Confluence is the southern end of the Youghiogheny River Trail and the northern end of the Allegheny Highlands Trail. The trail now followed the Casselman River, another beautiful and fast flowing river to Meyersdale. The trail surface was excellent all the way; crushed limestone which could probably be ridden on a road bike, except for aabout five fairly rough miles mostly near Meyersdale. I had a mountain bike with slick tires which was fine. By following the two fast flowing rivers the trails gradually gained elevation from 752 feet at McKeesport to 2106 feet at Meyersdale. It's an easy way to gain elevation since it is gradual and steady; just go a mile or two an hour slower and shift down one or two notches on gears. This makes it much easier to cross the mountains to join the Cheasepeake and Ohio Towpath at Cumberland; only a seven hundred foot climb.