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There are currently two significant gaps in the trail between Pittsburgh and Washington: Hazelwood PA to Boston PA, and Meyersdale PA to Cumberland MD. These future trail segments are not yet open to the public, so through-trips must detour on roads. We recommend driving these, not biking them. Therefore these directions are written for car drivers. We road-checked them in May 2003.
Most people who ride these trails are trying to avoid traffic; you won’t want to ride bides on the detours, and we concur. However, some people will decide to bike the detours anyhow. Variations of the detours that encounter slightly less traffic are described at http://spoke.compose.cs.cmu.edu/fwe/trips/cue.htm . If you do ride the detours, be careful, and wear your helmet.
Cumberland to Meyersdale (32.6 miles)
We describe the gap between Cumberland and Meyersdale in three sections, because you may want to handle them differently – for example, scenic railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg, car to the state line, ride bikes to Meyersdale.
Cumberland’s WMSRR station to Frostburg’s WMSRR station (13.6 miles)
The bike along the Western Maryland Scenic RR may be surfaced during 2000 or 2001. Until this is done, you may take bikes on the train (warn them that you’re coming). We definitely recommend this alternative – the train ride is great, and the road ride isn't. Even so, it’s useful to know the road alternative. Note that on part of the leg you go north on a road called MD36 south. This is not an error, but a quirk of road naming
| Dist | Directions |
| 0.0 | Western Maryland Scenic RR Station in Cumberland, terminus of C&O Canal towpath (elevation 620’). Leave the parking lot by turning left on S. Mechanic St (unmarked) |
| 0.2 | Turn right on Frederick St (forced turn) and go two blocks to Centre St |
| 0.3 | Turn left on Centre St. Pass Bikes N Things at 165 Centre St (0.4 mi) |
| 1.1 | Rejoin Mechanic St, becoming the northbound lane (elevation 630’) |
| 1.2 | Straight at light on Alt US40 west. Here traffic speed picks up and the road has no shoulder |
| 1.5 | Cross Wills Ck. Good shoulder starts here (elevation 630’) |
| 1.8 | Enter "The Narrows". Shoulder diminishes to almost nothing as the road, creek, and two railroads all squeeze through a narrow gap at the end of Haystack Mountain |
| 2.3 | At light, go straight on MD36 south (elevation 650’). Shoulder resumes. |
| 7.4 | Barrelville (elevation 960’). For this route, remain on MD36. The MD47/PA160 route over the mountain (to PA219 at Berlin) takes off here, climbing 1600’ in 6 miles |
| 7.9 | Paved shoulder ends and the climb becomes noticeable |
| 11.5 | Go straight as MD638 goes left (elevation 1480’) |
| 12.6 | Bear left on New Hope Rd (elevation 1600’). Sugar Row rd goes right here. |
| 13.4 | Pass under trestle (elevation 1810’; trail will eventually cross here) |
| 13.6 | Enter Western Md Scenic Railroad Station (elevation 1940’). |
Frostburg’s WMSRR station to MD/PA Line (7.0 miles)
We wouldn’t want to ride this on a bike; it entails a steep climb up a busy road. Many cyclists would be very happy if someone offered a shuttle service from the Western Md RR station at least as far as the state line.
| Dist | Directions |
| 0.0 | Leave the Western Md Scenic RR station by climbing a steep 1-block hill to Alt US40 in downtown Frostburg (elevation 2020’) |
| 0.2 | Turn right on Main St, Alt US40 (elevation 2020’) |
| 0.9 | There’s a good shoulder for 2.5 miles except for an occasional narrow patch or some debris |
| 3.0 | Top of Big Savage Mountain (elevation 2850’). Unfortunately, you have to descend (to elevation 2670’) and climb again |
| 3.6 | Left on the ramp to go to MD 946 (elevation 2725’). The ramp has a marginal shoulder and a steep climb (to elevation 2790’) |
| 4.2 | Turn left, then right on Finzel Rd (MD546, elevation 2760’). The shoulder is narrow but well-paved, and you climb for 0.7 mile more, then follow rolling hills (to elevation 2820’) |
| 7.0 | MD/PA state line (elevation 2620’) |
MD/PA Line to Meyersdale (12.0 miles)
This is almost all downhill on paved roads, except for one short steep climb at Sand Patch. Best of all, there is almost no traffic on the roads. Some maps show Deal Rd (TR829) as SR2006, but we didn’t see any markers on the road until mile 5.7.
