Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Encyclopedia
The Three Rivers Heritage Trailhttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/new_pages/heritage.htm is an urban rail-trail paralleling the riverbanks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
for about 25 miles (40.2 km), often on both sides of the rivers, and offering a spectacular view of the city. The trail is promoted and maintained in part by the Friends of the Riverfronthttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org. The mission of the Friends of the Riverfront is to increase awareness and engagement with the region’s rivers and riverfronts through activities and stewardship, and to extend the water and land trails on the major rivers within Allegheny County.
At the Pittsburgh Point State Park
, there are three rivers: the Allegheny River
and Monongahela River
which unite to form the Ohio River
. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail extends three miles (5 km) up the north side of the Allegheny River to Millvale, and also three miles (5 km) down the north bank of the Ohio River to Brunot Island
. On the Monongahela River the trail goes five miles (8 km) upriver from Station Square http://www.stationsquare.com to a point just short of the Waterfront Shopping District.
Within the city, the trail takes the names of neighborhoods through which it passes. The north bank of the Allegheny River is Pittsburgh’s North Side also known as Northside
, and the trail is referred to locally as the North Shore Trail. On the north bank of the Ohio River the trail is called the Chateau Trail because of nearby Chateau Street. On the south bank of the Allegheny it goes through the food market area and is called the Strip District Trailhttp://www.neighborsinthestrip.com.
On Monongahela River's north bank it is called the Eliza Furnace Trail because it goes by the site where the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company
once had its Eliza furnaces. Some people call this section the Jail Trail because it also passes the Allegheny County Jail on its way to Oakland, the University Center of the city. A branch that extends into Schenley Park in Oakland is called the Panther Hollow Trail. As it moves further up the Monongahela River towards Frick Park it is called the Duck Hollow Trail, because that is where a stream exits the park into the Monongahela. On the south bank of the Monongahela in Pittsburgh’s South Side, it is called the South Side Trail.
Pittsburgh is one terminus of the 335 miles (539.1 km) long Great Allegheny Passage
(GAP)http://www.atatrail.org/ that connects the city to Cumberland, Maryland, and Washington, DC. The route of GAP uses five miles (8 km) of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Within the city, the GAP goes from the Waterfront Mall and Sandcastle upstream on the Monongahela River, and then at the South Side Works crosses the river on the Hot Metal Bridge. Finally it uses the north bank of the Monongahela to reach the Pittsburgh Point.
The Friends of the Riverfronthttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org have also developed and administer the Three Rivers Water Trailhttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/new_pages/watertrail.htm, along the riverfronts of Allegheny County, for kayakers and canoeists, with access points, parking areas and boat racks. Another important activity is the annual Pittsburgh Triathlonhttp://www.pittsburghtriathlon.com, a competition for top athletes who use the land and water routes to bike, run, and swim for this Olympic qualifier. A less demanding version is the Adventure Race http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race14.aspx, for friends, families and teams who wish to paddle, bike and run a shorter yet challenging course.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
for about 25 miles (40.2 km), often on both sides of the rivers, and offering a spectacular view of the city. The trail is promoted and maintained in part by the Friends of the Riverfronthttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org. The mission of the Friends of the Riverfront is to increase awareness and engagement with the region’s rivers and riverfronts through activities and stewardship, and to extend the water and land trails on the major rivers within Allegheny County.
At the Pittsburgh Point State Park
Point State Park
Point State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, forming the Ohio River....
, there are three rivers: the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
which unite to form the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail extends three miles (5 km) up the north side of the Allegheny River to Millvale, and also three miles (5 km) down the north bank of the Ohio River to Brunot Island
Brunot Island
Brunot Island is a island in the Ohio River at the west end of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It was named for Dr. Felix Brunot who settled the island with his extended family in the late 1700s.. The family entertained the Lewis & Clark expedition on the...
. On the Monongahela River the trail goes five miles (8 km) upriver from Station Square http://www.stationsquare.com to a point just short of the Waterfront Shopping District.
