Photo Tour of McKeesport to Pittsburgh: GAP 131-148

Monongahela River and
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad

Overview

Examination of aerial maps reveals this section is industrial. Surprisingly, much of the industry is hidden from the trail, which is more scenic than might be expected. Often vegetation encloses the sides and top view.

Traveling Westward

Traveling Westward. Examination of aerial maps reveals this section is industrial. Surprisingly, much of the industry is hidden from the trail, which is more scenic than might be expected. Vegetation encloses the sides and top view. McKeesport (GAP 131). At the 131-mile mark, the trail crosses a bridge into McKeesport. The confluence of the Youghiogheny River with the Monongahela River is in McKeesport. The trail winds its way through the streets of McKeesport and crosses the Monongahela River at the 134-mile mark. At the 136-mile mark, the trail crosses over the railroad tracks. Kennywood (GAP 136.5). For two miles, vegetation encloses the trail on the sides and top. The trail passes Kennywood amusement park, and there is a spot where you can view some rides (136.5 mile marker). At the 138-mile marker, the trail crosses back over the railroad tracks. Homestead (GAP 139). Sharing the road for a short distance (139-mile marker), the trail enters Homestead. The steel industry is gone, and they redeveloped it into a commercial area. The trail follows next to the Monongahela River (140-mile marker) through Homestead. From the 141-mile marker to just after the 145-mile marker, the river and railroad sandwich the trail. Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh (145.5). At the 145.5 mile marker, the trail crosses the Hot Metal Bridge and the Monongahela River. Although the trail environment is urban, it isn’t until after mile marker 147 that the trail enters Pittsburgh proper. The trail parallels major highways feeding downtown Pittsburgh, and the sound of vehicles is apparent. The trail does a good job of avoiding downtown streets and traffic. It follows the walkway next to the Monongahela River to the trail’s terminus in the park at mile marker 148+.

Traveling Eastward

Pittsburgh (GAP 145.5). For those traveling east toward Cumberland and Washington, DC, the GAP trail begins at the confluence of the Monongahela and Alleghany Rivers to form the Ohio River. The spot is marked with a metal marker in the walkway. The trail follows the shore of the Monongahela River. This avoids downtown traffic. At the 147-mile marker, the switchback elevates the trail to street level. The trail crosses an exit ramp and runs parallel to several major highways to the Hot Metal Bridge (GAP 145.5) where it crosses over the Monongahela River. The traffic noise is substantial along this section. From the 145-mile marker to just after the 141-mile marker where the trail enters Homestead, the river and railroad sandwich the trail. Homestead (GAP 140). The steel industry is gone, and they redeveloped it into a commercial area. The trail is adjacent to the Monongahela River (140-mile marker) through Homestead. Pittsburgh. Exiting Homestead, the trail shares the road for a short distance (139-mile marker). Sufficient barriers separate the trail from the road. Kennywood (GAP 136). At the 138-mile marker, the trail crosses over the railroad tracks. For two miles, vegetation encloses the trail on the sides and top. The trail passes Kennywood amusement park, and there is a spot where you can view some rides (136.5 mile marker). For an urban and industrial area, this wood section is hidden from the urban and industrial areas. At the 136-mile mark, the trail crosses back over the railroad tracks. The trail crosses the Monongahela River at the 134-mile mark. McKeesport (GAP 131). The route through McKeesport is serpentine but well marked. Traffic is not normally a problem. Ironically, more traffic crossings are encountered in McKeesport than in downtown Pittsburgh. Exiting McKeesport, the trail crosses the single lane bike lane on the bridge crossing the Youghiogheny River before the 131-mile mark. From McKeesport, the GAP trail follows the Youghiogheny River eastward.