Completed segments of the Montour Trail can be connected over public roads using the following directions. Portions of uncompleted sections of the trail can be ridden by mountain bikes but may contain obstructions, rough terrain or other hazards.

WARNING: some uncompleted segments contain hazardous bridges that are barricaded and should not be crossed. Some short uncompleted segments are impassable. Use of any uncompleted sections of the Montour Trail is at your own risk.

Montour Trail/Panhandle Trail Connector Route
(1.0 mi connection route - fully completed in January 2007)

Montour to Panhandle: Exit the Montour Trail about at mile 16.9. Go downhill .33 mi on what once had been the McDonald Transfer track to the yellow trail gates. Go through the gates and continue downhill another 600 feet to the public road (Noblestown Road). Cross the road and enter the gravel trailhead parking area adjacent to the treatment plant. Follow the right-of-way along the chain fence through the parking area, then continue on another 0.1 mi and pass underneath the McDonald Trestle. Continue further on the connector another 0.3mi (due west) behind a couple of houses and an older industrial building, passing over the Robinson Run Bridge about 100 yds past the industrial building. Continue on another 130 yds to the intersection with the Panhandle Trail. Turning left will take you toward McDonald and points further east.

Panhandle to Montour: Exit the Panhandle Trail onto the connector (about 0.1 mi east of the Primrose Access area). Go 130 yds on the connector and pass over Robinson Run Bridge. Continue on another 0.3mi behind an older industrial building and a couple of houses on your left, and pass underneath the McDonald Trestle. Travel another 0.1 mi and enter the gravel trailhead parking area adjacent to the treatment plant. Follow along the fence through the parking area to the public road (Noblestown Road). Cross the road, then travel another 600 feet uphill on the connector to the yellow trail gates. Go through the gates and continue uphill another .33 mi to the intersection with the Montour Trail. Left goes toward Cecil Township, and right takes you toward Coraopolis.

Venice (Trail Miles 21.6 to 22.0)
(0.6 mile bypass)

Eastbound: Exit the trail at the access area near the 21.6 mile mark.(This access area is triangular shaped with a small red roofed pavilion near the center). If you have traveled to the "dead end" of this trail section near mile mark 21.9, you will have to back track to the access area to get off the trail. At the access area, get on the unmarked public road going to the left and travel about 200 yds, then turn left onto Route 50. Go 0.4 miles on route 50 downhill to the intersection of Routes 50/980 (near Mucks Lunch). Turn right onto route 980 (going uphill towards Canonsburg). Travel uphill about 150 yds to the trail entrance on the left side of the road.

Westbound: Exit the trail onto the nearby public road going downhill (this is route 980). Travel downhill about 150 yds to the intersection of Routes 980/50 (near Mucks Lunch). Turn left onto route 50 (going uphill, west, towards Hickory). Travel about 0.4 miles then turn at the first right onto a small unmarked road (this road may be marked with a sign pointing to Tilger Composting). Go about 200 yards along this road to the trail access area. The main portion of the trail resumes to the left (and slightly uphill) towards McDonald. A small section of the trail is also available to the right, but this trail section will "dead end" in 0.4 miles.

West Peters - Valley Brook Rd (Trail Miles 30.3 to 30.4)
(0.1 mile bypass)

Eastbound: Shortly after historic Montour Railroad X-1 crane, the trail terminates at mile mark 30.3. At this point, travel 40 yards on downhill ramp into a small gravel lot. Valley Brook road runs along the south side of this lot near an old concrete bridge abutment wall. From the lot edge, go directly across both lanes of Valley Brook road to the shoulder on the opposite side. Travel along the road shoulder for about 250 yds (and slightly uphill) to the paved Montour Trail Access area (near Peters Water Treatment plant). Turn right into the access area then continue uphill through the lot. The Montour Trail continues eastward out the top of the lot.

Westbound: Follow Montour Trail underneath Route 19 and into the paved Access Area near Peters Water Treatment plant (~30.4 mile mark). Continue downhill through access area lot to Valley Brook road and stop. From the lot edge, carefully cross both lanes of Valley Brook road to the shoulder on the opposite side. Travel along the road shoulder for about 250 yds (and slightly downhill), then turn right into a gravel lot (near old concrete bridge abutment wall). An offical Montour Trail sign (30.3 mile mark) will be visible in back of lot. Near this sign, travel 40 yards on uphill ramp onto the Montour Trail westbound.

