar Creek Park,
Smithton, Dawson, Connellsville

Length, Surface 43 miles, mostly packed crushed stone

Character Busy to crowded, wooded, shady, flat

Usage restrictions Horses ok beside trail—stay off improved surface;
no motorized vehicles; no snowmobiles

Amenities Rest rooms, water, bike rental, food, camping, lodging, swimming, fishing

Driving time from Pittsburgh 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes

McKee Point Park in <<McKeesport (mile 15>>) is the official northern terminus of this sectio of the GAP Trail. From the park, the trail runs south past the marina on Water St to 9th St. Here it stays off the streets on packed crushed limestone for a quarter-mile between Kane Hospital and the river’s edge. It turns away from the river to join Mary St for one block to Market St where it turns right/south for two long blocks. At 13th St the route turns left for one short block, then turns right uphill to run, alongside Walnut St. The large round building just below the trail is the old water treatment plant.

As the trail levels out, there is a right hand branch. For the three miles or so between the 15th St Bridge and Boston, the trail has options on both sides of the river. Both alternatives are partially on roads. The alternatives can be combined to make a loop ride up one side of the river and down the other.

The official trail route, the Liberty Connector, goes straight ahead and crosses the Youghiogheny River on the 15th St Bridge; you have a choice between walking on a narrow sidewalk and riding on a wide shoulder. At the sidewalk about 400 ft past the end of the bridge the trail crosses the road and becomes a separate paved lane, downhill to river road. At the bottom of the hill transition onto River Rd, which has been widened a bit and posted as an on-road bike route. If in doubt about the route, follow signs for Durabond Coatings. The trail follows River Rd for just over a mile to the Durabond plant gate. At the Durabond gate, the trail turns right, goes uphill for about 200’, and turns left, climbing about 75 feet on a 5% grade (hence the nickname “Durabond Bypass”). Once on top, the trail clings to the side of the hill on top of a sewer line as it skirts the back side of the Durabond plant for half a mile. From the bypass behind Durabond, a very steep trail to the right ascends to Liberty Borough. After crossing above the Durabond plant, the main trail descends steeply to rejoin the railroad grade at Deadman’s Hollow (mile 18). A network of hiking nature trails (no bikes) runs up Deadman’s Hollow. Our trail remains level and goes through woods for a mile to the trailhead at the <<Boston Riverfront Park (mile 19.1>>).

An alternate route, the East Loop or Christie Park Connector, takes the right hand fork about 400 ft before the 15th bridge. It runs from the 15th St bridge to Boston on the east side of the river. This is the beginning of the East Loop. This is the route to use if the Liberty Connector is closed or if you want to make a loop ride. The route uses a combination of trail, low-traffic roads, and bridge sidewalk. The paved trail goes for a mile and a half through Christie Park and ends at the McKeesport city limits. Here a gravel road goes under the RR bridge and up on the other side to join Douglas St. From here it is 1.3 miles on low-traffic roads to the Boston Bridge. One route follows Douglas St along the river then turns left on Juniper St to cross the active RR at the first opportunity. Be careful here – there are two tracks, and there might be two trains. After crossing the RR, this route follows First St parallel to the tracks until reaching the Boston Bridge. Just before the bridge, it goes left up a hill to reach the bridge (one block is one-way; walk on the sidewalk). The bridge is narrow and busy, so walk across on the downstream sidewalk. At the end of the bridge, make two right turns to reach the Boston access area.

Whichever side of the river you use from McKeesport, you end up at the Boston trailhead, one of the most popular on the trail. From here the trail runs along the edge of Boston, with light industry on the river side and residential back yards on the land side. The <<warehouse at mile 20.8>> has doors to match boxcars on some long-gone adjacent siding. The <<scrap yard at mile 21.2>> has an art object of a ten foot tall duck. Wildflowers proliferate along the shoulders. After fifteen road crossings, including four in the resi­dential area of <<Greenock (mile 21.3-21.6)>>, the trail leaves civilization and runs along the river in splendid isolation for 5 miles to Buena Vista. In early May <<trillium carpets the slopes of the 300-foot hillside along miles 22-23>>.

