Mon Yough Trail - Extensions of the Ride

Linden Hall Resort has developed a trail to provide bicycle access from Dawson. Using the Stone Bridge Trail, you can climb 500’ from river level to the Cochran mansion atop the hill. Leave the Youghiogheny River Trail at Dickerson Run, mile 52.8. Climb the road ramp to PA819, then turn left on PA819 and carefully cross the bridge to Dawson. At the Dawson end of the bridge, turn left on River Rd. Ride carefully in traffic for a level half-mile and cross the railroad tracks. Just after you cross the tracks, turn left to stay on River Rd; it’s marked “No Outlet” and there’s less traffic on this section.

Follow River Rd, which now is slightly hilly, 1.2 miles to the mouth of Laurel Run. Here the road turns away from the river and starts climbing; the surface deteriorates seriously. This was originally the main road to Linden Hall. The road does a switch­back across the trail’s namesake stone bridge and ends at a fork after 0.1 mile and 80 feet of climb. The right fork is private; the left fork, now traffic-free, climbs another mile to Linden Hall. The first half-mile climbs 180 feet, including two steep sections of about a tenth of a mile. A large overlook with rustic railing marks the end of the steep climbs. Another half-mile (and only 100 feet of climb) brings you onto the southwest corner of the Linden Hall grounds, near the maintenance shed. Now you can ride on the resort’s hilly roads to the mansion, swimming pool, restaurant, or whatever. We enjoyed both soup and sandwich at the restaurant.