By Bob Bazt, Jr., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh has a wealth of outdoorsy attractions all around, many of which are even closer than most residents might think. The 150-mile-long Great Allegheny Passage, which turns 40 this year, connects Downtown with Cumberland, Md., and the C&O Canal Towpath that goes on 185 miles to Washington, D.C. The route is mostly flat along the picturesque Youghiogheny and other rivers, and there are a number of trail towns to explore, whether you’re a self-propelled GAP tripper or driving in for a day or a weekend adventure. One town worth visiting, less than an hour away for many people, is West Newton in Westmoreland County.
