Through the Mountains, not over them.

In Colonial times, the Allegheny Mts was where the wilderness began. The mountains we now call the Laurel Highlands – Negro Mountain plus Laurel and Chestnut Ridges – were an enormous impediment to early travel beyond Cumberland, MD, to the Forks of Ohio, now Pittsburgh. Today, we bike those 140+ miles easily. The GAP, as…

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Big Savage Tunnel Opens for the 2024 Season

The Big Savage Tunnel opens Thursday, March 28th, for the 2024 season. Crews from Somerset County and the Somerset County Recreation & Trails Association will open the west and east portals in the morning, and riders will have full access by noon. This marks the 18th season the tunnel has been officially open. The 3,294-foot-long…

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Big Savage Tunnel Closes for the Winter

The Big Savage Tunnel, Mile 22, on the Great Allegheny Passage in Somerset County is closed. The tunnel built in the early 1900s for the Western Maryland Railway and rehabilitated for the Great Allegheny Passage trail, closes during the winter to protect the interior from ice damage. There is no suitable detour around the tunnel…

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** UPDATE NOW OPEN! Temporary Closure of The Great Allegheny Passage due to Severe Weather Damage

** UPDATE NOW OPEN! The Great Allegheny Passage, a renowned recreational trail connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland, has experienced temporary closures in two sections due to severe weather damage caused by an F2 tornado that struck the region on the morning of August 26th. The affected areas include the segment between Connellsville and Ohiopyle,…

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2023 Tour de Trail: Berlin, PA to Flight 93 Memorial

Place 1025 Main Street Berlin, PA US 15530 Description The September 11th National Memorial Trail is thrilled to host our fifth annual Tour de Trail, a bike ride through the beautiful Laurel Highlands region of Pennsylvania, including a loop through the grounds of the Flight 93 National Memorial. Please join us on Saturday, September 30,…

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Why Small Towns Should Embrace Outdoor Recreation as an Economic Strategy

Outdoor recreation has long been recognized as a key component of a healthy and thriving community. Not only does it provide residents with opportunities for physical activity and mental well-being, but it can also serve as a major economic driver for small towns. By embracing outdoor recreation as an economic strategy, small towns can not…

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ALERT! GAP TRAIL CLOSING FOR BRIDGE REPAIRS | NOV 8, 2022

ALERT! GAP TRAIL CLOSING FOR BIRDGE REPAIRS | NOV 8, 2022 To our trail community, we want you all to be aware that this fall, Somerset County will be closing the GAP from the Harnedsville Trail Head (Mile Marker 59) to the Markelton Trail Head (Mile Marker 50). The County has hired Crilon Corp. to…

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Leaf peeping with pedals.

Leaf peeping is a favorite autumn activity in western Pennsylvania. And the GAP provides a leisurely path for getting up close and enjoying the season’s color, scents, and crisp feel. The eighty-plus miles of the trail winding along the waterways of the Allegheny Mountains from the Eastern Continental Divide to Connellsville hold plenty of varying…

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