Dravo Cemetery, mile 24.9

The trail emerges on the flats in a curve of the river and passes the site of the <<Dravo Methodist Church (mile 24.9)>>. This church was founded in 1801 and once drew a con­gregation from both sides of the river. It was the oldest in the area until fire destroyed it in 1920; the cemetery remains. The trail’s first campground, Dravo Landing, is between the cemetery and the river, accessible by the wide trail to the right of the cemetery. It has two fire rings, some adirondack shelters, pavilions and shares the well and the “sweet-smelling” (composting) toilet with trail users at the cemetery. This campground is for trail users and canoe­ists; share the space. For a group of 20 or more, contact the Regional Trail Council first.

Half a mile past Dravo Cemetery is the ghost town of Stringtown, marked only by a few inconspicuous foundations. If you wander around here you might fall into one of these remnants, so admire the field from the trail. This village once strung out for half a mile along the railroad. Also near here was Indian Queen Alliquippa’s summer village.

The trail enters Buena Vista at the Dapul Company on the right, and a greenhouse on the left (mile 26.4). Also here is a toilet and small gazebo. A picnic pavilion (mile 26.6) greets you at the canoe access and parking area in Buena Vista, not far from the swimming pool. For the next 4.8 miles, the trail passes frequently through small towns, alternating between woods and resi­dential communities. Many of these communities began as company towns associated with nearby mines. In Industry (mile 27.5), note the stained glass windows in the Merritt Primitive Methodist Church. As you pass through Industry, Blythedale (mile 29), and later Smithdale (mile 30), notice the uniform basic shape of the houses—a common characteristic of company towns—and the way subsequent owners have individualized them. The trail crosses SR2017 at mile 29.5, next to the bridge to Sutersville. Be careful at this busy road crossing.

From Sutersville, the trail runs half a mile between the cliff and the river to Smithdale (mile 30). Smithdale is one of several company towns along the trail and a particularly good example of how a production-line town can evolve into a community of individualized homes with quite distinct personalities. After leaving Smithdale, the trail returns to the bench along the cliff to pass into Westmoreland County at mile 31.4. It emerges in a residential area of Collinsburg (mile 32.3), which blends into West Newton (mile 33.2).

In West Newton, the trail council’s combine car—a rail car that’s part passenger, part baggage—sits beside the train station near PA136. This car is one of the three remaining cars of its kind; it has been restored, largely by volunteers, to become an environment learning center. You’ll see some fine old homes in West Newton just before reaching a major trailhead at PA136. There are stores on the right side of the trail and also on the other side of the Youghiogheny River, across the PA136 bridge. Be careful at the PA136 intersection; there’s a lot of traffic but no signal. At West Newton, the trail leaves civilization for most of a mile, until Buddtown (mile 34), where Joseph and Joshua Budd once operated a ferry across the river (mile 34.1). Just after leaving Buddtown you pass the remnants of the Banning #4 coal mine and coal cleaning plant (mile 34.5, private prop­erty). The mine is closed, but the water treatment plant still runs. Note the cattails across from the water treatment plant.

Then the cliff approaches the river and the trail runs on a wide flat bench between the cliff and the river. A wooden bridge marks the entry to the Manderino Riverfront section of Cedar Creek Park (mile 36.5), where you’ll find heat and running water in the restrooms and snacks in restored Cedar Creek Station. The Cedar Creek gorge, accessible by walking trail, has superb wildflower displays through the year. The main trail continues through the waterfront section of the park, crosses the access road (mile 37.1), then re-enters the woods between the cliff and the river. A biker/boater campground has been developed at the southernmost end of the park (new MP110); small groups do not need reservations. Larger group camping near the access road is available by prior arrangement and fee; contact Westmoreland Co. Parks at (724) 838-3968 for information and permit. The trail remains in the woods for an­other mile to Smithton (mile 39.3, MP107), where there’s another parking lot and canoe access. Across the river at Smithton you can see the Jones Brewing Company, built in 1907 as the home of Stoney’s beer.

