Pitch in and Make a Difference
The Great Allegheny Passage was built and is stewarded by a variety of local organizations, working cooperatively in conjunction with the nonprofit Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy. It takes tens of thousands of hours each year to keep the GAP fit for service.
Hundreds of faithful, long-serving volunteers handle the lion’s share of these year-round efforts, which includes cutting grass, removing fallen trees, supplying firewood, water, and clean shelters at some campgrounds, digging out from landslides, resurfacing trail sections, installing fences, cutting back invasive weed, clearing culverts under the trail surface, picking up trash left by travelers, clearing fallen rocks, fixing bollards, and painting over graffiti.
They also recruit and coordinate major efforts to deal with emergency repairs and enhancements funded in part by proceeds from TrailGuide.
Support the following affiliated groups directly by volunteering or giving:
- Allegany County, Md. and Mountain Maryland Trails
- Somerset County, Pa. and the Somerset County Recreation and Trails Association
- Ohiopyle State Park and Friends of Ohiopyle
- Regional Trail Corporation and the Yough River Trail Council, Whitsett-Fayette Yough Trail Chapter, Westmoreland Yough Trail Chapter, Mon/Yough Trail Council, McKeesport Trail Commission, and Steel Valley Trail Council, with help from the Westmoreland County Parks Department.
- City of Pittsburgh and Friends of the Riverfront
- Point State Park
The Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy also deploys volunteers to sit trailside a few times a year with a clipboard and pencil to count bicyclist and walkers. If you would like to offer your services at one of 12 locations, please review our upcoming trail count opportunities with instructions for signing up.