| Dist | Directions |
| 0.0 | MD/PA state line (elevation 2620’). For Mason-Dixon campground, turn left at 0.1 mi |
| 0.15 | Turn right on SR2011 (Flaugherty Run Rd, elevation 2600’) but not sharp right on Sampson Rock Rd |
| 2.7 | Remain on SR2011, bearing left at the intersection where Shirley Hollow Rd goes right (elevation 2410). The embankment here fills the cut of the old railroad; the trail will eventually cross here |
| 3.4 | Make a sharp left toward Deal (elevation 2380’). The street sign for this road says "Deal Rd TR 829"; maps show it as SR2006 but there’s no marker |
| 3.9 | Turn right to continue on Deal Rd (possibly SR2006) in Deal. Do not cross the RR grade on Old Deal Rd (elevation 2340’) |
| 4.1 | Bear left to remain on Deal Rd (possibly SR2006) at the Oak Ridge Rd (TR 712) intersection |
| 5.7 | Bear left at end of Deal Rd (TR829). It’s now definitely called SR2006 |
| 5.9 | Go straight to remain on SR2006. Do not turn left on SR2009. |
| 7.9 | Sand Patch (elevation 2280’). Continue on SR2006, which curves right, bends left, crosses a bridge over the active rail line, and climbs 60’ to a T intersection |
| 8.2 | Turn left at the T, still on SR2006 (elevation 2340’) |
| 9.8 | Pass under the high Keystone Viaduct. The trail will eventually cross overhead |
| 11.9 | In Meyersdale SR2006 becomes Cherry St. Continue to stop sign. Turn right on Main St (SR2025) at T intersection (elevation 2040'), Immediately cross active RR tracks and climb two blocks to the. restored Western Md station |
| 12.0 | Turn left into parking lot just before restored Western Md station (elevation 2110') |
Ft Hill to Confluence (about 8 miles)
Trail is now completed in this section. A detour is no longer necessary
Boston to Hazelwood (16 miles, all with heavy traffic)
From Boston trailhead, turn left twice to cross Boston Bridge on PA 48. After 1.2 miles, go straight on PA148. Follow PA148 for 3.7 miles and take the first ramp then the left lane to cross the Monongahela River and go north on PA837. Follow PA837 north for 7.5 miles and take the PA885 ramp to cross the Monongahela River on the Glenwood Bridge (.7 mi). Follow PA885 2.7 miles to trail parking at Swinburne St (just after going under RR tracks).
Hazelwood to Boston (16 miles, all with heavy traffic)
From Hazelwood, follow PA885 south 2.9 miles across Glenwood Bridge. Follow signs through interchange to PA837 (0.5 mi). Go south on PA837 for 7.2 mi, then follow signs "to" PA148 across Monongahela River (0.5 mi). Follow PA148 south for 3.8 miles and go straight on PA48 for 1.3 mi. Cross Boston Bridge on PA48 and turn right twice to parking.
Meyersdale to Cumberland (32.4 miles)
We describe the gap between Cumberland and Meyersdale in three sections, because you may want to handle them differently.