Past Smithton, the trail continues along the Youghiogheny River through old company towns and their mines, beginning with Van Meter (mile 40.1 to 41.2) and Whitsett (mile 42.7 to 44.5 MP103.1). Van Meter (mile 40.5) served the Darr Mine, whose coal cleaning plant you’ll see at mile 41.4. Van Meter became a virtual ghost town almost overnight in December 1907, when disasters in both the Naomi and Darr Mines claimed first 34, then 239 lives. The large building on the west side of the trail near the road intersection is the former Company Store; you can still buy soft drinks at the vending machine nearby. The residence next to the trail that looks like a train station once was the train station. A suspension footbridge once crossed the Youghiogheny River from Van Meter to Jacob’s Creek. At 432 feet in length, it was believed to be the longest such bridge in the world when it opened in 1926.

After Van Meter, the trail passes under the Norfolk and Western High Bridge (mile 41.5), The Banning #2 mine (office at Whitsett Rd, mile 42.7) was served by Whitsett (mile 43), another coal patch town. Ralph Whitsett Sr., the town founder, built the large red house on the road near the river (mile 43) in 1873. An exhibit at the Pittsburgh Regional History Center features Whitsett.

The most remote section of the trail runs from Layton (mile 45.7 MP100.9) to Dawson/Dickerson Run (mile 52.8). There is no road access in this 7-mile stretch, just the woods and the river. Be prepared to do your own repairs here; it’s a long walk to the nearest road. Just past Layton you’ll pass the remains of a brick factory and its associated kilns (mile 46.2) and cross several small streams. The trail council has developed a primitive campground at Roundbottom (mile 47.6, new MP102).

Dickerson Run (mile 52.8), across the river from Dawson, was once a major switching yard. The P&LE operated the 2500-car yard under a joint switching agreement with the Western Maryland RR from 1912 to 1970. It has a large parking lot and trailhead. For 2.5 miles south from here, to Adelaide (mile 55.2), the trail again runs close to the river.

This area was once known as the coke capital of the world. Hundreds of coke ovens in one or two rows dot the hillsides just above the trail. An interpretive sign at mile 54 describes their history. An 8-foot thick outcropping of the Pittsburgh Coal Seam and a row of coke ovens are visible near mile 54. This is the only spot on the trail where you can actually see the Pittsburgh Seam, which played a key role in the region’s economic history.

At Adelaide (mile 55.2) the trail emerges from the woods at River’s Edge Campground, passes through a small town for about a mile, and re-enters the woods. At mile 57.2 a side trail leads to a (closed) railroad bridge across the Youghiogheny. The trail emerges into a large cindered parking lot at mile 58. At the edge of the lot a former railroad yard office is being refurbished as a trail information center; eventually there will be rest rooms here.

From the left edge of the cinder lot a ramp winds down the hill to Yough River Park near the William Crawford cabin. The trail goes through the park to a parking lot, where it connects with the bike trail along 3rd St through Connellsville to the southern section of the trail. At Connellsville the river leaves the farm and mining lands in the valley and enters the water gap through Chestnut Ridge. As you cross to the southern section, the character of the trail changes from flatwater to whitewater, and the setting changes from rural mining towns to near-wilderness gorge.

Local history, attractions

The railroad that once ran here opened for business as the Pittsburgh, McKeesport, & Youghiogheny Railroad—PMc&Y, also known as the “P-Mickey”—in October 12, 1883. Almost immediately, on January 1, 1884, it became part of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P&LERR). In 1887 it became a New York Central (NYC) line, which merged with the Pennsy in the 1960s to become the Penn Central. The collapse of the Penn Central made the P&LE independent again in 1978. P&LE filed to abandon the line in 1990, after the decline of the coal industry reduced traffic too much. Most of the P&LE’s business was related to steel-making: coal, ore, coke, and limestone. P&LE boxcars bore the slogan “Serves the Steel Centers.”

Industrial activity in the valley revolved around the steel industry, and the trail shows conspicuous remnants of both steel and mining activity. In some areas piles of mine tailings (also called gob, or red-dog) dominate the landscape. Several ruins of coal-processing plants remain. Less obvious, but still visible, are a number of areas of mine drainage. Spot these by the bright orange soil under the waterfall or creek. Remains of coke ovens lie near the trail at several locations. Several of the towns along the trail are former company towns.

Coke oven, near mile 54

A short-lived canal served the Youghiogheny River between West Newton and McKeesport. The Youghiogheny Slackwater Navigation Company built two dams of logs and stone. Locks allowed steamboats to overcome a 27-foot change in elevation and created a slackwater navigation system. The canal began operations around 1850 but was destroyed by a flood in January 1865.

