Steyer Bridge Grand Opening

Our latest Indian Creek Valley Trail project is almost done! We can’t wait to introduce our supporters to the new and improved Steyer Bridge!

Join us to celebrate this new project on Oct 17, 2023!

Festivities will begin at the Steyer Bridge Parking Lot (GPS Location: 39.970189, -79.450313) at 5:00 pm and wrap up around 8:00 pm.

Event schedule:

• 5:30: Leaf-peeping stroll down the trail

• 6:00: Short ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge

• 7:00: Flashlight Owl Prowl at sunset (BYO flashlight!)

Stella’s Waffles With a Twist, a local food truck, will be serving delicious treats up from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. We’ll also have kids’ activities available throughout the evening!

Project Background:

The Steyer Bridge, a 140-foot long railroad bridge across Indian Creek, is being refurbished so that trail users can safely cross. The bridge will be accessible from a new parking area, located across Route 381 from Camp Christian, and by a short section of rail-trail.

Located within property owned by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC), the path to the bridge is approximately six tenths of a mile long and was used as a road for logging trucks. The path has easy access to a calm section of Indian Creek. Both sides of this trail allow public access to the forest and stream on MAWC property, so there’s plenty of space to fish and swim in the water! The Steyer Bridge itself provides a rare panoramic view of Indian Creek.

The Steyer Bridge is getting new decking and railings, and the trail to the bridge will be improved with a crushed gravel surface, plus a new culvert over a tributary to Indian Creek. This culvert is replacing a temporary structure that was restricting stream flow and causing upstream erosion of the banks. The new culvert is a flat-bottomed box culvert that opens up the streambed to allow water and fish to move freely into Indian Creek.

Thanks to our donors!

Making the bridge safe for pedestrians and cyclists, and improving the trail leading to the bridge, was a huge undertaking that required significant funds. Mountain Watershed Association would like to thank everyone who supported us in fundraising for this important project!