Meyersdale to MD/PA Line (12.0 miles)
This is almost all a steady but not steep climb on paved roads, with a short downhill at Sand Patch. The good news is that there is virtually no traffic on the roads. Maps show SR2006 continuing past Deal, but we didn’t see any signs past mile 6.3
| Dist | Directions |
| 0.0 | At the train station (elevation 2110'), turn right onto Main St. |
| 0.1 | Descend just past the active tracks to SR2006 (Cherry St) and turn left (elevation 2040') |
| 2.1 | Pass under the high Keystone Viaduct. The trail will eventually cross overhead |
| 3.8 | Turn right toward Sand Patch to remain on SR2006 (elevation 2340’) |
| 4.1 | Sand Patch (elevation 2280’). Bear left to stay on SR2006 where Miller Rd goes right |
| 6.1 | Go straight toward Wellersburg on SR2006 |
| 6.3 | Turn right at stop sign Deal Rd (TR829), This may still be SR2006, but there’s no sign |
| 8.1 | Turn left in Deal (Deal Rd, TR829, possibly also SR2006). Do not turn right to cross the RR grade on Old Deal Rd (elevation 2340’) |
| 8.6 | Turn right on SR2011 (elevation 2380’). |
| 9.2 | Remain on SR2011, bearing right at the sign for Shirley Hollow Rd (elevation 2410). The embankment here fills the cut of the old railroad; the trail will eventually cross here |
| 11.8 | At the five-way intersection, turn left on SR2010 (elevation 2600’), but not sharp left on Sampson Rock Rd. Entrance to Mason-Dixon campground is 100 ft on right |
| 12.0 | MD/PA state line (elevation 2620’) |
MD/PA Line to Frostburg’s WMSRR station (7.0 miles)
We wouldn't want to ride this on a bike; it entails a steep descent on a busy road. It would be a major attraction to many cyclists if someone in the area offered a shuttle service from, say, the MD/PA state line to the Western Md RR station.
| 0.0 | MD/PA state line (elevation 2620’. You're now on Finzel Rd (MD546). Follow rolling hills through Finzel (elevation 2520’) |
| 2.8 | Turn left on MD946. You're headed for the top of the ramp to Alt US40 (elevation 2790’). The ramp has a marginal shoulder and a steep descent |
| 3.4 | At bottom of ramp, turn right on Alt US40 (elevation 2725’). Descend (to elevation 2670’) and climb again. There’s a good shoulder for 2.5 miles except for an occasional narrow patch or some debris |
| 4.1 | Top of Big Savage Mountain (elevation 2850’) |
| 6.8 | Turn left on Depot St (steep descent) to Western Md Scenic RR station (elevation 2020’). The turn is 2 blocks past the 2nd (Broadway St) light and just before Domino’s and 7-11. |
| 7.0 | Western Md Scenic RR station (elevation 1940’) |
Frostburg’s WMSRR station to Cumberland’s WMSRR station (13.4 miles)
Plans call for the trail along the WMSRR to be surfaced in a year or two. Meanwhile, you may take bikes on the train. Warn them if you have several bikes, and ask about special arrangements for starting in Frostburg. Note that on part of this leg you go south on a road called MD36 north. This is not an error, but a quirk of road naming
| Dist | Directions |
| 0.0 | Western Md Scenic Railroad Station (elevation 1940’). Cross the tracks and turn right to leave the station headed briskly downhill on New Hope Rd (no sign) |
| 0.2 | Pass under trestle (elevation 1810’; trail will eventually cross here) |
| 1.0 | Turn right on MD36 north (Mt Savage Rd, elevation 1600’). There’s not much shoulder here |
| 5.7 | The shoulder becomes generous and the road levels out |
| 11.1 | At stoplight, go straight on Alt US40 east. |
| 11.4 | Enter "The Narrows". Shoulder diminishes to almost nothing as the road, creek, and two railroads all squeeze through a narrow gap at the end of Haystack Mountain |
| 12.1 | Cross Wills Ck. Shoulder ends here (elevation 630’) |
| 12.4 | Straight at light. This becomes Mechanic St; follow it through town (elevation 630’) |
| 13.5 | Western Maryland Scenic RR Station in Cumberland, terminus of C&O Canal towpath (elevation 620’). Turn right into the parking lot |
[Overview Map] [ATA Information] [Linking Up Home]
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| This page is part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance's site in support of the Great Allegheny Passage, a motor-free recreational rail trail connecting Pittsburgh PA and Cumberland MD. Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001by Allegheny Trail Alliance, Bill Metzger, Mary Shaw, and Roy Weil. Amenity information courtesy of FreeWheeling Easy. We encourage you to create links to this site and to print copies of the maps for your personal use. We prohibit other uses of this site, especially if they generate spam or other mass communications -- see our Privacy Policy.. This page was last modified on 01/01/01. Send email to ATA or contact the ATA or member trails. | ||||||
