WESTMORELAND HERITAGE TRAIL; EASTERN SECTION:
SALTSBURG-SLICKVILLE-DELMONT, PENNSYLVANIA
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Last Updated: August 01, 2025
Length: Westmoreland Heritage Trail; Eastern Section; 8.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Saltsburg Playground in Saltsburg [Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 22 & 981 in New Alexandria travel north on Route 981 to the junction of Route 286. Turn right across the Conemaugh River along Washington St (Route 286) into Saltsburg. Turn right along Salt St which merges onto Canal St. When you come to Water St turn right into the parking area.
The Westmoreland Heritage Trail follows the rail bed of the former Penn Central RR, which fell into disuse in 1972. The rail line was originally opened in 1852 by a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, led by George Westinghouse, Jr. to connect Saltsburg and Export. Currently the Eastern Section travels Southwest, from Saltsburg through Slickville to Delmont. A Gap exists Southwest, to the next section in Export, that travels Southwest, to Trafford. Future expansion will complete this Gap, as well as, extend the trail another 4 miles West, to connect to the Great Allegheny Passage .
In Saltsburg this trail converges with the West Penn Trail at the Saltsburg Playground. For more information visit; WESTMORELAND HERITAGE TRAIL & WESTMORELAND HERITAGE TRAIL .
The West Penn Trail & Westmoreland Heritage Trail are all part of the regional TRANS ALLEGHENY TRAILS , located in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains.
Starting from the Saltsburg Playground in Saltsburg [Northern End]; Sports court, playground & picnic pavilion located here. Both the West Penn Trail & Westmoreland Heritage Trail begin next to the playgrounds entrance. The 0 Mile Marker begins here and is located every 0.25 miles along the trail.
Note; The West Penn Trail; Eastern Section crosses the entrance road and travels Northeast.
Heading Southwest, the paved Westmoreland Heritage Trail briefly parallels the stone-dust West Penn Trail; Northern Section before splitting. Pass by some old RR tracks and an informational sign. You immediately cross over the Conemaugh River along an old RR bridge. Next a tunnel takes you underneath Route 981 followed by another old RR bridge over Loyalhanna Creek at 0.3 miles. The stone-dust trail then heads into the woods. I only checked out a short section of this trail. The trail continues Southwest, following Getty Run. Come to Country Rd at 2.5 miles. Head left along Country Rd, along a paved trail and cross Bartz Rd, where you'll find the Bartz Road parking lot. Map Board. Just past the parking lot, the trail picks up on your right, heading West, through the woods. Trail parallels Getty Run. Cross Sportsman Dr at 4.1 miles, where you'll lose Getty Run. Cross Route 819 at 4.9 miles in Slickville, where you'll find an historical marker. The trail continues West, back through the woods. Cross Story Rd at 6.1 miles as the trail turns South, before crossing a causeway across Beaver Run Reservoir. Trail parallels Beaver Run, crossing Athena Drive at 7.5 miles, where you'll find some parking. Finally the trail turns West, bringing you past the Athena Drive Exd parking lot.
Note; The old rail bed continued straight, to an old RR bridge abutment (RR bridge long gone) over Athena Dr.
Instead the trail turns right, out to Athena Drive Exd and ends after 8.6 miles in Delmont.
Note; A Gap exists, as of 2025, to the Westmoreland Heritage Trail; Western Section, that travels West, from Export to Murrysville, then Southwest, to Trafford. I haven't checked out that section.
HH
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