PA Hiking/Biking Trails

Hyde Park Walking Bridge | PA’s Longest Swinging Bridge

Various scenes from Hyde Park Walking Bridge, connecting Westmoreland and Armstrong counties in western Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking for information about the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in western PA, you’re in the right place!

Looking across the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, the image captures the weathered metal trusses and the mesh walkway that leads across the Kiskiminetas River. The river flows peacefully beneath, surrounded by barren trees and a park in the distance, under a gray, cloud-filled sky. — The bridge connects Hyde Park in Westmoreland County to Leechburg in Armstrong County.

At 600 feet long and rising 20 feet above the Kiski River below, the Hyde Park Walking Bridge is the longest swinging bridge in Pennsylvania.

The view from the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, looking toward Leechburg. The bridge's metal structure frames the walkway, leading the eye toward the small town in the distance. The Kiskiminetas River flows below, flanked by bare trees and houses, under a cloudy sky that hints at the changing seasons — The bridge is also known as the Hyde Park Foot Bridge or the Hyde Park Swinging Bridge.

Built in 1921 and alternately known as the Hyde Park Foot Bridge or the Hyde Park Swinging Bridge, this impressive structure is a great spot to check out if you want to experience the thrill of crossing a bouncy suspension bridge over a wide river.

A close-up of a sign on the Hyde Park Foot Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, reading 'HYDE PARK FOOT BRIDGE EST. 1921' in raised, black letters on a weathered metal plaque. Above the sign, there's an old, industrial-style light fixture attached to the yellow-painted metal truss of the bridge, against a grey, overcast sky. — The bridge was built in 1921.

Directions to the Bridge

The bridge is most easily accessed from pull-off parking along Railroad Street, on the Hyde Park/Westmoreland County side of the bridge.

While this parking area is only a few yards from the bridge, you do have to cross an active set of railroad tracks to get to the bridge, so USE EXTREME CAUTION AND LOOK BOTH WAYS!

A vibrant orange Toyota Tacoma parked on a gravel road with leafless trees overhead and the Hyde Park Walking Bridge visible in the background, crossing over a river in Western Pennsylvania. The overcast sky suggests a cool or overcast day, and the truck stands out against the natural and constructed elements of the scene. — Parking along Railroad Street.

Fortunately it only a single set of tracks you have to cross, and you can see a long way in both directions.

A landscape view of a single railroad track running parallel to a river in Hyde Park, Western Pennsylvania. On the right, the Hyde Park Walking Bridge with its yellow metal structure spans the river, connecting with the lush green riverbank. Leafless trees line both the track and the river, with overcast skies above. — Railroad tracks near the bridge.

On the early spring day I visited the bridge, I saw two trains pass by in the span of a half-hour.

A view from the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania showing a metal truss overhead and the gridded walkway leading towards the far end of the bridge. Beyond the trusses, a freight train with cars labeled 'NS' passes by, juxtaposed against a backdrop of houses and barren trees. The scene captures a moment of stillness on the bridge with the motion of everyday life in the distance. — Norfolk Southern passing the Hyde Park Walking Bridge.

Despite the fact that the Armstrong County/Leechburg side of the bridge has a nice little parklet around it, there is no where to park a vehicle on that side.

The 'Leechburg Pennsylvania A Greenway Community' sign made of rustic wooden planks with carved and painted lettering, mounted on a stone base and illuminated by overhead lights. Young daffodil plants are emerging from the ground in front, with the Hyde Park Walking Bridge and a river in the background, flanked by leafless trees under a cloudy sky. — There is nowhere to park on the Leechburg side of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge.

The Leechburg side parklet is worth visiting though, especially if you’re a history buff, as the Western Division of the Pennsylvania Canal once passed through there.

A historical marker sign for the Pennsylvania Canal (Western Division) in Hyde Park, Western Pennsylvania, against a backdrop of leafless trees and an overcast sky. The sign, adorned with the Commonwealth’s coat of arms, provides information on the canal system built between 1826-1834. A wooden covered bridge structure can be seen in the background, alongside a residential street with a speed limit sign. — Pennsylvania Canal historical marker.

History of the Bridge

The bridge’s origins can be traced back to 1886, when a wooden bridge was constructed to carry trains across the Kiski River.