Dawson was the center of Philip Cochran’s coke empire. Remains of coke ovens fill the hillside by the trail for miles nearby; there were over 34,000 of them in the area. The Cochran’s Queen Anne Victorian home, Cochran House, still stands in Dawson.

Two miles uphill from Dawson via River Rd and Stone Bridge Trail, Linden Hall sits atop the hill. The great Tudor mansion at Linden Hall was built for Sarah Cochran, the widow of the coke and coal pioneer. The Tudor mansion’s 35,000 square feet contains beautiful period pieces, Tiffany windows, and an Aeolian pipe organ—one of three in the world. Linden Hall is the centerpiece of a resort/conference center and is open for tours (fee).

Connellsville was close to the head of navigation on the Youghiogheny, so it was a good place for businesses such as flat boat building and associated raw materials such as lumber and ironwork. Such businesses flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Extensions of the ride

Linden Hall Resort has developed a trail to provide bicycle access from Dawson. Using the Stone Bridge Trail, you can climb 500’ from river level to the Cochran mansion atop the hill. Leave the Youghiogheny River Trail at Dickerson Run, mile 52.8. Climb the road ramp to PA819, then turn left on PA819 and carefully cross the bridge to Dawson. At the Dawson end of the bridge, turn left on River Rd. Ride carefully in traffic for a level half-mile and cross the railroad tracks. Just after you cross the tracks, turn left to stay on River Rd; it’s marked “No Outlet” and there’s less traffic on this section.

Follow River Rd, which now is slightly hilly, 1.2 miles to the mouth of Laurel Run. Here the road turns away from the river and starts climbing; the surface deteriorates seriously. This was originally the main road to Linden Hall. The road does a switch­back across the trail’s namesake stone bridge and ends at a fork after 0.1 mile and 80 feet of climb. The right fork is private; the left fork, now traffic-free, climbs another mile to Linden Hall. The first half-mile climbs 180 feet, including two steep sections of about a tenth of a mile. A large overlook with rustic railing marks the end of the steep climbs. Another half-mile (and only 100 feet of climb) brings you onto the southwest corner of the Linden Hall grounds, near the maintenance shed. Now you can ride on the resort’s hilly roads to the mansion, swimming pool, restaurant, or whatever. We enjoyed both soup and sandwich at the restaurant.

Development plans

The trail organizations hold regular volunteer trail development activities on most Sat­urdays with decent weather. Several Boy Scouts have improved the trail through their Eagle Scout projects. These projects include restoration of mileposts, interpretive displays, and environmental work.

In addition to completing the trail, plans call for development of river access areas for camping, fishing, and boating. Historic sites will be preserved and developed. Over­night facilities for through travelers will include B&Bs, hostels, and primitive campsites at several locations along the trail.

Access points

Vicinity: Directions begin headed southeast on PA51. Except for the McKeesport trailhead, the directions start at Elizabeth, where PA51 crosses the Monongahela River. To reach this point from Pittsburgh, pick up PA51 anywhere in the South Hills and turn south or southeast.

McKee Point (northern trailhead): Go southeast on PA51 from Pittsburgh. Turn east on the Yellow Belt (Lebanon Church Rd) toward Allegheny County Airport just north of Century III Mall. Follow the Yellow Belt for about 5 miles to cross the Monongahela River on Mansfield Bridge and then another mile to cross the Youghiogheny River. Turn right after crossing the Youghiogheny to McKee Point Park. Alternate route: If you’re coming from the east side of Pittsburgh, it’s quicker to reach Boston via PA148 south from the Parkway and US30.

Boston: Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for about 4 miles to PA48 near Round Hill Regional Park. Turn north on PA48, and follow its twists and turns for 6-8 miles to a 5-way intersection in Boston, just before you cross the Youghiogheny River. At this point (the south end of Boston Bridge), turn west (left), then immediately back north (right, toward the river). In less than a block, the road crosses the trail, and there is plenty of parking at this point. If you go a bit farther, you’ll come to a PA Fish Commission boat ramp. Alternate route: If you’re coming from the east side of Pittsburgh, it’s quicker to reach Boston via PA48 south from the Parkway and US30.