Within the city, the trail takes the names of neighborhoods through which it passes. The north bank of the Allegheny River is Pittsburgh’s North Side also known as Northside
Northside
Northside or North Side may refer to:Music:* Northside , a musical group from Manchester, England* NorthSide, an American record labelPlaces:* North Side, California, former name of Oildale, California, United States...
, and the trail is referred to locally as the North Shore Trail. On the north bank of the Ohio River the trail is called the Chateau Trail because of nearby Chateau Street. On the south bank of the Allegheny it goes through the food market area and is called the Strip District Trailhttp://www.neighborsinthestrip.com.
On Monongahela River's north bank it is called the Eliza Furnace Trail because it goes by the site where the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company
Jones and Laughlin Steel Company
The earliest foundations of Jones and Laughlin Steel Company were the American Iron Company, founded in 1851 by Bernard Lauth, and B. F. Jones founded in 1852a few miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River. Lauth's interest was bought in 1854 by James H. Laughlin...
once had its Eliza furnaces. Some people call this section the Jail Trail because it also passes the Allegheny County Jail on its way to Oakland, the University Center of the city. A branch that extends into Schenley Park in Oakland is called the Panther Hollow Trail. As it moves further up the Monongahela River towards Frick Park it is called the Duck Hollow Trail, because that is where a stream exits the park into the Monongahela. On the south bank of the Monongahela in Pittsburgh’s South Side, it is called the South Side Trail.
Pittsburgh is one terminus of the 335 miles (539.1 km) long Great Allegheny Passage
Great Allegheny Passage
The Great Allegheny Passage is a rail trail in Maryland and Pennsylvania. It is the central part of a several-hundred-mile long network of long-distance hiker-biker trails through the Allegheny region of the Appalachian Mountains, connecting Washington, D.C...
(GAP)http://www.atatrail.org/ that connects the city to Cumberland, Maryland, and Washington, DC. The route of GAP uses five miles (8 km) of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Within the city, the GAP goes from the Waterfront Mall and Sandcastle upstream on the Monongahela River, and then at the South Side Works crosses the river on the Hot Metal Bridge. Finally it uses the north bank of the Monongahela to reach the Pittsburgh Point.
The Friends of the Riverfronthttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org have also developed and administer the Three Rivers Water Trailhttp://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/new_pages/watertrail.htm, along the riverfronts of Allegheny County, for kayakers and canoeists, with access points, parking areas and boat racks. Another important activity is the annual Pittsburgh Triathlonhttp://www.pittsburghtriathlon.com, a competition for top athletes who use the land and water routes to bike, run, and swim for this Olympic qualifier. A less demanding version is the Adventure Race http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race14.aspx, for friends, families and teams who wish to paddle, bike and run a shorter yet challenging course.
See also
- Great Allegheny PassageGreat Allegheny PassageThe Great Allegheny Passage is a rail trail in Maryland and Pennsylvania. It is the central part of a several-hundred-mile long network of long-distance hiker-biker trails through the Allegheny region of the Appalachian Mountains, connecting Washington, D.C...
- Chesapeake and Ohio CanalChesapeake and Ohio CanalThe Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal, and occasionally referred to as the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 parallel to the Potomac River in Maryland from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The total length of the canal is about . The elevation change of...
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical ParkChesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical ParkThe Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland and West Virginia. The park was established as a National Monument in 1961 by President Dwight D...
- Montour TrailMontour TrailThe Montour Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.It has a crushed limestone surface, appropriate for bicycling, walking, running, and cross-country skiing. Eventually, this trail segment will extend from Coraopolis, Pennsylvania to Clairton, Pennsylvania.The...
- Ohio River TrailOhio River TrailThe Ohio River Trail is a proposed route that would interconnect existing trails in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The proposal is spearheaded by the Ohio River Trail Council , a volunteer-led, non-profit organization...
- Youghiogheny River TrailYoughiogheny River TrailThe Yough River Trail is a non-motorized multi-use rail trail that stretches between McKeesport, PA and Confluence, PA. It is part of the Great Allegheny Passage that will one day allow cyclists to bike from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C...
- List of rail trails