Northeast Ohio Outdoors

National Recreation Trail System Adds Pittsburgh Area Trails

By Lou Yuhasz on May 30th, 2009

Susquehenna Water Trail Added also

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently designated 22
trails in 13 states as newly recognized National Recreation Trails, adding
more than 525 miles of trails to the National Trails System.

“From coast to coast, the National Trails System helps connect American
families with the wonders of the outdoors,” said Salazar.  ”These new
National Recreation Trails, built through partnerships with local
communities and stakeholders, will create new opportunities for fitness and
stewardship, while creating a lasting legacy for our children and
grandchildren.”

This announcement is timed to coincide with the 17th annual celebration of
National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6, 2009.   The theme for this year,
“Take In the Outdoors,” encourages people of all ages to get outside and
use trails for exercise and exploration.  Thousands of trail enthusiasts
will participate in hikes, educational programs, bike rides, volunteer
repair projects, festivals, paddle trips, and trail dedications across the
country.  A complete schedule of activities is available at
http://americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx.

Area Trails on the 2009 List:

Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway – 6 to 10 Trail  – This
7.75-mile trail follow the remnants of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, an
engineering landmark that lifted canal boats over the Allegheny Mountains
in the mid-1800’s.

Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway – Juniata River Water
Trail – For 184 miles this water trail parallels the route of the
Pennsylvania Main Line Canal which operated primarily in the 1830’s through
1850’s.

Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway – Lower Trail – The 16.5
mile multi-use Lower (rhymes with “flower”) Trail features many historic
canal era remnants with interpretive signs telling the history of the
Pennsylvania Main Line Canal.  It is the center link in the Pittsburgh to
Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway.

Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway – Path of the Flood Trail
– This 6.5 mile trail follows the path of the Great Johnstown Flood of
1889.  For part of its length, the trail joins the 2.5-mile Staple Bend
Tunnel Trail which follows the remnants of the Allegheny Portage Railroad
to the first railroad tunnel built in the U.S., the 901-foot long Staple
Bend Tunnel.

Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway – Roaring Run Trail –
Following the Western Division of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal along
the Kiskiminetas River, this 4-mile trail is rich in historic
transportation themes and recreational opportunities.

Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway – West Penn Trail – The
12-mile West Penn Trail offers many scenic, natural and historic assets,
including 100-year old stone arch railroad bridges and parts of the
Pennsylvania Main Line Canal.  Forty interpretive signs enrich this trail
experience.

Susquehanna River Water Trail – North Branch Section – Paddlers along the
181 miles of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River enjoy mountain
views,  river towns, remnant structures, as well as birds and other
wildlife, fish, and camping at 17 river campsites.

National Recreation Trails (NRTs) have been a touchstone of the National
Trails System since the first designations in 1971.  The NRTs recognize
existing trails and trail systems that connect people to local resources
and improve their quality of life.

NRTs link communities to recreational opportunities on public lands and in
local parks across the Nation.  These designations contribute to “A Decade
for the National Trails, 2008-2018,” commemorating the 50th anniversary of
the National Trails System in 2018.

Each of the new trails will receive a certificate of designation, a letter
of congratulations from Secretary Salazar, and NRT trail markers.  These
trails join a network of more than 1,050 previously designated trails that
total more than 12,500 miles.

The NRT program is jointly administered by the National Park Service and
the USDA Forest Service in conjunction with a number of other Federal and
nonprofit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the National
Recreation Trail website at www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails
.

You might also like

Ohio’s Towpath Trail Added to National System ...

100 Days of Summer: Mountain and Trail Biking in NE Ohio Trail Biking Akron Metroparks Bike and Hike Trail- 33 Miles Brady's Run Trails- Newly Improved...

AEP Ohio Adds 26,000 Acres to ReCreation Land ATHENS, OH– American Electric Power (AEP) Ohio continues to add to their conservation legacy with the...

Cross Country Cyclists Cross Paths Crossing Region I have a Google alert set up on my home page to let me know when Youngstown is mentioned on a blog. Today,...

Comments are closed.