{"id":719,"date":"2025-10-30T14:13:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/?page_id=719"},"modified":"2025-10-30T14:29:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:29:55","slug":"photo-tour-of-mckeesport-to-pittsburgh-gap-131-148","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/photo-tour-of-mckeesport-to-pittsburgh-gap-131-148\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo Tour of McKeesport to Pittsburgh: GAP 131-148"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Monongahela River and
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overview <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling Westward<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Traveling Westward<\/span>.<\/strong> 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)<\/span><\/strong>. 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)<\/span>.<\/strong> 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)<\/span>.<\/strong> 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)<\/span><\/strong>. 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\u2019t 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\u2019s terminus in the park at mile marker 148+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling Eastward<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pittsburgh (GAP 145.5)<\/span><\/strong>. 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)<\/span><\/strong>. 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)<\/span><\/strong>. 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)<\/span><\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Tour<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Looking Eastward ……………… Looking Westward<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"
GAP 127-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 127-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 128-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 128-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 129-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 129-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 130-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 130-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"There
GAP 131-East. One mile along the little used River Ridge road is in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
GAP 131-West. The bridge in the background goes over the Youghiogheny River. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"The
GAP 132-East. The streets of McKeesport in the background are the trail. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 132-West. McKeesport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Between
GAP 133-East. McKeesport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 133-West. McKeesport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"This
GAP 134-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 134-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"On
GAP 135-East. This section to the bridge was repaved by a local trail club to eliminate the bumps in the trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
GAP 135-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 136-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"This
GAP 136-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"For
GAP 137-East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 137-West<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 138-East. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 138-West. Homestead is in the background. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 139-East. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 139-West. Entering Homestead. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 140-East. The Monongahela River borders the trail on the left. Yes, they switched the marker side.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 140-West. The Monongahela River borders the trail on the right. Yes, they switched the marker side.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 141-East. Homestead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 141-West. Homestead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 142-West. Picture of water park entrance. Didn’t have a picture looking east. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 142-West. Trail is sandwiched between railroad (left) and water park (right). <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 143-East. The trail is sandwiched between the railroad (right) and Monongahela River (left).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 143-West. The trail is sandwiched between the railroad (left) and Monongahela River (right). <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 144-East. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 144-West. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 145-East. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 145-West. Around the corner is the Hot Metal Bridge. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 146-East. Note: This is an old trail marker. The new 146 marker was missing. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 146-Wast. Note: This is an old trail marker. The new 146 marker was missing. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 147-East.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 147-West.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP148-East. The trail crosses an exit ramp and then follows the Monongahela River shore to the terminus. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 148-West. The walkway is a switchback that takes the trail down to river level. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Highlights & Fill-Ins:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The following are photos that I enjoy or fill-ins of areas or scenes missed by the mile markers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
GAP 132 McKeesport. The trail has a serpentine path through McKeesport. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Underpass Mural. [GAP 134.5]. The artist on the left was painting the mural in the underpass. He noted that the mural reduces tagging and graffiti. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Maintenance [GAP 136]. Unstable cuts and slides are common along the trail. Warning signs and physical barriers. which are visible down the trail, are provided. They could use the same strategy at Rockwood to Markletion (GAP 148.5) to reopen the trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kennywood Amusement Park [GAP 136.5]. Two roller coasters are visible from the GAP trail. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GAP 138 Cross-Over. There are two bridges which cross over the railroad tracks. This bridge is looking east just outside of Homestead. The trail becomes enclosed with woods. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Becoming Urban. [GAP 147] Downtown Pittsburgh is in the background. The major highway arteries parallel and cross over the trail. This is one of my favorite photos. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Terminus. [GAP 148.5] The plaque behind the biker is the terminus of the GAP trail. Its location is where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet to form the Ohio River. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Click Here for Previous Section: GAP 88-131<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Click Here to Return Main Page<\/a><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-full-width.php","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-719","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=719"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1284,"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/719\/revisions\/1284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertbkauffman.com\/BoatingSafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}