A Bicyclist Guide through McKeesport on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail - Part 4

As you travel on your journey one place that is a bit challenging to get through is McKeesport, PA. Riding the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) rail trail is truly an adventure experience of a lifetime so I suggest staying on the trail as you keep moving. I’ll describe the trail so you will know the GAP route to safely bicycle thru. It is best to navigate through this city before dusk. Follow these directions for an easy way through McKeesport and plan for a stop when you reach Boston PA.
Links:
GAP Trail History:
gaphistory.org/point_of_inter...
History of Allegheny County:
digital.library.pitt.edu/isla...
About National Tube Works:
www.tubecityonline.com/steel/n...
exhibit.library.pitt.edu/labor...
About the water roundhouse: www.tubecityonline.com/almanac...
About Dead Man’s Hollow:
alleghenylandtrust.org/green-...
Other references:
Old Home Week Book, McKeesport, Pennsylvania. (1910). United States: Nicholson Printing.
www.loc.gov/item/pa3346/
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitts...
archive.triblive.com/news/his...
pghbridges.com/articles/railro...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Stupich, Martin, creator, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
#gaptrail #railtrail

[@user-mg3vm1dh9s]

Thanks for an honest look at the GAP. I just returned from my first visit and was shocked at the difference between CZcams video glamor shots and reality.

[@rhondasmith6857]

Great overview, history, and helpful Trail tips!

[@MadMatt1984]

I can remember as a child, watching the trains on the P&LE tracks in Boston by the old Harpers Pond.

[@hvrtaxi60]

I watched a ton of GAP/C&O videos before doing my solo trip this summer. I wish I would have discovered your videos first (c'mon algorithm!). Very well done and meticulous, thank you! I really like the effort to include historical maps and perspective. Regarding McKeesport, this was kind of bummer section of my trip on the first day but your historical perspective provided an entirely new way to approach that area. I can't wait to ride through again.

[@railtrailbike]

Thanks for your feedback! I really appreciate hearing from people who have watched these. Each one of these takes me a lot of time and I’m glad to hear when someone enjoys them!

[@dancoyle7697]

I did the GAP and C&O in 2021. My first day was 175 miles and started in Pittsburgh at 3am. Riding in the dark through McKeesport was the most challenging navigation of the whole ride. The construction at Water St and the transition from on road to trail on River Rd made for a couple of head scratching moments and some wrong turns. I took a nasty spill in the park along Water St when I was surprised by what looked, in the dark, to be a small downed tree limb across the brick path (clearly I was off course) and tried to ride over it. I have a nice souvenir scar on my forearm to remember the adventure.

[@railtrailbike]

Sounds memorable but not in the most pleasant way. Stories like yours are what inspired me to make these in the first place. I would hope riders can enjoy the ride and not be overly concerned with where to turn.

[@rossengland6666]

Thanks found this helpful!

[@railtrailbike]

I'm glad you found this helpful - my goal is to help riders through this area of the trail

[@radar_the_fox]

The clay factory was called union city sewer

[@Canoedad11]

Now I know why there are no Hotel's or B+B's anywhere in that area. My upcoming trip will be from Meyersdale to Boston.

[@railtrailbike]

The GAP trail is diverse. You should have a great ride! If you haven’t been through the Big Savage Tunnel, consider a double back to see it and the overlook. Not much further and you will be at the Mason/ Dixon line. All great places. Videos on that section are planned!

[@FranklinChen]

Nice video series! I hope to see more videos on the GAP from Boston onward.

[@railtrailbike]

Thank you for the compliment! The rest of the GAP will be created and released over time, subscribe and stay tuned for their release. These take me a long time to research but I’m working on the next one now and plan to keep going!

[@rivnuts7398]

Nicely done. The aerial views are particularly interesting and useful along with the old cameo photos of the city. I’ve recommended your videos to prospective first time riders of the GAP to give them a visual of the route. The videos exiting downtown Pittsburgh and this one getting through McKeesport would be quite helpful to those willing to spend the time to watch them before embarking or, even, while navigating through these areas. The history bytes are quite interesting as well and complement the histories in the book by Bill Metzger.

[@railtrailbike]

Thanks for the kind review. I do hope these are informative, helpful, and encouraging for bicyclists. I’m certainly learning as I make these!

[@willbygosh4887]

The population of McKeesport peaked at 55,000 in 1940 to around 16,000 now and it hasn't bottomed out yet.

[@ReimaginedAdventures]

Great video !!!

[@railtrailbike]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@radar_the_fox]

Market street most dangerous portion because u gotta go by the crappy projects