Physical / Mobility

Explore physical and mobility accessibility at Allegheny Portage National Historic Site by clicking on each location's features below.

 

Summit Level Visitor Center Area

The visitor center has parking, restrooms, exhibits, a park theater, and bookstore.The visitor center is located at: 110 Federal Park Road, Gallitzin, PA 16641

Parking/Drop Off

The entire parking lot is on a bit of an angle sloping down toward the visitor center. There are:

• 2 accessible spaces      
• 2 van-accessible spaces  
• 35 regular spaces
• 6 bus spaces

As the parking lot winds near the visitor center there is an area to drop-off passengers. There is a curb ramp by the drop-off area, but there is a 2-inch change in level between the pavement and the ramp.

Paths

• The path from the accessible parking to the visitor center crosses traffic and is sloped.
• There is a curb cut and ramp from the crosswalk to the sidewalk outside of the visitor center.
• The path from the drop-off area to the main doors of the visitor center is uneven at times due to a deteriorating sidewalk.

Restrooms

The restrooms are located inside the visitor center.

Men

• 1 accessible stall
• 1 standard stall
• 2 urinals
• A changing table
• Sinks and hand dryers

Women

• 1 accessible stall
• 3 standard stalls
• Extended sink counter can be used for a changing table.
• Sinks and hand dryers

Drinking Fountians

There is a drinking fountain with a water bottle filling station near the restrooms.

Information Desk/Bookstore

• The information desk is located to the left as you enter the visitor center. There is a lowered section for asking questions and purchasing items from the bookstore.
• There are various items available for sale in the bookstore including t-shirts, hoodies, books, pins, and other collectibles. Staff at the information desk can assist with reaching items on higher shelves.

Wheelchairs

• Wheelchairs are available for loan at the Visitor Center, free of charge. Please inquire at the front desk.
• An electric scooter is available for loan at the Visitor Center, free of charge. A safety brief is required. 
• With advance notice, a 5 seat golf cart may be available to assist mobility impaired visitors to more easily visit the Lemon House and Engine House No. 6 Exhibit Shelter.

Theater

• The theater is located to the left past the information desk.
• The park movie plays on demand; you can ask at the information desk for it to be played.
• There is space at the back of the theater for wheelchairs.
• The rest of the seating is stadium style with steep steps between the rows.

Exhibits

• There are interactive and tactile exhibits throughout the visitor center.
• There’s a train engine, a full-scale model of a narrow canal boat you can get inside of, a tactile area map, and other exhibits about the history of the railroads.
• There is room to navigate around the exhibits.
• The narrow canal boat has room to go through in a wheelchair, but it is a tight space.

 

Amphitheater

An outdoor amphitheater is located up the hill from the visitor center.

Parking

• 4 accessible spaces
• 40 regular spaces

Paths

• There is a curb cut from the accessible spaces to the path to the amphitheater.
• There is a 2 inch lip from the parking lot to the curb cut and there is no level space at the top of the curb cut.
• The path to the amphitheater is concrete but uphill.
  • The path is 200 feet (or tenths of a mile) long and 48 inches wide, with an average slope of 2 degrees. Cross slope of 1 degree.
  • The path leads to the front of the amphitheater or the back, but not the aisles in between.

Seating

• The seating is built into the natural slope of the ground and is made out of a low stone wall with no back rest.
• The aisles are made of turf.
• There is space at the very back or the very front for wheelchairs.

Restrooms

The nearest restrooms are in the visitor center.

 

Engine House 6 and Stone Quarry

To reach the Engine House No. 6 and the old stone quarry, park at the visitor center and walk the Boardwalk Trail or the old Gallitzin Road.

Boardwalk Trail

• The boardwalk trail weaves through a heavily forested area.
• There is a railing on one side of the path in areas where there is a large drop off.
• There are few benches along the path.
• The path is:
  • Length: 940 feet (.18 miles)
  • Width: 5 feet
  • Average running slope: 2 Degrees
  • Max running slope:  4 Degrees for about 100 feet
  • Average cross slope: 1degree
  • Max cross slope: 1 degree
• The end of the trail splits; turning right will take you to Engine House 6 while going left will take you to the stone quarry.

Gallitzin Road

• This is an old single-lane road, off limits to vehicles.
• Sometimes the old pavement has eroded away leaving gravel sections.

Engine House No. 6

• There is a small metal ramp that leads from the paved walkway to the front doors of the Engine House.
• Inside you can learn about the history of steam engines and the cables used in the engine houses to help trains up very steep inclines along the railroad line. The exhibits require a side approach.
• Some of the interactive exhibits are heavy or may difficult to operate with a closed fist.
• There is a second exit door that takes you to a platform looking out over the interior of the engine house, the tracks, and train equipment.