Close-up of an informational plaque about the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania. The text, partially obscured by reflections and a cobweb, details the bridge's history, noting its construction in 1920, reconstruction in 1937 and 1950, and its significance to the local communities. It mentions that the bridge spans the Kiskiminetas River and has been part of local culture and memories for generations. — Brief history of the bridge.

However, this bridge proved to be no match for the devastating floods that swept through the area in 1889.

An informational kiosk with various posters and maps under a wooden shelter near the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania. The display includes historical photos, descriptions of the bridge and its significance, a map of Leechburg, Pennsylvania, and a graphical representation of the local area. Trees and the river can be seen in the background, providing context for the location of the kiosk. — Informational signage on the Leechburg side of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge.

The floodwaters, which caused widespread destruction, including the infamous Johnstown Flood, swept away the wooden bridge, leaving behind only its stone piers.

Lake Conemaugh bursting in 1889, causing the Johnstown Flood.

Undeterred by this setback, the communities of Hyde Park and Leechburg joined forces to rebuild the bridge.

A welcoming sign for Hyde Park Borough, established in 1898, with elegant gold and black lettering on a brick signpost, flanked by American flags. In the background, the Hyde Park Walking Bridge is visible across the river, next to a notice sign stating the borough is under video surveillance, against a backdrop of bare trees and a cloudy sky. — Hyde Park in Westmoreland County.

In 1920, a new suspension bridge was erected, utilizing the sturdy stone piers that had survived the flood.

A side view of the historic Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, with yellow daffodils in bloom in the foreground. The bridge, constructed with yellow metal trusses, spans across a river with a backdrop of a residential neighborhood on a hill. Overcast skies and bare trees create a moody early spring atmosphere. — The bridge is supported by the repurposed stone piers of a previously-destroyed bridge

This new bridge, composed of steel cables and wooden planks (replaced by steel deck in 1950), was designed to withstand the forces of even the most powerful floods.

A photograph of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, featuring a long, narrow pedestrian suspension bridge with yellow metal trusses and supports, leading across a river. The bridge has a gridded metal walkway and is flanked by metal railings, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background. — Steel decking replaced the original wooden planks in the 1950s.

As visitors from near and far make their way across the bridge today, they become part of its rich history, adding their own stories and memories to the tapestry of this beloved landmark.

A person riding a bicycle in the middle of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, seen from behind. The bridge features a yellow metal truss structure and a gridded metal walkway, with leafless trees and overcast skies in the background. The bridge's handrails on either side guide the eye towards the cyclist in the distance. — A bicyclist crossing the bridge.

Because the bridge utilizes the solid stone piers and three spans, there is not a lot of “swinging” to this swinging bridge – I’d describe it more as a gentle bouncing sensation.

A view of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, showing the bridge's yellow metal framework in the distance, spanning a river with houses and trees on the hillside behind it. In the foreground, there is a park bench facing the bridge, situated on a grassy area with bare trees on either side and daffodils blooming nearby. — Parklet on the Leechburg side of the bridge.

You MAY, however, have to deal with territorial Canadian geese, which depending on your disposition towards geese, could be even more frightening than crossing the bridge itself!

A Canadian goose stands on a gravel path leading to the entrance of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania. The bridge, with its distinctive yellow metal truss design, is in the background, and another goose is visible near the water's edge. Leafless trees and a cloudy sky can be seen in the distance, creating a tranquil natural scene. — “None Shall Pass”.

Known simply as “The Walking Bridge” by locals, this span has served as a vital link between Hyde Park and Leechburg for over a century, and is well worth a visit if you’re passing through this part of western PA.

The Hyde Park Walking Bridge in Western Pennsylvania, viewed from the bridge deck itself, showcases the intricate yellow metal truss structure and the suspension cables. The metal grid path of the bridge stretches ahead, flanked by bare winter trees, and overlooks the greenish waters of the Kiskiminetas River on a cloudy day. — The Walking Bridge.

Exploring the Best Swinging Bridges in Pennsylvania is your guide to even more great pedestrian suspension bridges across the state.

Exploring some of the best swinging bridges in Pennsylvania.

Nearby Attractions

Yellow Dog Village is a former mining company town dating back to the early 1900s that now serves as a time capsule and ghost town attraction in Armstrong County.

Yellow Dog Village is Pennsylvania's Best Ghost Town. — Scenes from the ghost town of Yellow Dog in Armstrong County.

Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County is short in stature but long on beauty, located along a rail trail that parallels Cowanshannock Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River.

Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County Pennsylvania. — Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County.

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