Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail 32 to 36 Plus Meyersdale to Garrett

This section of the trail has the Salisbury Viaduct which should have been for two trains across but ended up only carry one. The Viaduct is 1,908 feet long and over 100 feet high.

For anyone that does not like heights, this is vertigo to the max. I am not a fan of heights myself so this was not as fun as it sounds. But I just keep looking across and breathing deeply. It was taking the pictures of the Casselman River which starts to follow the trail that got my stomach a bit upset walking across.

Mile 32 is just down from the visitor center. But take a few moments at the center. They don’t have standard hours at the moment and are closed until July 2nd due to the Covid-19.

But if they are closed, check out the great signs that they have around the building. They are very informative. They also have a few brochures outside the building on different items that might be of value.

Mile 32-Rocky Walls, Tunnel, a Repurposing a left over Railroad Item, and an Annoying Bird

Mile 32 is just past the visitor center but it was close enough to list as Meyersdale.

So, this is looking back at the visitor center and a Railroad Car that is available to visit.

Right at the Mile marker is these rocks which you can hear the dripping of water but with all the greenery, you can’t see anything.

As you start the at the Mile marker, one either side you have lots of greenery on either side of the trail.

They have a bit of rock walls but those slow they go away.

But as you round the corner…

This little tunnel comes into view for the local traffic to go over. But a great place to hide in the summer as thunderstorms can come on quickly, i.e. I am stuck not on a trail today because of sever thunderstorms.

As you can see the ground is a bit wet but the storm was hours before. Once thing about the East Coast, the humidity is so bad that this little bit of water might not dry until the next day.

After going up a bit of a hill…

The trail opens up a bit with a few houses on either side but I try not to take pictures of peoples houses.

But then you go back into the little forested area.

On the right is a drop off straight down into a valley for a bit.

After a bit of a turn to the left,

The right side of the trail opens to these open farm lands.

Behind this fence is a water source of some sort. You can hear it but not see it. But it is June and the greenery hides so much on the trail during this time of the year but it is beautiful.

After cross a little road that goes to the farm, the trail closes in on you again.

But this little bird is telling everyone that you have arrived. His call was not that of a lovely little song bird but that of a siren.

So, I was surprised that these little guys were still on the trail just open the way.

The trail just goes to the right for a bit…

And a bit more…

But starts to open up with views of the mountains across the way on the left side. But you have to look closely as the June greenery covers your view.

And farm field on the right side.

As the trail continues to the right.

Then to a little straight away to cross a little road.

I love how they have taken this old Railroad leftover and made it a flower pot.

This road is straight downhill which cars will speed down but the uphill is around a blind corner. So, watch out for cars and trucks.

The trail goes back to lots of greenery on the right side and views of the mountains on the left side.

As you turn the corner, the Mile 33 marker appears.

Mile 33-Parking Area, Salisbury Viaduct, A Train, Casselman River, and a Graveyard from the late 1800’s.

The trees look like a saber arch at a wedding. An arch way to a wonderful pleasant day.

On the right side of the trail, a jungle.

On the left side, views of the fields and mountains across the way.

Then a lovely straight away which moves to the right just a bit so that you can’t see what is at the end of it.

But the mountains come across through the greenery here and there.

Another arch appears on the trail and closes off the valley below.

But as you come through the arch…

There is a parking area for those who want to pick up the trail or just cross the Salisbury Viaduct.

But take a moment to check out the parking area for a mostly full picture/view of the Salisbury Viaduct.

Just down the way is a nice picnic table and the beginning of the Salisbury Viaduct which is over 100 feet tall and 1,908 feet long (just over 1/3 of a mile) crossing the valley.

The Viaduct was started to hold two trains but ended up only having one track laid in the end.

For those of us that are afraid of heights, this is both breath taking views and takes the breath out of you as you walk or ride across.

I was lucky to see a train go by as I was crossing.

The Viaduct crosses a two lane road, a two train tracks, a four way highway, the Casselman River, and two bit of a field.

The road to Meyersdale.

The Casselman River is just under 60 miles long and a tributary of the Youghiogheny River. It will be by the trail on and off for many miles.

The Casselman River starts in Garrett County to Confluence and joins the Youghiogheny River.

At the end of the bridge, on the right, is a few benches for a rest.

On the left is a cemetery.

Just a bit down the trail…

Mark 34 marker.

Mile 34-Farms, Cows, Forest, and Rock Walls

The trail opens up to a straight away.

On the left is a nice little field.

On the right, a few cows and the smell of cows on a hot June day.

The trail seems straight but it goes a bit to the right.

During this part of the trail, you have views of the mountains on the side of the trail as the trees are not allows so think.

As the trail turns to the left.

The sides start to get a bit more green as you walk down the trail.

The trail gets dark very quickly during the evenings.

But the trees are nice and bright green as the sun goes down reflecting the green lighter then earlier in the day.

The little forest on the side is very pretty as well.

After the bit of forest…

A bit of rock walls come into view.

A bit of trail and a turn to the right.

And another turn to the right but you can hear water but not really see it.

With the Mile marker almost in sight.

Mile 35 marker.

Mile 35-Bunnies, a Farm, Big Birds, Cows, Rainbow, and Rock Walls.

The fields and mountains are great looking to the right of the trail.

Going around the corner to the right, you get a bit of a straight away.

But you have to look closely as you are walking…

Or you miss the bunnies that come out at dusk.

The trail is mostly a slow down hill but this is one of the few places that you can tell the trail is going down hill.

A farm comes into view as you come around the corner.

With cows!!!!

Plus a couple of more bunnies!

But they run as soon as they can.

The trail is nice and green but past this is the farm land on either side for a bit.

Earlier in the day, these birds were on the trail right by the farm.

As you go through the farm going to the right. Lots of little birds and other small animal come to cross the trail.

The trail turns to the right.

On the left is a bit of a cleared field for the cows but lots of timber that has been left.

I got lucky as the trail turned to the right…

A rainbow comes into view. The second that I saw in the area.

The trail turns to the right just a bit more with the rainbow in the right hand corner.

Going a bit further down the trail. You can still see the rainbow.

The trail starts to close in again.

After a turn to the right.

A few rock walls come into view.

The trail turns to the left through the rock walls.

Just very cold greenery.

As you turn to the left a bit more, the trail opens up with a bit of forest on each side.

The trail has a bit of a straight away.

The Mile 36 marker comes into view. But the shadows don’t show the number…lol

36 mile to Garrett Parking Lot-Rock Walls, Casselman River, and Bigby Creek

After leaving the Mile marker, you get a striaght away that was cut into the mountain back in the 1910 or 1911 ish.

About here, you can here the Casselman River down to the right.

The sky is just lovely at sunset.

With another turn to the left…

A few rocks that are coming off the hill but as the years have passed, most of the rocks in this area have been covered by dirt.

As you turn to the left…

The Casselman River comes into view.

And the trail starts to follow the river below with a turn to the right.

Between the greenery, you get a glimpse of the river.

A bit more to the right…

The trail opens up to the Garrett Parking area and not a moment to soon as I started hiking a bit late and it was getting dark.

But just before the parking area is Bigby Creek.

The Garrett Parking Area.