Stone Quarry

• The stone quarry is located on a short spur trail of the boardwalk trail.
  • The trail is steep, 102 feet in length, asphalt, and approximately 6 feet wide.
• There are stones with cut marks on the on the ground nearby.
• Live demonstrations of stone cutting are offered seasonally. Check at the visitor center to learn more.

 

Lemon House

Parking for the Lemon House is available at the Visitor Center lot.

Paths

• Visitors can walk to the historic Lemon House by:
  • Parking at the Visitor Center and following the boardwalk or old Gallitzin Road.
  • Parking at the picnic area and taking a 0.5-mile trail through dense woodlands.
• Entering the front yard of the house requires going across a wooden bridge over the railroad tracks.
  • Ramped asphalt has been added to either end of the bridge and these ramped areas are steep.
• The asphalt path continues across the yard to the house entrance where the path changes to a brick and abruptly slopes up meet the entry threshold.
  • There are no landings at the top or bottom.    

Lemon House Interior

• After entering the Lemon House, the tavern is located on the left.
  • There is a bar, a small spittoon, a stone fireplace, and a few sets of tables and chairs in the tavern room.
• Next to the tavern, there is a parlor room that is glassed off and only available to look into.
• To the right is a dining area with multiple tables set and a few have fake food, all of which is available to touch.
• Through the dining area across the room is a small exhibit room.
  • There is ample room to navigate through the exhibit space.
  • Exhibits mainly consist of vertical panels.
  • This room also has an elevator which can be used to acess the bathrooms and water fountain in the basement. 

Restrooms

• There is a restroom and water fountain in the basement that can be accessed via the elevator on the right side of the building. 

 

Picnic Area

The picnic area is located on Maintenance Dr off Admiral Peary Highway (Old Route 22).

Parking

• 2 Acessible spaces
• 72 other spaces

There is an access isle in between the two accessible parking spaces, but there is no curb cut or accessible route to the picnic tables.

Picnic Tables

• There is one designated accessible picnic site.
  • There is a paved route connecting the sidewalk to the accessible picnic site.
  • The picnic table has one half of the bench cut out.
• There is also a pavilion with picnic tables under it.
  • There is no accessible route to the pavilion and none of the picnic tables in the pavilion are accessible.

Restrooms

There are three additional accessible parking stalls near the restroom building.

The sidewalk to the restroom is uneven and has changes in level up to 4 inches.

• The sidewalk is 76 Feet in length, 5 feet wide, 2 degree slope with a max of 4 degrees for about 20 feet, with a cross slope of 1 degree.

Men:

• 1 stall intended for wheelchair users though the turning radius is a little tight
• 2 urinals
• 2 Sinks

Women:

• 1 stall intended for wheelchair users though the turning radius is a little tight
• 2 standard stalls
• 2 Sinks

 

 

Staple Bend Tunnel

Trailhead located 23 miles from the Visitor Center in Mineral Point, PA.

Parking

• X accessible spaces
• X other spaces

Paths

• The Staple Bend Tunnel trail is crushed limestone.
• The trail meets gradient standards for wheelchair users.
• The trail is approximately 4 miles to the tunnel and back.

Restrooms

• Vault toilets availble at trailhead.

 

Trails

For specific information regarding trails, please call or stop by the visitor center to speak to a ranger.

Picnic Area Trail

The Picnic Area Trail leads to the Lemon House

• This trail can be accessed by parking at the picnic area. 
• There are several resting areas with benches along the trail.
• Foot traffic only.

This path is: (Information coming soon)

• Substrate type
• X miles long
• X feet wide
• Average running slope 
• Max running slope
• Average cross slope 
• Max cross slope

Skew Arch Bridge Trail

The Skew Arch Bridge Trail

• This trail can be accessed by parking at the Visitor Center or the Skew Arch Bridge parking lot.
• There are no rest areas along the trail.
• Foot traffic only.

This path is: (Information coming soon)

• Substrate type
• X miles long
• X feet wide
• Average running slope 
• Max running slope
• Average cross slope 
• Max cross slope

6 to 10 Trail

The 6 to 10 Trail leads from the Visitor Center to Dry Run Road.

• This trail can be accessed by parking at the Visitor Center, Skew Arch Bridge, Mule Shoe Bridge, Valley Forge Road or Dry Run Road.
• Additional information can be found on our Inclines 6 to 10 Trail page.
• Hiking section
  • Foot traffic only.
  • Blazes mark the wooded path.
  • Trail surface varies between crushed limestone, gravel, rocks, dirt, and grass along entire length.
• Biking section
  • Connects the Mule Shoe Bridge to Dry Run Road.
  • The trail surface is crushed limestone.
  • There are various resting areas with benches along the trail.
  • This section is both hiking and biking.

This path is: (Information coming soon)

• Substrate type
• X miles long
• X feet wide
• Average running slope 
• Max running slope
• Average cross slope 
• Max cross slope

 

Places To Go

Summit Level Visitor Center

Engine House No. 6 Shelter

Lemon House Tavern

Staple Bend Tunnel