Ride from Ohiopyle to Confluence—and Make a Day of It
Some of the best days in Ohiopyle do not need a complicated itinerary.
Rent a bike in town, follow the river to Confluence, stop for lunch, and ride back to Ohiopyle when you are ready. You will spend the day outside, see a beautiful stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage, and return with the satisfying feeling that you really went somewhere.
A Trail Built for the Journey
The Great Allegheny Passage follows an old railway corridor through the Laurel Highlands. Trains once traveled this route beside the Youghiogheny River, and the gradual grade that worked for the railroad now makes it a wonderful trail for bicycling.
There is a slight upgrade as you travel from Connellsville through Ohiopyle and on toward Confluence, but there are no steep climbs waiting around the next bend. The trail is marked every mile, so you always know how far you have traveled.
You decide how far you want to go.
Ride for a few miles, find a pretty place to stop beside the river, and turn around. Or choose Confluence as your destination and make an entire day of it.
Ohiopyle to Confluence
Leaving Ohiopyle, the trail takes you upstream along the Youghiogheny River and into the quieter stretches of Ohiopyle State Park.
Town gradually disappears behind you. The river stays nearby as the trail carries you beneath the trees, past rocky hillsides and through the landscape shaped by the railroad that once ran here.
There is no need to hurry. Stop for photographs. Take a break beside the river. Notice the old railroad remnants along the way. The mile markers will keep track of the distance while you enjoy the ride.
Confluence gives the trip a natural destination. Once there, find a place for lunch, rest your legs, and enjoy some time in town before beginning the return ride to Ohiopyle.
And here is the lovely part: that slight upgrade you followed toward Confluence becomes a slight downgrade on the way back.
It Is Your Day
Not everyone wants to measure a bike ride by speed or mileage. Sometimes the pleasure is simply having somewhere to go and all day to get there.
If Confluence feels a little too ambitious, turn around sooner. Your ride can be as long or as short as you want it to be. The same trail, river and forest are there to enjoy whether you travel four miles or twenty.
An e-bike can make the longer journey feel more approachable, especially if it has been a while since you last rode or if the people in your group have different cycling abilities. You are still pedaling and experiencing the trail—you simply have some extra assistance when you want it.
That can mean more time looking at the scenery and less time wondering whether you have enough energy left for the ride back.
Make Room for a Little Wandering
A day like this is not about checking another activity off the list. It is about settling into the rhythm of Ohiopyle.
Ride beside the river. Have lunch in another trail town. Linger longer than you planned. Return to Ohiopyle and walk down to the falls, browse the shops or reward yourself with something cold to drink.
Every season gives the trail a different personality, from the fresh green of spring and deep shade of summer to the cooler days and changing leaves of autumn.
You do not need to be an experienced cyclist. You do not need to reach a particular mile marker. You only need to choose a bike, choose a direction and see where the day takes you.
White Water Adventurers rents traditional bicycles and e-bikes at 6 Negley Street in Ohiopyle, close to the Great Allegheny Passage.
Come to Ohiopyle. Bring your sense of adventure. We will help with the wheels.