FreeWheeling Easy Supplement

The past year has brought new energy to the trail system that aims to connect Pittsburgh with Harrisburg following the route of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. The trail is also called the Path of the Flood Trail or, more informally, the Double Burger. From Pittsburgh, this route goes up the Allegheny, Kiskiminetas, Conemaugh, and Little Conemaugh Rivers. It crosses the Alleghenies on the Allegheny Portage RR and then runs onward to Harrisburg.

Working from west to east, this will involve:

• the current Roaring Run Trail near Apollo, with a future extension to Edmon
  
• the future West Penn Trail from Blairsville to Saltsburg
  
• Saltsburg Section, also called R&P Trail, 3.5 miles from Tunnelton to Saltsburg and a 3.5-mile spur up Loyalhanna Creek. This should be open on dirt surface early in 2002, but the bridges connecting the two sections require major renovation and will take longer; the branch up Loyalhanna Ck may eventually be extended to Murrysville
  
• Conemaugh Dam Section, 3.3 miles, including four magnificent stone arch bridges through the loops of Conemaugh Lake. This section is scheduled for construction during 2002
  
• on-road routes into Johnstown and several short trails in Johnstown
  
• the current Staple Bend trail, extended at both ends to join Ehrenfeld with the outskirts of Johnstown
  
• the future Incline 6-10 trail in Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
  
• the current Lower Trail, with a future extension to Canoe Creek State Park

The extensive trail system growing up around the existing Ghost Town and Hoodlebug trails will connect with the main line of the Mainline near Blairsville or Blacklick. These plans will result in a tantalizing collection of individual sections. Various groups are looking at ways to connect them into a continuous route.