Trail description: The Armstrong Trail extends 52 miles along the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh from Schenley to East Brady. About 10 miles of the trail through Kittanning have been resurfaced. The remaining unimproved trail is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Access fee: Towns along the trail: Schenley, Kittanning, East Brady, PA Web site:Armstrong Trail Trail map: Available on the trail's website Trail surface: 10 miles of crushed sandstone, the remaining unimproved sections may not be passable Designated activities: Mountain biking, walking Facilities on the trail: Points of interest: Lodging: Kittanning has a hotel and other accommodations Camping: Bike shops: Pittsburgh Weather forecast:Pittsburgh Tourism info:Armstrong County Tourism Getting to the trail: Kittanning is in west central PA, about 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh Map of local region:Schneley | Kittanning | East Brady
Trail name: Armstrong Trail Times biking the trail: Few Date of last visit: Sept, 2004 Sections that I biked: i have been on the trail from east brady to red bank creek,up red bank creek to lawsonham. from templeton north to where it is blocked off, and from kittanning south to schenley. My favourite sections of the trail: from east brady to red bank creek -old round table, tunnel and coal loading tower.
from kittanning to schenley- old coke ovens and old factories on trail Best time to go: when ever you are up to the ride!! Trail marking: Poor Trail maintenance: Poor Rating: 2 stars What I liked: not a lot of people and a lot to see What I disliked: cars , trucks , atv's on trail!!!!!!!!!! Comments: trail is rough most of the trail , done in some of the towns . Submitted by: w.w.s. from: waterford pa. Date submitted: Sept 5, 2004
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Trail name: Armstrong Trail Times biking the trail: Once Date of last visit: July, 2004 Sections that I biked: I biked from East Brady to about a mile past the river lock/dam. My favourite sections of the trail: The tunnel that used to be open to Sara Furnace, along with any visible reminders of the past. Best time to go: Trail marking: Poor Trail maintenance: Poor Rating: 0.5 stars What I liked: I enjoyed the vegetation, the river and the extremely rare spots which my hybrid bike could tolerate. Hardly anything is left of Sara Furnace (if you check out that separate stop off the highway). The owners of a house/cottage right there were very kind in filling me with the history of that area. In fact, a fellow who originally worked at the furnace lived in the house adjacent to the people I met. What I disliked: About a mile or so past the lock/dam, I came across the trail as being clearly blocked with "Private Property & No Trespassing "warnings. I had no alternate path to take in this heavy brush, but had to turn around. There is another spot where you might feel like you are violating one's preference for privacy, but there is no other way through. Besides having to turn around, I couldn't deal with any more large gravel, and stayed away from an adult and 2 young boys tooling around on & near the path with ATV's. Comments: (Sara Furnace notation above) I hope this trail receives funds and appropriate 'muscle' to designate a safe path. I rarely could look up from my bike, as I was putting all my energy in controlling it on most of the surface! Also,if a property owner prevails in litigation, then how about an easy alternative jaunt around that particular spot? A well maintained trail will bring people, a very visible statement that the rail line is here to stay.. for all. Then maybe encroachment will be held in check. Submitted by: Dave S. from: Erie, Pa. Date submitted: Aug 4, 2004
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Trail name: Armstrong Trail Times biking the trail: Several Date of last visit: Sept, 2003 Sections that I biked: I have biked many sections of this trail, from Schenely up to sections north of Kittanning. My favourite sections of the trail: The wild sections buried between the lock at Schenely and the lock at Logansport, with wonderful views of the Allegheny River. Best time to go: Summer / Fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Poor Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: I enjoyed the historic sites along the sides of the trail - this was truly early 1900's industrial Pennsylvania. Near Logansport, there are actual coke furnaces rounded into the hillside that date back to at least 1870. There are also old factories by Logansport which are worth seeing. Yes, the trail is rough, but the Allegheny river is wonderful to follow. What I disliked: The lack of respect for the "No motorized vehicles" signs. Unfortunately, parts of the trail have become nothing more than a 4-wheel drive road to private "camps" (old trailers and older boats) along the Allegheny river. The trail is rocky in parts - you would need a mountain bike for the section I'm talking about - and can be muddy in the spring. Comments: I basically enjoyed the trail for its ruggedness, for the fact that you don't have to avoid kids on tricylces and in-line skaters. You can just bike - rough gravel and all. Also, with 52 open miles of rough ground to choose from, you never leave feeling, "If only the trail were a little longer...". Finally, I beleive this trail NEEDS support, otherwise it will just degenerate into a back-country road for 4-wheel vehicles, littered with trash, trailers, and rusting hunks of steel no-one wants in their yard. Submitted by: Lisa Helsel from: Butler, PA Date submitted: Jan 24, 2004
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Trail name: Armstrong Trail Times biking the trail: Once Date of last visit: Sept, 2002 Sections that I biked: lawsonham to east brady My favourite sections of the trail: The river and the scenery are beautiful.
The ride is primative but nice Best time to go: never (fall) Trail marking: Poor Trail maintenance: Poor Rating: 2 stars Likes and dislikes: I hated the atv's, 4 wheel drives and load parties at the trail camp sites. I am assuming no one cares about the no motor rule. Be careful while biking and hiking not to get hit by a high speed atv. There is also lots of litter along the trail. Comments: There are many fast moving atv's along the trail. Stay at the confort inn at west kittanning. The river and scenery are beautiful. Submitted by: cws from: Marshallville Ohio Date submitted: Sept 1, 2002
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