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Scoops ‘N Suds Story Map has all Your Cravings Covered

Part of a Series of Self-Guided Itineraries

Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream in Pittsburgh

One of our key partners often says, “All trails lead to beer and ice cream,” and we agree. That’s why we’ve mapped some of the best beer and ice cream stops accessible from the various Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition trails. Because there is so much beer and ice cream out there, this Scoops ‘N Suds Story Map is primarily limited to hand-crafted versions of both. We’ve made some exceptions for sites that are considered iconic or offer a great and welcoming atmosphere for cyclists. Most of the sites are easily accessible from the trail, but please ride carefully and follow the rules of the road when venturing off trail for your goodies.

So what’s in store for you if you embark on a Scoops ‘N Suds ride?

We offer to you 16 ice cream/frozen treat sites and a whopping 29 craft beer stops! (To be technical, cities like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Parkersburg have a number of craft breweries, so we’ve bundled some of those geographically, meaning there are EVEN MORE beer stops than it may appear.) A logistical note for anyone new to the region: these 50+ sites are spread across a four-state area. Even if you’re the biggest beer and ice cream fan out there, you’ll probably want to select an area for a ride and treat(s) rather than try to do them all in one fell swoop.

Here’s a sampling of stops and what we love about them:

Levity Brewing Company along the Hoodlebug Trail

Step back in time with Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor, where sundaes are served in real glass dishes and they even pour you a glass of water to quench your dairy-induced thirst. Closest trails: Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail

Some of the brewers are giving back to trails! Levity Brewing Company‘s Hoodlebug Brown benefits the local Hoodlebug Trail, and TrAils to Ales Brewery in Franklin, PA, donates some of the proceeds from their Holden’s Dream amber lager to local trail efforts. Closest trails: Hoodlebug Trail (Levity); Allegheny River Trail, Samuel Justus Trail, Sandy Creek Trail (TrAils to Ales)

Mason’s Creamery in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood shows some serious seasonal business savvy. While their hand-crafted ice cream is well-loved throughout the year, they convert their space into a ramen bar in the winter months. How cool is that? Closest trail: Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

Allegheny City Brewing has done what no other Pittsburgh brewery has attempted. They brewed a Nancy B Chocolate Chip Cookie Stout. They’ve taken the massively popular local cookie and beerified it! Note: May be on tap only seasonally. Closest trails: Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail

Open since 1969, Pav’s Creamery in Portage Lakes serves up fun frozen custard flavors like Lemon Blueberry Jam and Baklava. They’re doing something right if they’ve been in business for 50 years! Closest trail: Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

Wheeling Brewing Company serves handmade pierogies (made in a local church) plated on Fiestaware (the factory in Newell, WV, is about an hour away)! And the beer gives a nod to local heritage with names like Nail City Porter and Centre Market Lager. Closest trail: Wheeling Heritage Trails

There are, of course, dozens of other sites to enjoy. Happy riding and tasting to you!

Trail Itineraries Galore!

 

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.