Allegheny River Trail
(Click to enlarge)
The trail extends from Brandon to Franklin, in Venango County. The northern trailhead is along Rt. 8 in Franklin. The southern trailhead is located in the tiny community of Brandon, and is a challenge to find; park in the open area at the end of the dirt road. See the Allegheny Valley Trails Association website for directions and maps.
The Allegheny River Trail hugs along the banks of the river, providing a beautiful display of Western Pennsylvania scenery. This uncommonly quiet trail makes for an easy, relaxing ride, and is particularly beautiful when the autumn colors are out. Winds channeling through the river valley near the northern end of the trail can sometimes provide substantial headwind. With the connecting Sandy Creek and Samuel Justice Trails, there's enough trail here for even those looking for a relatively long ride. The Sandy Creek Trail is connected at the Belmar Bridge by an unsual stairway leading up the tressel.
Much of the trail is fairly remote, so be prepared to handle your own emergencies.
- Completed Length: 10 miles, with another 4 miles unfinished south of Brandon
- Connecting Trails: Samuel Justice Trail to the north, and Sandy Creek Trail, coming in at the Belmar Bridge, making a continuous trail length of 24 miles
- Surface: Asphalt
- Topography: 960 ft MSL at Franklin, 940 ft MSL at Brandon, average rise of 2 ft/mile. Very nearly level.
- The Belmar Railroad Bridge, built in 1907 and spanning nearly 1400 feet
- Segment of the Allegheny River included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
- Nearly mile long Kennerdell Tunnel on the as-yet-unfinished portion of the trail