West Newton: Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for about 6 miles to PA136. Turn east (left) on PA136 and continue about 5 miles into the outskirts of West Newton. Just before crossing the Youghiogheny River, turn south (right) into the parking area at the west end of the PA136 bridge. There’s additional parking on the north side of PA136, along Collinsburg Rd.

Cedar Ck: Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for about 10 miles and follow signs to the Park. In quick succession you’ll turn left on Concord Lane, left on Lynn Rd, and right on Port Royal Rd. Just after passing Timms Lane, turn left at the main entrance to Cedar Creek Park. Follow this road downhill until it reaches the flood plain. There’s one parking lot just before you cross the trail and several more a little farther along the road.

Smithton: Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for 11 miles. Just after passing I70, turn east (left) on PA981 toward Smithton. Follow PA981 for 1.5 miles, to a point just before crossing the Youghiogheny River (the west end of the PA981 bridge). Immediately before the bridge’s guard rail starts, turn down a short road that leads sharply down to the parking area near the river.

Whitsett: Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for 13-14 miles. Half a mile after passing Wickhaven, turn east (left) on T495 toward Whitsett. When you reach river level in about a mile, look for a right turn to trail parking and the pavilion at the trail, a block away from the river.

Layton: Go

Dawson/Dickerson Run: Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for 18 miles to the PA201 interchange for Connellsville. (Note: this will be the second inter­section of PA51 and PA201; watch your mileage and don’t be fooled.) Take PA201 south toward Vanderbilt and Connellsville for 7 miles. In Vanderbilt, turn north (left) on PA819 and follow it 0.7 mile downhill almost to the Dawson-Liberty Bridge across the Youghiogheny River. Just before crossing this bridge, turn left (northwest). Almost immediately turn left down a ramp, making a 270-degree descending left turn. This ramp leads back under the road and into trailhead parking. The trail is at the far side of the parking lot.

Connellsville (southern trailhead): Go southeast on PA51 from the Monongahela River for 18 miles to the PA201 interchange for Connellsville. (Note: this will be the second intersection of PA51 and PA201; watch your mileage and don’t be fooled.) Take PA201 south for 10.7 miles toward Vanderbilt, then Connellsville. Just before the intersection with the southbound lanes of US119, turn north (left) into the vast cindered area between US119 and the termination of PA201. Go back beyond the produce stand and the caboose to where the cable closes off the area. This is trailhead parking. The northern section of the trail takes off on the other side of the gate, past the restored yard office. The connection to Yough River Park and the southern trail drops off the plateau toward US119 and crosses under the highway. To reach the parking near Yough River Park, continue on PA201 to the intersection with US119. Turn left on PA711 (Crawford Av) and continue several blocks to the traffic light at 3rd St. Turn left on 3rd St and follow signs to trailhead parking in the gravel lot just before Connellsville Bottling Co.

Other trailheads: There are additional trailheads at Buena Vista, Sutersville, Layton, and Adelaide (fee parking at campground). These are reached by various back roads. Take a good map with you.

Amenities

Rest rooms, water: SSTs (“sweet smelling”, or composting, toilets) at Dravo Cemetery and Buena Vista; Roundbottom should get one soon. Seasonal chemical toilets at Boston, West Newton, Smithton, and Dawson/Dickerson Run trailheads and at ball fields in Greenock, Industry, and Blythedale. Rest rooms at Cedar Creek Park all year, at Linden Hall, at Yough River Park (may be closed in winter), and eventually at the restored yard office near mile 58. Drinking water at Dravo Cemetery, the playground in Industry, Cedar Creek Park, Roundbottom, River’s Edge Campground in Adelaide, and Yough River Park in Connellsville.

Bike shop, rental: Bike shops with rentals at shops in Boston, Greenock, West Newton, and Connellsville. Rentals at the restored train station in Cedar Creek Park (mile 36.7) and Adelaide Campground (mile 55.1).

