Yough River Trail Council
The Yough River Trail Council maintains a 12.6-mile section of the Great Allegheny Passage in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, running along the Youghiogheny River from the Connellsville trailhead up to Layton (mileposts 89–102).
Overview
About the Yough River section
The Yough River Trail Council maintains a 12.6-mile section of the Great Allegheny Passage along the Youghiogheny River, from the Connellsville trailhead up to Layton (mileposts 89–102). Its responsibility ends at the western edge of Connellsville — the stretch on toward Ohiopyle is maintained by others. It is an all-volunteer group that runs fundraising activities through the year for supplies, equipment, utilities, and upkeep.
The Council maintains a primitive campground at Round Bottom and a campground with Adirondack-style shelters at the Connellsville trailhead — the latter with year-round water and toilet facilities, video surveillance, and an 18-hour supply store in the nearby Martin's Grocery. The trail council currently has roughly 170 paid members and is always looking for more.
The Yough River Trail Council is based at 794 Vanderbilt Road, Connellsville. Monthly meetings are held in the "Blue Building" behind Martin's Grocery Plaza at 800 Vanderbilt Road (Route 201), Connellsville, and are open to the public.
Good for
- Cycling
- Walking
- Running
- Cross-country skiing
The setting
What you’ll see
The trail traces the Youghiogheny River through a wooded river corridor that is among the most scenic on the entire Great Allegheny Passage. The river is a noted spot for bald eagle and great blue heron sightings, and the corridor around Connellsville glows with color in fall.
The history
Rail & industrial heritage
The route follows a former railroad corridor that once carried coal and coke out of the Connellsville coke region — at its peak one of the most productive coke districts in the world.
On the trail
Scenes from the Yough River section
Getting on the trail
Trailheads & access
Connellsville Trailhead
794 Vanderbilt Rd, Connellsville, PA 15425
Dawson
Riverside access near milepost 96
Layton
Upper end of the chapter's section (milepost 102)
Amenities
Facilities along the way
- Year-round restrooms at the Connellsville trailhead
- Year-round water at the Connellsville trailhead
- Campground and Adirondack-style shelters in Connellsville
- Primitive campground at Round Bottom
- Paved parking
- 18-hour supply store at Martin's Grocery
- Video surveillance at the trailhead
Keep this trail open
An all-volunteer council of roughly 170 members. Volunteers handle fundraising, maintenance, and the upkeep of the Connellsville campground and trailhead.
Meetings: Monthly, in the "Blue Building" behind Martin's Grocery Plaza, Connellsville. Email for the next date.
Meet the people who maintain this trail
Chapter officers
President
Don Takac
dtakac@zoominternet.net724-322-1313Vice President
Gary Wandel
calcman@verizon.net724-322-6037Treasurer
Ted Shal
tshaljr@hotmail.com724-323-3451Secretary
Mike Comiskey
Cmc2@psu.edu724-732-1550
Good to know
Yough River section FAQ
- Where is the Yough River section?
- The Yough River Trail Council maintains a 12.6-mile section of the Great Allegheny Passage in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, running along the Youghiogheny River from the Connellsville trailhead up to Layton (mileposts 89–102).
- How long is the Yough River section?
- The Yough River section covers 12.6 miles. A flat, 12.6-mile stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage along the Youghiogheny River through Connellsville and the Fayette County countryside.
- Is the Yough River section part of the Great Allegheny Passage?
- Yes. The Yough River section is maintained by the Yough River Trail Council as part of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), the 150-mile rail-trail between Pittsburgh, PA and Cumberland, MD.
- Is the Yough River section accessible and family-friendly?
- Firm crushed-limestone surface suitable for hybrid and gravel bikes, joggers, and most strollers. Year-round water and restrooms at the Connellsville trailhead.
- How can I volunteer on the Yough River section?
- An all-volunteer council of roughly 170 members. Volunteers handle fundraising, maintenance, and the upkeep of the Connellsville campground and trailhead. To get involved, contact dtakac@zoominternet.net.
Help keep the trails there for you.
Whether you pitch in on a volunteer day or chip in a few dollars, every TrailKeeper makes the next mile possible.