The seven Duck Hollow Trail caches have been placed to give a family a nice day of caching along a peaceful paved bike trail. They provide a variety of sizes and hides, none of which should be too hard. Due to the lack of trail lights and the relative isolation, we do not recommended seeking these caches at night.
The Duck Hollow Trail is a little known, relatively isolated, 1.5 mile asphalt millings-paved trail that parallels the north shore of the Monongahela River across from Homestead. It is part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system and runs from east of the Homestead Grays Bridge to the Glenwood Bridge. You get views across the river to the gantry crane at the Waterfront and Sandcastle Waterpark.
The parking area at the eastern end of the trail is a high seawall which was a major transfer point between the river and the huge slag piles up Nine Mile Run. The seawall is a popular fishing site. About 1 mile west from the Duck Hollow fishing area is the remains of a conveyer loading system. Coal was emptied out the bottom of railcars and conveyed onto barges. The remains of the winch houses and machinery is still visible. The railroad cars were moved along the siding via cables rather than a locomotive.
Plans are for the trail to continue east to the Carrie Furnace Trail, west to the Eliza Furnace Trail and Hot Metal Bridge, and north along Nine Mile Run into Frick Park. Currently, to the west, the trail ends abruptly at a fence which bicycle commuters have thoughtfully and carefully cut so that they can continue across active rail tracks to connect to Second Avenue, the Eliza Furnace Trail, and points downtown. Do not follow their example as it is dangerous and illegal.
Make sure to check out the other Duck Hollow caches!
Congrats to PoeHunters for FTF!