Restaurant, groceries: There’s plenty of food, though it may be a few miles away when you want it. There’s a restaurant in McKee Point Marina on the trail in McKeesport. There are several restaurants near the trail in Boston, along Smithfield St parallel to the trail in Boston, and just across Bos­ton Bridge; the church near the trail sometimes serves dinner, too. Trailside shops in Boston and just before Greenock offer snacks. Three blocks from the pavilion at Buena Vista, the Volunteer Fire Department operates a seasonal snack bar next to the swimming pool. A dairy stand half a block from the Sutersville trailhead offers ice cream and sandwiches. Sutersville, across the Yough at mile 29.5, has restaurants. Half a block from the West Newton trailhead are a deli store, an ice cream store, and a drug store offering snacks and light groceries. West Newton, across the river at mile 33.2, has a Giant Eagle 0.7 miles north of the bridge plus several restaurants and pizza shops. The rental shop at Cedar Creek Park (mile 36.7) has snacks (seasonal). At Layton (mile 45.3), snacks are seasonally available at Hazelbaker Canoe livery, across the river and a quarter mile up the road. Dawson (across the river, at mile 52.8) has groceries, snacks, and sometimes a restaurant. There’s a restaurant at Linden Hall, at top of the Stone Bridge Trail spur. The campground at Adelaide (mile 55.1) has a camp store with groceries, and a restaurant (The Coke Oven). In Connellsville, there’s a restaurant where the trail crosses PA711, and a Sheetz market and a Wendy’s are just a couple of blocks south on PA711; there are many other restaurants in town. Soft drink or juice vending machines have been installed at Dapul Company (mile 26.4) and near the old company store in Van Meter (mile 40.8).

Camping, simple lodging: Primitive camping at Dravo Landing (mile 24.9) and Round Bottom (mile 47.5). Primitive group camping at Cedar Creek Park (mile 36.7) by prior arrangement with Westmoreland County Parks at (724) 830-3950. River’s Edge Campground lies along the trail near Adelaide (mile 55.1). Two B&Bs in West Newton. Linden Hall, at the top of the Stone Bridge Trail spur, has motel rooms. Several motels uphill from Smithton near PA51.

Swimming, fishing: Swimming pools at Buena Vista, Linden Hall, and River’s Edge Campground (all fee). The Youghiogheny may look enticing for unsupervised swimming, but the water can be of questionable quality. Exercise caution, especially if the water is high. Swimming is prohibited at the Fish Commission access at Boston and at Cedar Creek Park. Signs at Connellsville Riverfront Park remind you that the park was not created to entice swimming and you do so at your own risk. Fishing is good to excellent all along the trail. Common catches are trout and small-mouth bass plus other varieties including catfish. The Yough is stocked with trout at West Newton. Record-size bass have been caught near Smithton. We see fisherfolk all along the river; one day we met a fisherman with a 35” muskie.

Winter sports: Cross-country skiing. No snowmobiles

Wheelchair access: OK at most trailheads, though many parking lots are gravel. Ramp down to Yough River Park is steeper than most of the trail; avoid this by parking in the upper lot. Wide gates; the ones we measured were all 44” or wider.

Trail organization

Regional Trail Corporation

West Newton Station

PO Box 95

West Newton, PA

www.youghrivertrail.org/

McKeesport Trail Commission (Mckeesport to Boston)

500 Fifth Ave

McKeesport, Pa 15132

Mon/Yough Trail Council (Boston to West Newton)

www.youghrivertrail.org/mon_yough_trail_council/index.html

Wextmoreland Yough Trail Chapter (West Newton to Connellsville)

www.bikewytc.org/

Maps, guides, other references

Bill Metzger. The Great Allegheny Passage Companion. The Local History Company, 2003.

Mary Shaw and Roy Weil. Linking Up: Planning Your Traffic-Free Bike Trip between Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC. Shaw-Weil Associates, 2002.

Trail Book 2018. Available from Allegheny Trail Alliance and local businesses.

Tim Palmer. Youghiogheny, Appalachian River. University of Pittsburgh Press, 1984.

USGS Topographic Maps: McKeesport, Donora, Smithton, Fayette City, Dawson, Connellsville

Version

Text version from 2002 edition based on personal observation while bicycling Boston (xx,x) to West Newton (MP113.9) 8/2021, West Newton to Whisett (MP104) 7/2021, Whisett to Connellsville (MP89.0) 8/2021. Conditions will have changed; you are responsible for your own safety.Oldest segment check 8/2021.