WESTLINE — When the Kinzua Valley Trail Club was organized in 1999, its goal was to develop nearly 20 miles of year-round, non-motorized trails from Kinzua Bridge State Park near Mount Jewett, to the Red Bridge area of the Allegheny Reservoir.
On Wednesday, members of the club met at the west end of the trail where Mead Run Road crosses the Kinzua Creek to Forest Road, which is also the extension of the Civilian Conservation Corps Road out of Westline for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the first phase of the project. “The Kinzua Valley Trail originates at the Westline Trailhead where there is a large parking lot, pavilion, a picnic tables and an outdoor grill,” said Carolyn Stroup, treasurer of the trail club. It continues with more than three miles of finished trail and an additional mile of usable trail.
The Kinzua Valley Trail is a shared-use trail, open all year, weather permitting, to hiking, skiing, walking/jogging and bicycling. Dogs are allowed, but must be controlled or on a leash, and owners are responsible for the animal’s cleanup.The major part of the trail runs parallel to Kinzua Creek and follows the track bed of the former Valley Railroad Company that hauled lumber from the Kinzua Valley to Kushequa.
Stroup said, “The actual trail has an eight-minimum width and a hard surface made of finely crushed limestone. From Westline to Red Bridge much of the trail is a gentle downward slope.”
Besides the trail being a place for healthy activity, the scenic beauty also offers photo opportunities for nature photographers. Stroup said, “There is lots of wildlife to see, such as eagles, deer, beavers and a natural brook trout stream.”
Maintenance of the trail is performed by a group of dedicated trail club volunteers to provide the public with a great and safe experience.
Many parties were involved in establishing this trail. “The project was made possible with grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a cost-share agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture,” said club president Don Cummins.
Zippo-Case and Bob Cummins Construction were also important donors.
“In addition to the grant funding, the trail club worked very hard to secure pricing, materials, volunteers and coordination with all agencies involved. Our goal was to complete this section, which now extends from Westline to Red Bridge, a total of seven miles — 14 miles round trip.”
Cummins said the club is now applying for grants to help fund the next section between Westline to the Kinzua Bridge State Park, which when completed, will be a total of 21 miles of non-motorized trail. The trail follows the east branch of the Kinzua Creek, winding down the beautiful Kinzua Valley to Red Bridge.
To fund the trail’s maintenance projects, the KTC sponsors various fundraisers, the major one of which is the annual Moon Dance.
This trail is the site of the annual Tony Dolan Memorial Ski for Cancer event.
Visitors to the trail have increased steadily since this summer, and club memberships are also showing an upward swing.
