Questions, answered

The Regional Trail Corporation (RTC) is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991. It converts abandoned railroad corridors across southwestern Pennsylvania into public, non-motorized trails and maintains more than 85 miles of rail-trail today, including much of the Great Allegheny Passage.

TrailKeepers is the name for the community of volunteers, members, and supporters who keep RTC's trails open — the people who maintain the corridors, fund supplies through membership and donations, and advocate for trail access. Becoming a TrailKeeper is how you join the work.

RTC and its nine local chapters maintain the trails, almost entirely with volunteer labor. Each chapter is a community group responsible for a named section of trail, with its own officers, maintenance schedule, and events.

The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) is a 150-mile rail-trail between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cumberland, Maryland. At Cumberland it connects to the C&O Canal Towpath, creating a continuous, car-free route of more than 330 miles to Washington, D.C. It follows former railroad grades and is nearly flat for most of its length, climbing more noticeably only near the Eastern Continental Divide above Cumberland.

RTC chapters maintain about 50 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania — a little under a third of the 150-mile route. Six chapters care for consecutive sections, from the Steel Valley and McKeesport sections near Pittsburgh, through the Mon/Yough and Westmoreland Yough sections at West Newton, to the Whitsett/Fayette and Yough River sections around Connellsville.

Yes. Every trail RTC maintains is open to the public free of charge, year-round, dawn to dusk.

RTC's trails run across three southwestern Pennsylvania counties — Allegheny, Fayette, and Westmoreland — through trail towns including Connellsville, West Newton, McKeesport, Homestead, Greensburg, Youngwood, Mount Pleasant, Scottdale, Saltsburg, and Trafford.

Most sections are firm, fine crushed limestone on former railroad grades, so they're nearly flat — generally under 2%. The Steel Valley and McKeesport sections include paved stretches. The surfaces suit hybrid, gravel, and touring bikes, as well as walkers, runners, and most strollers.

Many are. The Five Star Trail, Westmoreland Heritage Trail, and Coal & Coke Trail are flat and ADA-compliant, and the Whitsett/Fayette section has a playground, ball field, and basketball court right beside the trail — ideal for young families.

Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the trails. Please keep dogs on a short leash, yield to other trail users, and pack out any waste.

Horseback riding is permitted on the Mon/Yough section, which welcomes riders of all ages and abilities. Most other sections are intended for walking, running, and cycling only — check the individual trail page before you go.

Traditional motor vehicles, ATVs, and dirt bikes are not permitted. Pedal-assist e-bikes that meet the Great Allegheny Passage standards are welcome: an electric motor of 750 watts or less, a total weight under 100 pounds, no more than 36 inches wide, and fully operating pedals. Wheelchairs and mobility devices built for people with disabilities are always welcome.

Each chapter has marked trailheads with parking. Year-round water and restrooms are at the Connellsville trailhead, which also has a campground with Adirondack shelters plus a primitive campground at Round Bottom; the Mon/Yough section has a campground in Elizabeth Township near the Boston trailhead; and Boston has a seasonal visitor center. See any trail page for its specific facilities.

Volunteering happens at the chapter level. Find the trail nearest you on the Trails page, open its page for meeting times and officer contacts, or email the Regional Trail Corporation to be pointed in the right direction. No experience is needed — tools and training are provided.

RTC is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 25-1660116), so gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You can give by mailing a check to the Regional Trail Corporation in West Newton, PA, or support the trails by shopping the official GAP Trail Store. See the Donate page for details.