Progress Over Time

  1. Bullet1991:  Original 1.5 mile trail built along the Kiski River

  2. Bullet1998:  Trail extended - the improved portion of the trail by about one-half mile, resulting in a trail of slightly more than two miles.

  3. Bullet2004:  Rock Furnace Trail completed - a one and a half mile paved-surface trail, was constructed on a former gas well access road.

  4. Bullet2007:  Roaring Run Trail was extended -  another one and a half miles, resulting in a trail of nearly four miles.

  5. Bullet2007:  Suspension bridge built - a 72' cable bridge was constructed by RRWA volunteers over Roaring Run on the Rock Furnace Trail, allowing for year-round use of the entire trail.

  6. Bullet2009:  Roaring Run Trail extended one mile to the village of Edmon. Project included the construction of a 15 vehicle parking area at the Edmon trailhead. Also along this section, a wooden arch bridge over Flat Run was built by RRWA volunteers.   Total trail length 5 miles.

Two of our most popular features are the "Roaring Run Trail" and the "Rock Furnace Trail". The former, a 5 mile Rails-to-Trail project follows the Kiski River upstream from its ample parking area (105 vehicle parking capacity) located at the end of Canal
Road, passes the site of the former Leechburg Mining coal loading station. The trail ends in the village of Edmon, where a 15 vehicle parking area is located. The first four miles of the trail from the main parking area is built on the former railroad grade, with a crushed limestone surface. The final mile to Edmon has significant grade changes and has a tar and chip surface.  Along this trail remnants of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal (circa 1825-1850) can be found. These remnants include stone survey markers, a portion of the canal lock at the mouth of Roaring Run, and the bridge abutments for the tow path that crossed Flat Run. Our hope is to someday complete the two mile "missing link" between the end of the Roaring Run Trail in Edmon and the West Penn Trail, a Conemaugh Valley Conservancy project, creating a trail system from Apollo to Ebensburg.


The "Rock Furnace Trail"
follows Roaring Run from its confluence with the Kiski River 1 1/2 miles to a 10 vehicle parking area off Brownstown Road. The trail is hilly after crossing the 72' suspension bridge over Roaring Run. This trail also has historic remnants. The remains of the Biddle Iron Furnace (also known as the "Rock Furnace") can be found directly across the trail from the giant "Camel Rock". This furnace operated in the canal era as well. 1825-1850. The stream here is beautiful, with small cascading waterfalls, and an abundance of native plants. It is the jem of the "Roaring Run Recreation Area".
 

Read one hiker’s account of a winter walk through Roaring Run

Read one biker’s story of a ride up Rock Furnace Trail