With dedicated campgrounds and amenities in nearby trail towns, the Great Allegheny Passage makes for excellent day hikes or backpacking trips. You’ll find abundant wildflowers in spring and fall, ethereal waterfalls after summer rains, and plenty of parking by which to explore a new section of the corridor. The GAP is like a linear park, with all kinds of photo ops during the day and lodging options for rest and relaxation at night. Underfoot, crushed limestone and some flat, paved sections make travel easy on your feet.
You’ll find all kinds of connecting trails and side trips available from the GAP, several with hills and vistas. Check out groomed footpaths in Cedar Creek Park, or the newly-blazed Joshua C. Whetzel Memorial Recreation Area near Confluence. Explore the rocky Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail which intersects the GAP in Ohiopyle. For urban hikers, sets of stairs on Pittsburgh’s South Side give you a great view of the Hot Metal Bridge far below. Wear trail shoes, lightweight boots, and bring extra water to tide yourself over.
