March News and Alerts
along the Great Allegheny Passage
Big Savage Tunnel To Open for the Season on April 9
The Big Savage Tunnel will open for the season on Friday, April 9, according to Somerset County officials. This is a week later than anticipated, since deep snow remains on the Great Allegheny Passage at both ends of the tunnel; temperatures have not yet warmed sufficiently to make the entrances safely or easily accessible. Crews from Somerset County and Somerset County Recreation & Trails Association close Big Savage Tunnel each winter to protect the tunnel from cold winds and repeated freeze-thaw cycles that threaten to damage and fell its lining.
Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale Starts April 24
Don't miss the syrupy goodness of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival, held in Meyersdale right off the Great Allegheny Passage April 24 and 25, and April 28 to May 2. Meyersdale is Pennsylvania's "Maple City," and this year's festival features a tree-tapping ceremony, horse-drawn carriage rides, tours of the Historic Meyers Manor Homestead, and maple syrup-making demonstrations at the Meyers Sugar Shack and Sugar Camp. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, and the crowning of the Maple Queen make this annual event a sweet crowd-pleaser.
Boston Reopening Delayed
The Great Allegheny Passage remains closed to all travelers between mile marker 120.9 and mile marker 131.1 for a municipal sewer installation project begun last November, and its reopening has been delayed to April 30, and perhaps longer. There is no posted or easy detour. Long-term benefits include the replacement or repair of culverts that divert stormwater runoff, and a complete trail resurfacing between Boston and Buena Vista. Our best advice to thru-riders is to arrange a shuttle between McKeesport and Buena Vista. The following businesses may be able to serve you: Bill’s Car Service (412-855-4484), Wilderness Voyagers (800-272-4141), or 2 Wheel Escapes (240-674-7626). Visit www.gaptrail.org for updates on progress.
2021 GAP Relay Dates Set
Save October 15 and 16 for the 2021 GAP Relay Presented by UPMC Health Plan, a 150-mile team running relay event, overnight along the length of the Great Allegheny Passage. From Pittsburgh's South Side to Ohiopyle State Park to Cumberland, Maryland, the GAP Relay is a fantastic social event and beautiful run. Teams of four or eight split legs of varying distance, but everyone gets great views and a celebration at the finish line at the former Western Maryland Railway station. Registration opens later this spring.
