Recap: Great Allegheny Passage Fall Colors Ride

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Written By Ray George
Starting our adventure at Yough River Park in Connellsville, PA

Starting our adventure at Yough River Park in Connellsville, PA

General Observations

We decided to head out on the Great Allegheny Passage for a three day ride to see some fall color. From the Great Allegheny Passage website -

The 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage soars over valleys, snakes around mountains, and skirts alongside three rivers (the Casselman, Youghiogheny, and Monongaleha) on its nearly level path. Cyclists pass through the Cumberland Narrows, cross the Mason-Dixon Line, top the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,392’, weave through the breathtaking Laurel Highlands, wind their way through 19,052-acre Ohiopyle State Park, journey through the region’s coke, coal, mining, and steel-making corridor, and end at Pittsburgh’s majestic Point State Park.

We had six cyclists for the ride and a non-cyclist friend joined us to camp at Husky Haven Campground. Editors note: Husky Haven Campground closed permanently on October 31, 2022. One of the cyclists stayed at the Hostel on Main. We setup base camp at Husky Haven for two nights and spent an entire day exploring the trail from Rockwood to Frostburg, MD. We got excited about viaducts and then spent the rest of the trip deciding whether a span was a bridge or a viaduct.

Day 1
Connellsville, PA to Rockwood, PA
Route: Great Allegheny Passage
46 miles
1200 ft climbing
More Day 1 photos: Ray George

  • Parked in Connellsville at Yough River Park

  • Temps in mid 50’s to mid 70’s

  • Trail was wet at start and a lot of small branches down

  • Youghiogheny High Span

  • Ohiopyle State Park

    • Waterfall/Welcome center

  • Ohiopyle Bakery and Sandwich Shop

  • Tree down

  • Confluence

  • Pinkerton High Bridge

  • Pinkerton Tunnel

  • Rockwood base camp.

  • Dinner in camp with a bonfire

Day 2 -
Rockwood, PA out and back to Frostburg, MD
Route: Great Allegheny Passage
57 miles
1400 ft climbing
More Day 2 photos: Ray George

  • Temps in low 30’s to mid 70’s

  • Breakfast in camp with a bonfire

  • Trail was wet in morning and dried out during the day.

  • Foggy until we passed Meyersdale and sunny for rest of the day

  • Garrett, MD

  • Turkey crossing

  • Salisbury Viaduct

  • Meyersdale (station and museum closed for the season)

  • Bollman Bridge

  • Keystone Viaduct

  • Dick Stiffey bench

  • Eastern Continental Divide

  • Big Savage Tunnel

  • Woodcock Hollow overlook

  • Mason Dixon Line

  • Borden Tunnel

  • Frostburg Train Depot

  • Princess Restaurant (lunch)

  • Lucky’s Liquor

  • Rockwood Mill Shoppes pizza in camp with bonfire and beer/wine (Closed as of December 2021)

Day 3 -
Rockwood, PA to Connellsville, PA

Route: Great Allegheny Passage
46 miles
195 ft climbing
Day 3 photos: Ray George

Ray George

Ray founded Ohio Gravel Grinders in 2012. Ray moved to Columbus in 2007 and jumped into bicycle event organization and advocacy by launching Bike the Cbus, Columbus’ only city-wide bicycle tour, currently organized by Yay Bikes! He developed Columbus Rides Bikes! blog and companion Facebook group with over 3000 members to support the Tuesday Nite Ride. Ray has been instrumental in organizing charity rides, including Ride the Elevator, Night of 1000/1001 Tacos, and Yelp on Two Wheels to support many organizations.

Ray enjoys long gravel bike rides in the woods and lunch with coffee outside. He has been featured on a number of podcasts. Check them out on the Featured On section. Honey Stinger Ambassador

http://www.ohiogravelgrinders.com
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