Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail 110 ish to 115-Cedar Creek to West Newton
Ceder Creek Park is one of my favorite places near Pittsburgh. It has everything you can possible want with hiking, a waterfall, a bit of this and that. It also has several miles of the GAP Trail with a free camp grounds for those who are doing a through hike, bike, or canoe trips.
West Newton is a great little trail town. It has a pizza place, the Trailside restaurant and pub, a shuttle service, a bicycle shop for repairs, a bed n breakfast with bicycle storage area, a railroad museum, and a rite aid within feet of the trail. Plus across the bridge is a subway and behind the Trailside restaurant and pub has a laundromat that is open 24 hours a day.
If you only looking for a day ride, West Newton to Cedar Creek is a great hike or ride.
A Bit of 110-Bike Repair Station, Bathrooms, Ceder Creek Gorge, and Monongahela River
So, I have walked this in the past but it is mostly a mile of parking lot with a playground, a road, a bathroom, and a Bike Repair Station.
But at the end of the parking lot areas is the best. The Cedar Creek Gorge is wonderful and I have hiked up it several times because I love this hike. The day that I was visiting the water was a bit higher then normal but usually this is a great place to visit during hot days with the children to play in the creek or on milder weather for a great hike.
The Monongahela River follows the trail during this sections and you have great views of it most of the time.
The Mile 111 marker.
Mile 111-Little Waterfalls, the Mailbox Formation Rocks, Weeping Walls, and the Monongahela River.
Several of these little waterfalls are along this section of the trail.
On the other side of the trail, the waterfalls go into the river.
The rock looks like it has Mailboxes!
A few of these weeping walls!!
The Mile 112 marker!!!
Mile 112-Banning No 4 Mine
Mile 112 is so beautiful but with nothing really outstanding about it except that Banning No 4 Mine was once here.
Mile 113 Marker! I even have a biker in the shot because so many people had gone by.
Mile 113-Old Factory, Buddtown, A Town Across the River, West Newton Cemetery, and a Creek.
As you walk/run/bike along the trail, old factories come into view but only for a brief time.
Buddtown was started just before the American Revolution and the Budd brother offered ferry service across the River. It later became a place for the Banning 4 miners to live.
The West Newton Cemetery is just up this hill.
The cemetery includes several notable people. Jacob Baughman was one of West Newton’s earliest citizens in the early 1800’s. He worked hard to create business ventures in town which helped grow West Newton but he did not create a personal profit from these ventures.
The cemetery also includes Hannah Patterson who was the a national leader in the Women’s Suffrage movement, 22 of the miners from the Darr Mining Disaster, Eli Suter (Suter Mausoleum) who founded Sutersville, PA Senator Guffey who helped get Woodrow Wilson elected, and a Pittsburgh Steeler Ralph Calcagni who died at 26 after an exhibition game in 1948.
William “Stoney” B Jones (Jones Mausoleum) who won ‘Eureka Gold Crown Beer’ in a poker game and the name later change to Stoney’s Beer which is a local favorate. His is also the grandfather of a little girl who went to Hollywood and did a little show call the Partridge Family and many other TV and Films actress Shirley Jones.
Fritchman who was held at the Andersonville Prison during the Civil War, Harry Handel who died during WWI serving in France, and many more veterans are here as well.
The Chapel was built around 1905 at the cost of $6,500. It was renovated in 1978. But if you have a little time, this is a quaint place to visit.
This little run is also nicer looking as you walk up the short hill to the cemetery.
Mile 114 marker is just step past the cemetery.
Mile 114-Blue Bridge, The Trailside Restaurant and Pub, West Newton, West Newton Bicycle Shop, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Pioneer Point Sculpture, Fox Pizza, West Newton Train Station Welcome Center and Museum, Bright Morning Bed & Breakfast, A Bird, and Youghiogheny Canoe Outfitters and Campgrounds
The blue bridge allow you to go to the other side of town which has a lot of stuff but this side has everything you need.
The Trailside Restaurant and Pub is the place to be. Grab a beer and chat with other trail goers which your laundry is in the Laundromat just behind the pub or the West Newton Bicycle Shop below it.
Don’t miss the Pioneer Point Sculpture of what some call “Rusty” and others “Spike”. The sculpture is made out of railroad spikes. The sculpture represents a party of 48 Revolutionary War veterans who wintered here in 1788. Their goal was to establish the American Government pass the 13 colonies boarders.
Across the street is the Rite Aid.
Pizza!!!!!
They have a nice Visitor Center and Museum!!! But it was closed due to Covid19.
Bright Morning Bed Breakfast is also right along the trail. They have 4 houses with rooms at over a $100 per night.
Plus a Bike Barn which is locked overnight.
I love this bird. He made my day and just let me take picture after picture of him.
A cheaper option is the Youghiogheny Canoe Outfitters and Campgrounds which is just down the way. The Campgrounds is close for currently due to Covid19 but check. They may be open when you are going.
Mile 115 marker!!!