Route 88 to Stewart Rd. (Eastbound)
(1.5 mile bypass)

From the arrowhead trail shortly after the Horse Farm, turn right onto the Montour Trail Mainline (with a crushed limestone surface) at the kiosk and "Welcome to the Montour Trail" sign. Travel on the Montour Trail eastward for about 1.3 miles and look for a trail gate (two white posts with a yellow crossbar about 12 feet wide) on the right side of the trail. To enter the bypass, exit the Montour trail at the gate and turn left onto the paved road near the adjacent apartment complex. (Note that the Montour Trail continues past this gate, and continues on downhill for another 0.3 mi to a dead end. If you arrive at the dead end, you must backtrack 0.3 mi uphill to the gate to get onto the bypass route) Travel on the apartment complex road about 0.2 mi to a small wooden stop sign. At the stop sign, turn left and go down a steep hill about 200 yards to the main public road (Rt.88, Library Road). Turn right and ride along Rt. 88 to the traffic light (0.3 mile). Turn left at the light onto Brownsville & Library Road. Follow Brownsville & Library Road about 0.9 mi to the Sunset Golf Course entrance. Directly across from the Golf Course entrance, turn left onto Stewart Road. Ride down hill 100 yds; cross the small bridge then immediately turn right into the Montour Trail parking/access area. On the uphill side of the parking area, go past the gate onto the narrow path, continue on the path for about 300 yards and (across bridge) to the improved (surfaced) trail.

Stewart Rd. to Route 88 (Westbound)
(1.5 mile bypass)

At end of surfaced Trail, continue straight ahead across bridge and onto unsurfaced path about 300 yards that finishes downhill into the Stewart Road parking area. At the lower end of the parking area, turn left onto public road (Steward Rd.), go uphill 100 yards then turn right onto Brownsville Road. Follow Brownsville Rd. 0.9 mile to traffic light at PA Rt. 88. Turn right on Rt. 88 and continue for 0.3 mile. Just before a railroad overpass, carefully turn left into the Lindenbrooke Apartment complex. Climb up the very steep hill for about 200 yds, and then take the first road off to the right. Proceed about 0.2 miles until you see a gate (two white posts with a yellow crossbar about 12 feet wide) on your right directly across from a small paved parking lot. Pass around the gate and turn left (uphill) onto the Montour Trail.

Triphammer Road to Snowden Road
(1.6 mile bypass)

At trailhead, proceed up ramp and turn left at Triphammer Road. After 0.2 mile, Triphammer ends at a 'T'. Turn right onto Piney Fork Road (no sign posted). Follow Piney Fork Road up a steep hill 0.2 mi to the 4-way stop sign. Turn right onto Ridge Road, which is really still Piney Fork. Proceed downhill for 1.0 miles to the tunnel. Be careful entering the tunnel, as there is a blind turn on the far end, and the road is only one lane wide (cars aren't looking for bikers). Proceed 0.2 mile past the tunnel to the intersection with Snowden Road. Cross the intersection and you will see the trail right of way on the right side of the road (Piney Fork Rd).

Snowden Road to Triphammer Road
(1.6 mile bypass)

Cross the intersection of Snowden and Piney Fork and proceed straight ahead on Piney Fork. Go 0.2 mi to the tunnel. Be careful entering the tunnel as there is a blind turn on the near end, and the road is only one lane wide (cars aren't looking for bikers). Proceed 1.0 mi past the tunnel to the 4-way stop sign at the top of the steep hill (ride or walk bikes facing traffic-blind curve). Turn left at stop sign and go 0.2 mile downhill (sharp bend near bottom). Turn left onto on Triphammer Road. Proceed uphill 0.2 mile, turn right and go down ramp to parking area and trail.

Gill Hall Road to Large, PA
(3.1 mile share-the-road and 0.3 mile bypass across Rte. 51)

Cross Gill Hall and continue on Peter's Creek Road for 2.5 miles to Cherry Street. Cherry becomes First St. Follow street 0.1 mile, turn right onto Oak Rd. (marked as Maple), continue 0.5 mile on Oak (past the Large Hotel on the curve) to PA Rt. 51. Cross Rt. 51 at the light and walk your bike across the grassy strip on the east side of the road in front of the funeral home. (Rt. 51 is a 4 lane road with heavy traffic and no shoulders. Stay on the grassy strip on the east (left)! side of the road.) Go past the brick buildings and the sign marked Jefferson Technology Center and turn left onto Peters Creek Rd (before Piney Fork Creek). Follow this road past the Park and Ride lot (under Route 43). The trail starts at the extreme back end of the lot near the "No Outlet" sign next to the creek.

Large, PA to Gill Hall Road
(0.3 mile bypass across Rte. 51 and 3.1 mile share-the-road)

The trail terminates into the Park N Ride lot under Route 43. Proceed on Peters Creek Rd through the lot 0.3 mi then turn right into parking lot for Jefferson Technology Center adjacent to Rt. 51 (Rt. 51 is a 4 lane road with heavy traffic and no shoulders-not safe for biking.) At the end of the parking lot stay on the grassy strip on the east (right) side of the road. Cross Rt. 51 at the traffic light for Old Clairton Rd. and once across, immediately turn left onto Oak Rd. Go past the Large Hotel on your right and follow Oak for a total of 0.5 miles. Turn left on First Street and go 0.1 mile; then turn left again after a 90 degree bend in the road. Follow public paved road (Peters Creek Rd.) for 2.5 miles to Gill Hall Road (Montour Trail signs posted along the road). The trail continues straight ahead on its own right of way on the left side of Piney Fork Rd.

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