Coal and Coke Trail

Mt Pleasant to Scottdale in Westmoreland County

The Coal and Coke trail runs for a little over 5 miles from downtown Mt Pleasant to Kendi Park in Scottdale, mostly along Jacobs Creek. It follows the former route of the Scottsdale Branch of the Pennsylvania RR. The trail incorporates the existing short Jacobs Creek Recreational Trail that runs along Jacobs Creek in Kendi Park.

A short side trail leads to West Overton Village, which has several historic buildings, a museum, and a distillery.

  Location Mt Pleasant to Scottdale in Westmoreland County  
  Trailheads Mt Pleasent, Willow Park, Allegheny Power, Mildred, Kendi Park  
  Length, Surface total 5.1 miles, 0.6 Asphalt, 4.0 limestone, 0.5 on road>  
  Character Uncrowded, shady, wooded, flat with several slight rises  
  Usage restrictions No motorized vehicles, no horses  
  Driving time from Pittsburgh 0 hours 47 minutes  
Development prevented the trail from being built entirely on the original railbed. The trail developers have found routes around the gaps to stitch together a continuous trail. Accordingly the trail surface varies.

The trail starts in Mt Pleasant just off route 31 at MP0.0, with the railroad immediately on the left and a ex lumber yard on the right. The trail is sunny until mile 0.4, where a side trail leads to Willow Park with ball fields and playground equipment. After passing Willow Park, the trail enters woodlands and Shupe Run appears alongside the trail on the right, putting the trail between the creek and the railroad.

At about mile 0.6 Shupe Run crosses under the trail and creates a pretty lake on the left at mile 0.7 before crossing the trail again. One final creek crossing occurs at mile 1.7 where the Shupe Run crosses under the trail and railroad, and then dumps into Jacob Creek out of sight. The trail then immediately crosses Buckeye Rd.

Leaving the woods there is a slight climb alongside the obligatory sewage plant to Sewage Lane and the Allegheny Power Trailhead. Since the lane leads only to the trailhead, the sewer plant and a couple of houses, there is little traffic for the 750 ft. At the end of the lane the trail crosses Mt Pleasant Rd diagonally, with a poor slight line to the right. Use caution. Back in the woods, the trail shortly crosses under US 119 and passes a small pond.

At mile 3.9 a brief climb takes the trail up to the Mildred St Trailhead. The trail is now on the low traffic residential Mildred St/Bessemer St. At mile 4.0 there are signs pointing right onto Lou St for the West Overton Trail. The West Overton Trail 0.7 miles long, leading to West Overton. See Extensions of the Ride for details.

At mile 4.2, at the intersection of Bessemer Rd and Overholt Rd, there is a log cabin on the left <<more info on log cabin needed>>. The trail turns left and hops onto a limestone path on the far side of OverHolt Rd. 900 ft further, just before crossing Jacobs Creek the trail turns right up a short hill to follow along a 6 foot high fence. 0.1 miles later it enters Kendi Park and the surface turns to asphalt.

At mile 4.7 a side trail goes into Kendi Park, with its baseball and soccer fields. At mile 5.0 just before the trail turns away from the river there is a canoe/kayak launch on the river. The trail ends at mile 5.1 in a trailhead parking lot.

Coal and Coke Trail - Oldest segment segment check 2024-Jun         This page brought to you by the book