Linking Up Finding the Trail Heads

Finding the Trailheads

Most of the time it’s easy to follow the route on these trails – for example, on the C&O Towpath, keep the Potomac River on your left if you’re headed to Cumberland, on your right if you’re headed to Washington.  However, one quirk of this route is that it’s a little tricky to find the ends of the trail in McKeesport and Washington and to stay on the trail for the first mile or two (or to stay on the trail all the way to the end). Here are some hints.

McKeesport Trailhead

The McKeesport trailhead is at McKees Point Marina, on Water St near 5^th Ave.

To drive there, go to McKeesport on PA148, turn west on Lysle Ave as if you were going to cross the Youghiogheny River. Just before the bridge, bear right on the ramp that descends to river level. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left on Water St. Alternatively, take the 56C bus from downtown (it has racks for two upright bikes).

To get onto the Great Allegheny Passage from McKees Point Marina, follow Water St to 9^th Ave. At the circle, follow the limestone trail until it ends at a road, follow that road, cross the next street back onto trail, and stay on the limestone as it twists right, left, right, right and left (crossing three more streets). Bear left at the fork to the 15^th St bridge, cross the bridge, take the first left and the next right onto River Rd. At the end of the road, follow the trail on the right side of the street.

To find McKees Point Marina from the trail, follow the trail around the pipe plant, follow River Rd to the 15^th St Bridge, cross the bridge on the far sidewalk, follow the limestone trail to the Marina, which is at the mouth of the river.

Washington Trailhead

The Washington trailhead is on the south (downstream) side of Thompson’s Boat House at the mouth of Rock Creek.

To drive there, find your way to Thompson Boat Center (directions at http://www.thompsonboatcenter.com/direct.htm). From the parking lot, follow the road to the boathouse, then go around the boathouse to the mouth of Rock Creek.

To get onto the C&O Canal Towpath from Thompson Boat Center, go around the boathouse to the parking lot. Turn left on the sidewalk next to the road. Follow the sidewalk across two roads and a bridge across Rock Creek. Immediately after crossing the creek, turn left down a short hill on the brick towpath.

To find Thompson Boat Center from the trail, follow the trail along the canal until the brick towpath climbs to a sidewalk. Turn right, follow the sidewalk to Thompson Boat Center, and go around the boathouse to the mouth of Rock Creek.

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