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 Reporter |
Summary: The Five Star Trail follows active rail siding from Lynch Field in Greensburg to Youngwood. Active siding means that the rail is used for "parking" rail cars. There is no fence separating the trail from the rail so don't stray onto the tracks. There is a bit of a climb up and out of Lynch Field but once up to the grade, it's a typically level crushed limestone surface. Between the Buncher Industrial Park and Youngwood, the trail has a designated bike lane along Avenue A. At Youngwood there are two branches. The main one continues south for another half mile with plans to eventually continue the trail 10 miles to Scottsdale and even further south to Connelsville. The other Youngwood branch is up Sewickley Creek, past a nice marsh and across the campus of Westmoreland County Community College 1.5 miles to Armbrust. The plans are to continue this trail another 5 miles to Mammoth Park. Trailhead: Located at Lynch Field, Greensburg. Take Route 30 (not the bypass) through Greensburg proper and turn north on 119/819. After the underpass, turn right onto 119 and Lynch Field is a well-marked short distance on the right. The park has picnic, restroom and water facilities in addition to ball fields, a walking oval and a community swimming pool. The are also many other parking opportunities along the trail at Huff Avenue, at Willow Crossing Road, at the traffic light for Buncher Commerce Park near Youngwood, at Depot Street in Youngwood and the campus of Westmoreland County Community College. (Lat:40.30857 Lon:-79.53457) Trail Guides for Five Star Trail: Pennsylvanias Rail Trails (9th Edition) by Tom Sexton & Patricia Tomes (Rails To Trails Conservancy) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Ranger Contact: Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation 724-830-3950 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Kevin Geiselman, who has posted 96 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Turtle on 10/12/2009 Dead Man's was supposedly named for a dead hobo, although there was later a gruesome suicide by train near that spot. Over the tracks used to a totally hidden but beautiful little quarry that was bounded by the cement company, the flood control ditch of the creek, and the 45 foot train embankment. It had bass in it, but the cement company illegally dumped their cement waste into. 
Reviewed by J.M on 9/22/2009 I wrote long a go still biking on the trail ..still no bathrooms ???????not even one ????? 
Reviewed by Kimmy on 5/2/2009 I grew up there till I was 10, Lynch was like our back yard all summer long we were there,we lived right down the ally behind the tire store and it was 1963-73 so we were able to go there with kids from the our street by time I was about 5! Everyone called the tunnel Dead Man's Tunnel Back Then!!! There were lots of different stories about how it got it's name,I'm not sure if any were the real story!!! We played in it and climed the slopped sides to the top!!! Not to safe or smart!!! We would go into the middle and try to scare the crap out of each other, it worked well being pitch black in there and that was in the day time! I hope if someone knows how it got the name Dead Man's Tunnel they can tell the real storie here!!!
Reviewed by TC on 4/27/2009 CT, would you elaborate? Odd and disturbing could be criminal activity or it could mean the haunting stories I heard when I was a kid. Either way, the trail is nice and I don't think I would use any trail in any city at night. I don't care if it's a city as safe as Greensburg.
Reviewed by CT on 4/12/2009 Nice trail. Use caution in the tunnel especialy at night. I've heard odd and disturbing stories about it. During the day it's a nice trail.
Reviewed by Claire on 12/14/2006 It's okay...The water is kind of polluted.
Reviewed by J.M on 11/13/2005 I bike the trail almost everyday , love it , but we would like to see more bathrooms that have running water for those of us who are on the trail for hours at a time . Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Pennsylvania Hiking, Pennsylvania Trails, Pennsylvania Hikes, Westmoreland County Hiking, Westmoreland County Trails, Westmoreland County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||