8 of the Best Bike Trails in the U.S. - The New York Times
Tens of thousands of miles of abandoned railroad tracks have been developed into recreational paths since the 1960s. Here are scenic pathways through deserts, ...
Salisbury Viaduct
The Great Allegheny Passage connects Cumberland, Md., to Pittsburgh, passing around and through the Allegheny Mountains, the Laurel Highlands and 10 towns in Pennsylvania and Maryland. While its 150-mile span may sound daunting, the full through-ride offers ample opportunities to rest, eat, swim and sleep: There are bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants and ice cream shops in towns like Frostburg, Md., and Confluence, Pa.; campsites and shady spots in the mature forests of Ohiopyle State Park; and the Casselman, Youghiogheny and Monongahela rivers offer dips for tired toes and opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, rafting and fly fishing. Plan on spending three days and two nights on the full ride, or opt for a shorter journey. One one-day trip between Meyersdale and Rockwood, Pa., allows bikers to explore old railroad structures (like the <anchor>Salisbury Viaduct</anchor>, a destination for 360-degree views) or try an overnight ride from one trail town to another with an available shuttle service. (Amtrak’s Capitol Limited line also runs parallel to the route.) The trail is a stellar example of how prioritizing cycling infrastructure can be a boon to local communities — according to Bryan Perry, the executive director of the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, the trail created approximately $121 million in economic impact for the region in 2019 alone.
Salisbury Viaduct - Great Allegheny Passage
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![Salisbury Viaduct at dawn](https://gaptrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Salisbury-Viaduct-Dawn-Meyersdale-DRiegner-2500x900-1-800x450-c-default.jpg)

# Salisbury Viaduct

Where To Go


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[Rockwood](https://gaptrail.org/amenities/rockwood-pennsylvania/ "Link to Rockwood page") 10.1 mi

[Pittsburgh](/amenities/downtown-pittsburgh/ "Link to Pittsburgh page") 115.1 mi

GAPMILE33.7

1.8 mi [Meyersdale](https://gaptrail.org/amenities/meyersdale-pennsylvania/ "Link to Meyersdale page")

218.2 mi [Washington, D.C.](/amenities/georgetown-washington-d-c/ "Link to Georgetown / Washington page")

#### Scenery

Travelers are rewarded with 360-degree views of the surrounding forests and farmland reward travelers when crossing the 1,908-foot Salisbury Viaduct, which soars 101 feet above the [Casselman River](https://gaptrail.org/amenities/casselman-river/) just west of [Meyersdale](https://gaptrail.org/amenities/meyersdale-pennsylvania/). The longest trestle on the Great Allegheny Passage, it’s a magnificent place to watch the sunrise or sunset, and breathtaking during a foggy fall morning.  A small family cemetery sits just past the western edge, next to a picturesque farm.

#### Construction

This steel structure was an engineering achievement for the [Western Maryland Railway](https://gaptrail.org/amenities/western-maryland-railway/), and it was not built without human cost.  During construction in 1911, disaster struck when a traveling electric crane crashed to the ground while lifting a 14.5 ton girder. Six men were killed and one was seriously injured in the accident. A month later, another worker died when he fell off the deck of the viaduct.  Like all the bridges on this part of the Western Maryland, it was built to accommodate a second track, which was never added.  Hundreds of spectators cheered when the first train crossed in 1912.  Abandoned as a through-route in 1975, it was decked for bike and pedestrian use in 1998.

#### Visitor Information

Open daily, dawn to dusk.  The closest parking is at the [Meyersdale Area Historical Society](https://gaptrail.org/amenities/meyersdale-area-historical-society/), along the GAP in Meyersdale.

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The Great Allegheny Passage® offers 150 miles of spectacular biking and hiking from Cumberland, Md. to Pittsburgh, through Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

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