With a span of nearly 1,000 feet, the McDonald Viaduct is massive and the Montour Trail’s longest bridge, crossing over local roads, a stream and another rail-trail. Its vantage offers expansive views of the tree-covered landscape and, almost 100 feet below, the Panhandle Trail that leads to West Virginia.
The Montour Trail …
… is a multi-use non-motorized recreational rail-trail near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will ultimately traverse 46 miles from Moon Township near Coraopolis to Clairton. The main line extends between those two towns, and branch trails extend into Bethel Park and Westland. The Trail is complete from Mile 0.0 near Coraopolis to Pleasant Street in Library (MP 35.7). We are working to close several short gaps in the the South Park Township portion of the trail. The Montour Trail Council adds new sections each year as it works to complete the route.
The Trail is paved with a relatively smooth surface of crushed limestone, which makes it ideal for all forms of non-motorized use: bicycling, walking, running, cross-country skiing, dog-walking and nature appreciation. In certain sections, horseback riding is permitted, but not on the improved Trail surface.
Dotted with refurbished railroad truss bridges, replacement spans that are engineering marvels, and lengthy tunnels that eliminate steep grades, the Trail offers views of beautiful rural landscapes, wooded corridors, flora and fauna. The suburban towns along the route provide many opportunities for refreshment and diversion.
You can access the Trail via one of more than 25 trailheads, conveniently located every few miles. These gateways offer parking (including handicapped), water fountains (in season), benches, picnic shelters and portable toilets (mostly in season). In addition, the Trail hosts a number of campsites for through-travelers bicycling to the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and C&O Canal routes to Washington, DC.
Several branches in the south corridor provide access beyond the main line. The Westland Branch extends from Venice to Westland, a 4.1-mile stretch that offers rural beauty and solitude. It runs parallel to an active railroad line. The Bethel Park Branch runs 2.8 miles through forested and residential neighborhoods.
A portion of the Trail within Peters Township is called the Arrowhead Trail, owned and maintained by that township. When it was built in 1985, the township planted 500 trees along the 4-mile route, providing a suburban wooded corridor that links Peters neighborhoods with parks.
Connecting Links
The Montour Trail connects in McDonald (MP 17.3) to the Panhandle Trail that stretches 29 miles between Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and Weirton, West Virginia. The original train corridor once connected Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis.
At the southeastern terminus in Clairton, you can bicycle the Clairton Connector route (urban, on-road) about 5 miles to McKeesport, which links to the Steel Valley Trail and Three Rivers Heritage Trail System that lead north into downtown Pittsburgh — as well as to the Great Allegheny Passage trail that heads southeast.
The Montour Trail connects Pittsburgh International Airport to the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath, a trail system that stretches 300+ miles from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. The Airport Connector is a combination trail/on-road link that runs about 6 relatively flat miles, from Enlow (MP 7.8) to the airport parking lot. Inside the airport, baggage claim hosts an area where bicyclists can disassemble/reassemble their bikes pre-/post-flight.
Survey Says …
From time to time, MTC conducts a survey to learn what users think of this great resource. We leverage the results to make Trail improvements that help draw in new people from all over.
When users respect others traveling along the Trail, everyone can have a better and safer experience.
Survey results do make a difference: For example, based on user comments from 2016, we added more year-round portable toilets, directional/distance signage along the Trail, and water fountains. We added questions about etiquette to the 2018 survey, and the responses reinforced the fact that we can all make improvements in this area. Comments focused on bicyclists’ passing and speed, pet-leash enforcement, and walking/running two-to-three abreast. As a result, we developed safety and etiquette guidelines that encourage respectful behavior. You can review the latest survey results here.
Awards & Interesting Facts
- The first public meeting to discuss creating a rail-trail was held in 1989. A core group of 15 committed people attended, and some of them are still active volunteers with the MTC.
- In 1991, the MTC purchased the Montour Railroad right-of-way.
- The first of many MTC volunteer “trail-blazing” work sessions was held in 1992 to clear out brush, trash, and railroad ties. The first section opened that year was a 4-mile stretch near Cecil. A 5-mile stretch near Moon/Robinson opened for use in 1993. MTC members at that time believed that it would take three years to complete the trail.
- In 1992, the Trail was awarded the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award.
- The Montour Trail received a Three Rivers Environmental Award in 1994 in the category of Community-Social Organization. That same year, the MTC obtained two 100-foot-long truss bridges to replace Montour Railroad structures lost to unwanted removals.
Pennsylvania’s 2017 Trail of the Year
- In 2000, the Quicksilver Bridge was installed, an incredible achievement undertaken by Trail volunteers.
- Trail improvements in 2003 included the 970-foot-long McDonald Viaduct — a $1.8 million outlay.
- The first Annual Tour the Montour bike ride was staged in 2003. Today, it is the MTC’s largest fundraising event.
- In 2004, the Montour Trail was designated a National Recreational Trail, an honor bestowed on existing trails that connect people to local resources and improve quality of life.
- The Rails-toTrails Conservancy named the Montour Trail its Trail of the Month in March 2015.
- In 2017, the Montour Trail was named Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year, citing its quality, benefits to the region, and strong volunteer network and partnerships. That same year, the Montour Trail was named a part of U.S. Bicycle Route 50, which runs east-west and, when completed, will span the country.
- Today, the MTC continues to complete the Trail as it gains new right of way or where replacement structures are required — at a cost of $12,000 in materials to resurface a mile of existing trail, as much as $2 million to renovate a viaduct.
More about the MTC’s efforts to build the rail-trail
The Organization
The Trail is maintained and managed by an extensive network of volunteers. Join us and be a “they.”
The Montour Trail Council (MTC) is a non-profit, all-volunteer group that builds, operates and maintains the Trail. It is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, relying on corporate, foundation and government grants as well as private donations for funding.