Fayette County, PA Building Hiking Biking Trail to Connect to Mon River Trail (Wheeling: rail, yard)
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Yeah, that's why this would only happen in a perfect world! We live far from that with the state of politics and business in WV. It would take an enormous grass-roots effort to even complete one of these trails, let alone all of them. Fairmont is just now finishing its trail system around the city. Hurricane is planning some trails around the town, if I'm not mistaken. Of the trails I created, the ones that I think would have a chance at getting to the planning stage at the very least would be the connection of the trails between Lewisburg up to Tucker County, possibly a connection to Richwood as well, and of course the connection from Morgantown to the GAP. My "Metro Valley Corridor," though, really needs implemented, or at least sections going out from Charleston and Huntington that could be used for commuting. If we want to grow as a region, that means attracting people, and part of that is making a desirable place to live (nevermind the fact that we would need new businesses too!). Students and young professionals are sorely needed in Charleston to continue the downtown revival, and frankly, a lot of us don't have a lot of money to throw around for gas. Charleston really could use a good network of trails and routes for pedestrian/bike use, which is why I'm still mad about the cross-town path from South Charleston to the Capitol not progressing.
The blue-gray trail is the Great Allegheny Passage that connects to the B&O Canal Towpath around Berkeley County. The two trails connect Pittsburgh to DC.
Actually, the Great Allegheny Passage goes from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. There, it connects with the C&O Canal Towpath which goes from Cumberland to Washington, DC. There's quite a lot of history along the C&O Canal. Originally planned to go to Ohio (Chesapeake and Ohio), it never made it passed Cumberland. I think it's great that the Mon River Trail will connect to the Great Allegheny Passage. The GAP and C&O Canal Towpath bring a lot of tourism and business to Downtown Cumberland and, with that connection, I could see Morgantown benefitting in the future as well.
I seem to remember seeing part of the C&O system going alongside of I70 between Hancock and Hagerstown. That is near a nice state park in Maryland too.
Actually, the Great Allegheny Passage goes from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. There, it connects with the C&O Canal Towpath which goes from Cumberland to Washington, DC. There's quite a lot of history along the C&O Canal. Originally planned to go to Ohio (Chesapeake and Ohio), it never made it passed Cumberland. I think it's great that the Mon River Trail will connect to the Great Allegheny Passage. The GAP and C&O Canal Towpath bring a lot of tourism and business to Downtown Cumberland and, with that connection, I could see Morgantown benefitting in the future as well.
Did 150 miles of that towpath, 75 bike, 75 run. What an adventure.
Yeah, and how is the condition of the trail? I heard it's flat near the Potomac but the trail wasn't in the best shape. I'm thinking about taking a few days this summer and biking from the closest connection to Morgantown (if not the start around Pittsburgh) to the end of the C&O.
We did it in 5 days, camping along the way. We took our time, and the trail was in good shape. There is alot of history on that trail, and I could see the Elk River Trail being very similar.
Bumped for those interested. A mile and a half section of the Sheepskin Trail is now done from GAP to Dunbar, PA.
I recently finished a map of the proposed trails in Preston County and Fayette County, PA if anyone wants to take a gander: Proposed Rail Trails
The Sheepskin Trail route is a rough guess on my part, following a rail line and what appears to be an abandoned rail corridor in southern Fayette Co.
The Mon River Trail Connector is conceptual on my part, since I haven't seen any plans for it, but it is no doubt part of the ultimate plan as it would connect two long trail segments.
The Cheat River Trail is being developed now, and when finished will be absolutely beautiful. You can check out specifics at Friends of the Cheat. CSX and Greer Limestone are helping with this trail, and the trailhead in Manheim will be at the old Rowlesburg school site, which will be converted into a community center.
The Kingwood-to-Tunnelton trail is a rough alignment on my part, following the old WV Northern line. The PC Rail Trails Committee and Friends of Cheat recently got a property donation at the what will be the trailhead in Kingwood. Plans call for a community center, garden, dog park, interactive exhibits.
The other two trails are segments connecting the existing Decker's Creek Trail to the new Cheat River Trail. Those are the planned alignments, but I haven't seen any updates on those segments. IMO, the first thing they need to focus on is extending the Decker's Creek Trail to Kingwood. That will bring in more cyclists who may want to continue on to the new trails. I know that some people who aren't comfortable riding on the road that would love to get all the way to Kingwood and maybe have lunch there before heading back to Morgantown.
They broke ground about a week ago for the last mile of the Great Allegheny Passage. The "missing link" in the 370 mile trail from Downtown Pittsburgh to Washington DC is at the Sandcastle Amusement Park, and is expected to be completed by Spring 2013, at a cost of $3.4 million.
Is any progress being made on either the Allegheny Highlands Trail (Elkins to Hendricks) or the Blackwater Canyon Trail (Hendricks to Davis/Thomas)?
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