Trail Itineraries Galore!

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See our Trail Trips page to plan your next ride

Tired of the same old trail rides? Whatever your speed or desired mileage, we probably have the trip for you. We’ve got eight self-guided itineraries along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Allegheny River Trail, Ghost Town Trail, Montour Trail, and more. The shortest one is nine miles (the Towpath Trail through Cuyahoga Valley National Park). The longest is closer to 90 (Armstrong and Redbank Valley trails).

Find all eight itineraries – in both mobile-friendly and “print and fold” formats – on our Trail Trips page. There, you’ll also find a number of Story Maps, thematic itineraries that cover the whole IHTC region. With these, you can just plug in wherever you are or make it a goal to see all the sites. We’re really excited about the Story Maps because they highlight a lot of points of interest beyond the trail and there’s so very much to see. Here’s what we’ve got with these:

Scoops ‘N Suds (beer and ice cream, yeah!)

Epic Infrastructure (bridges, rail tunnels, and other neat old relics from our industrial past)

Modern Day Makers (think pottery, marbles, refurbished bikes, and baseball bats)

Boats Along the Trails (this is for those of you that are looking to get out on the water or perhaps have a pedal/paddle experience)

Not sure where to start? Check out our Open Trails Story Map for an overview of all of the places you can ride, where to park, and some other good info.

Get Social to Stay Posted This Fall

If we’ve piqued your interest, follow us on Facebook and Instagram (hashtag #rideihtc) this fall. We’ll be posting about a lot of the sites there and welcome you to send us some of your fall foliage bike photos at ccorbran@pecpa.org. We might just post them for others to see your trail adventures!

About the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition (IHTC)

The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition (IHTC) consists of more than 100 organizations and stakeholders collaborating to complete and connect a system of 1,500 miles of shared use trails in a four-state area of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. The system is currently 47% complete, with over 700 miles of trail to be discovered and enjoyed.

The coalition includes government, nonprofit and private foundation entities, as well as land managers and railroad interests, working together to position trail development as a regional priority. Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) lead and staff the regional effort. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) provides additional staff and technical support.

IHTC Quarterly Meeting Announcement!

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The Ghost Town Trail

We’re already a month into 2019 and that means it’s time for our first IHTC Quarterly Meeting of the New Year!

Join representatives from the IHTC footprint on Monday, February 11th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as we discuss updates throughout the region and strategies for moving developing trails forward.

This meeting will be about more than just corridor updates as we’re partnering with Susan Loucks from the Bayer Center for Non-profit Management to offer an engaging session titled “Invigorating and Expanding Your Members and Leadership.”  Here’s what Susan has to say about the session:

  Community members are the life blood of trail groups, and it’s critical to keep your finger on the pulse.  This session will explore strategies for recruiting new people into your organization, maintaining their interest, and cultivating leadership within your member base.  You’ll leave with ideas that grow your capacity, and yet are manageable without paid staff. 

Please RSVP to Deb Frawley at dfrawley@pecpa.org so that we know who to expect and have an accurate count for lunches!

 

Here are some other helpful details :

Location
Bayer Center for Non-profit Management
339 Sixth Avenue, Suite 750
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Parking
A variety of options are available for parking and alternate transportation. Please see the websites below for information.

PLEASE NOTE: Parking garages fill quickly, so allow yourself extra time in case the garage you wish to use is already full.

Smithfield/Liberty Garage
This garage is located behind the building, with an entrance on Liberty Avenue, as well as an entrance on Smithfield Street.

Mellon Square Garage
This garage is a half block away, on the other side of the street from the building.

Oliver Garage
This garage is approximately two blocks from the building on Oliver Avenue. It can hold over-sized vehicles.

Greyhound/Grant Street Garage
From the Greyhound garage, walk approximately one block down Grant Street and turn right on Liberty Avenue. Walk approximately two blocks down Liberty and left onto Sixth Avenue for one block to the building. While this garage is the farthest away, there are almost always spaces available, no matter what time of day.

Busways & “T” Light Rail System
There are numerous buses that stop in close proximity to our building. The “T” has a station at Wood Street that is just one block from the building.

 

Be Sure to Register for the 2018 IHTC Summit!

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The 2018 Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition Summit is right around the corner!

There’s still time to register for the 2018 IHTC Summit in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Speakers are confirmed, mobile workshops are filling up, and we’ve specifically requested good weather, so register today!

The photo below directs you to the registration page, so click on!  

 

Ohio Group Hosts Leadership Education Conference

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Ohio-based Environmental Design Group is hosting a free learning session to discuss strategies and benefits of planning centered on ‘creating authentic destination experiences.’

The conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with topics covering economic development, livability, and optimizing existing assets.

Further questions and RSVP’s to Shannon Singler.  Click on the thumbnail poster for full size.

 

Clarion County Trails Association Adds New Loop to the North Country Trail

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The North Country Trail has a new spur loop thanks to the Clarion County Trails Association.  Hikers can already experience the new trail, but the Clarion County Trails Association is holding a grand opening this Saturday, April 14th.

Weather conditions look perfect for a hike on the trail and an opportunity to learn about the efforts that made this new trail a reality.

The photo links to more information about the trail, so click on!

Photo Courtesy of the Clarion County Trails Association

AARP Announces Community Challenge Grants

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The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program designed to “improve livability for all local residents.”

AARP calls these grants “quick-action” grants.  This means that, with a relatively short window for applications, communities will have to mobilize and collaborate efficiently and effectively to submit their proposal.

Click the graphic below to check out the details on the AARP website!