West Penn Trail

06/18/2025

Please note access to the Conemaugh River Lake Section of trail may be limited June 23-27 due to inspection stone arch bridges.

06/07/2025

A few of the 20+ interpretive signs installed by volunteers this spring. The signs were researched and written by Drr. William Dzombak many years ago. This installation was funded in part by a grant through Allegheny Ridge Corporation's Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway, a 320-mile corridor of heritage sites and hub communities linked by land and water trails. The program was funded through the Communtiy Conservation Partnerships Program, under the administration of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Support was also provided the Indiana County Endowment, administered by The Pittsburgh Foundation.

You can find an interactive map featuring more signs and info about the trail on Conemaugh Valley Conservancy 's website.

03/17/2025

Do you live around Blairsville and enjoy gardening? West Penn Trail’s Pollinator Paradise could use a few good hands to help with maintenance and expansion of the native planting near the Newport Road trail head. Whether you have a few days a week or a few hours, you can help us help this pollinator site thrive! Private message or send an email to [email protected] if you’d like to learn more.

01/20/2025

Although no one is probably out there today (tomorrow, next day...) please share any pictures you get using the trail in the snow! We have very few winter trail pics and would love to see some. Stay warm.

10/30/2024

Greetings! Time is running out to get one or all of WPT Engineer Jack Maguire's books about trail bridge and repair projects. Sales close this Friday, November 1, so get yours now. And keep enjoying the trail during these gorgeous days.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/H2DZb673xHoUFE3t/

Do you love the West Penn Trail? Did you ever wonder how all this happened? Now is your chance to own books documenting the history of four important WPT bridge construction projects and a major repair.
WPT Engineer Jack Maguire has created books detailing how some of the bridges were funded, designed, constructed, and in some cases, rehabilitated, and eventually opened for trail use.
- Conemaugh River Bridge at Saltsburg (2003)
- Loyalhanna Creek Bridge at Saltsburg (2003)
- Maguire Bridge over Blackleggs Creek (2006)
- Q-Span over Conemaugh River near Blairsville (2009)
- Saltsburg Section Slide Repair-Retaining Wall (2019)
Mr. Maguire’s personal photographs illustrate various phases of each project. These efforts involved not only creativity but an incredible amount of hard work by dedicated volunteers. You’ll be amazed by the ingenuity, expertise, and sheer energy of the teams who made these bridges – and the trail itself – possible. Their work significantly enhanced the quality of life in the Kiski-Conemaugh corridor.
- Get any or all of these great books with the order form below for $25 to cover production costs, plus $9 per book shipping.
- Please note that we will order all books at once based on sales available at the printer, so it could be weeks or months before books are delivered. This special sale project will end on November 1, 2024, so please submit your orders by October 31.
- A Saltsburg pick up option will be available to avoid shipping – we’ll let you know when and where.
Here is the book order form: https://form.jotform.com/242054933620047

08/08/2024

Trail engineer Jack Maguire's pictorial books describing the development of several trail bridges and other projects are now available for purchase! See details and an order link below.

Do you love the West Penn Trail? Did you ever wonder how all this happened? Now is your chance to own books documenting the history of four important WPT bridge construction projects and a major repair.
WPT Engineer Jack Maguire has created books detailing how some of the bridges were funded, designed, constructed, and in some cases, rehabilitated, and eventually opened for trail use.
- Conemaugh River Bridge at Saltsburg (2003)
- Loyalhanna Creek Bridge at Saltsburg (2003)
- Maguire Bridge over Blackleggs Creek (2006)
- Q-Span over Conemaugh River near Blairsville (2009)
- Saltsburg Section Slide Repair-Retaining Wall (2019)
Mr. Maguire’s personal photographs illustrate various phases of each project. These efforts involved not only creativity but an incredible amount of hard work by dedicated volunteers. You’ll be amazed by the ingenuity, expertise, and sheer energy of the teams who made these bridges – and the trail itself – possible. Their work significantly enhanced the quality of life in the Kiski-Conemaugh corridor.
- Get any or all of these great books with the order form below for $25 to cover production costs, plus $9 per book shipping.
- Please note that we will order all books at once based on sales available at the printer, so it could be weeks or months before books are delivered. This special sale project will end on November 1, 2024, so please submit your orders by October 31.
- A Saltsburg pick up option will be available to avoid shipping – we’ll let you know when and where.
Here is the book order form: https://form.jotform.com/242054933620047

07/17/2024

Work on the Saltsburg section of trail is on hold until early next week. Enjoy the coming weekend!

07/14/2024

Hello - the Saltsburg section of the trail is being re-surfaced starting Monday, July 15 and will continue, as weather permits, until completed. There'll be some machinery and moving parts for about 3.7 miles from Saltsburg toward Whites Station. Sorry for any inconvenience. Here's the trail map in case anyone needs a reminder of what section is where. Thanks!

07/01/2024

After more than 50 hours of volunteer time, the trail has been cleared of trees. Enjoy!

06/28/2024

Hello again - volunteers have removed most of the trees from the Conemaugh River Lake section, from Newport Road to bridge 3. There are still quite a few between bridge 3 and the tunnel. It will most likely be early next week before it is clear. Let's hear it for these volunteers!

06/27/2024

Several large trees are down on the Conemaugh River Lake section (between Blairsville and Bow Ridge). For your convenience, this section will remain closed until volunteers have time to clear them all. Work started today. There may be other trees down on other sections of the trail, so use caution if you plan on being on the trail in the next few days. Thanks to the volunteers out there working to clear!