Regional Trail Corporation
We Are TrailKeepers:
We make sure the trails are there when you need them.
- 200+
- miles of trail
- 10,000+
- volunteer hours a year
- 9
- local chapters
- 35
- years of stewardship
across four trail systems
one of PA's largest all-volunteer trail programs
rooted in their own communities
building trails since 1991
Who we are
Transforming old railroad lines into greenways
The Regional Trail Corporation (RTC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991. We were at the forefront of a wonderful, growing phenomenon: old abandoned railroad lines transformed into greenways — creating new ideas in recreation, conservation, and tourism, and tying cities, small communities, and municipalities together. Today RTC and its local chapters care for more than 200 miles of rail-trail across Fayette, Westmoreland, Allegheny, and Indiana counties.
Almost all of that work is done by volunteers. The people who mow the corridors, resurface the limestone, clear downed trees after a storm, and staff the visitor centers are TrailKeepers — the name we give to everyone who gives time, money, or a voice to keep these trails open and free to use.
6 of our 9 chapters maintain sections of the Great Allegheny Passage, the 150-mile rail-trail connecting Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, where it meets the C&O Canal Towpath for a continuous, car-free route all the way to Washington, D.C.
Many communities, one trail
New concepts in recreation, conservation & tourism
We were at the forefront of a wonderful, growing phenomenon: old abandoned railroad lines transformed into greenways — tying cities, small communities, and municipalities together across southwestern Pennsylvania. Behind it all is the network our chapters keep open.
See maps & trip planning
Many communities. One shared responsibility.
- Bicycling
- Walking
- Running
- Hiking
- Skiingcross-country
- Horsebackselect trails
What TrailKeepers do
It takes maintenance.
Every mile you ride or walk is the product of three ongoing efforts — and each one needs people.
Maintenance
The physical work that keeps trails open and safe: resurfacing, mowing, clearing downed trees and landslides, and building the benches, kiosks, and shelters trail users rely on.
Advocacy
The quiet, persistent work of protecting trail access — coordinating with railroads, municipalities, and the state, and securing the leases and grants that keep corridors public.
Community
The visible presence that grows the movement: annual events, visitor centers, and local chapters that turn a trail into a place where neighbors meet and the next generation falls in love with the outdoors.
Nine local chapters
Find a trail near you
According to the Pennsylvania DCNR, the Great Allegheny Passage is one of the most-visited rail-trails in the United States, drawing an estimated 1 million visitors a year — and TrailKeepers volunteers are the primary workforce keeping it and three more trail systems maintained. Each chapter is a local volunteer group caring for its own named section.
Great Allegheny Passage23 miles · Fayette County
Yough River Bike Trail
A flat, 23-mile stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage along the Youghiogheny River through Connellsville and the Fayette County countryside.
Explore this trailGreat Allegheny Passage10.5 miles · Westmoreland County
Westmoreland Yough Trail
10.5 wooded miles of the Great Allegheny Passage along the Youghiogheny River through southern Westmoreland County, with a visitor center in West Newton.
Explore this trail
Great Allegheny PassageAbout 5 miles (mileposts 41–46) · Fayette County
Whitsett-Fayette Yough Trail
A short, family-focused section of the Great Allegheny Passage around mileposts 41–46 with a playground, ball field, pavilions, and paved parking.
Explore this trail
Great Allegheny PassageAllegheny County
Steel Valley Trail
The Mon Valley section of the Great Allegheny Passage, linking McKeesport, Duquesne, and the Homestead Waterfront on the doorstep of Pittsburgh.
Explore this trail
Great Allegheny PassageAllegheny County
Mon / Yough Trail Council
The 'Boston Trail' section of the Great Allegheny Passage along the Youghiogheny River, with a seasonal visitor center at the Boston trailhead.
Explore this trail
Regional TrailAbout 8 miles · Westmoreland County
Five Star Trail
A flat, accessible rail-with-trail from Greensburg to Youngwood — popular for walking, running, and easy family rides in the heart of Westmoreland County.
Explore this trail
Regional TrailAbout 5 miles · Westmoreland County
Coal and Coke Trail
A history-rich rail-trail between Mount Pleasant and Scottdale, following Jacob's Creek past old coke ovens in the heart of the coke region.
Explore this trailRegional Trail8.5 miles (Saltsburg–Delmont) + 9.3 miles (Export–Trafford) · Westmoreland County
Westmoreland Heritage Trail
A scenic, wide, accessible rail-trail through Westmoreland County's heritage communities — two growing sections aimed at a 22-mile route that will one day reach the GAP.
Explore this trail
Great Allegheny PassageAllegheny County
McKeesport Trail Commission
The city-appointed commission that connects, maintains, and improves the GAP and the McKeesport LOOP through the City of McKeesport.
Explore this trailThree ways in
There’s a place for you on the trail
It starts with showing up. The trails exist because people built them — and they stay open because people maintain them. Visit, volunteer, or simply represent: every bit keeps the next mile open.
Visit a Trail
Explore our trails and we're certain you'll gain an appreciation for their beauty — and a reason to help keep them open.
See our trails
Volunteer
Organized trail-maintenance days run year-round across all four trail systems. No experience required; training is provided on site.
Find opportunities
Represent Us
A TrailKeeper jersey on the GAP, a cap at a club ride, a patch on a pack — each one extends the community into places no newsletter can reach.
Shop merchSupport the trails
Keep the trails open and free.
The Regional Trail Corporation is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Almost every dollar you give goes straight into the corridor — surfacing, signage, bridges, and tools — and every gift is tax-deductible.
Regional Trail Corporation · 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 25-1660116
- Resurfacing & grading
- Bridges & trailheads
- Signage & kiosks
- Fuel, parts & tools