TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy)
Heritage Rail Trail County Park:
Pennsylvania
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
The York County Heritage Rail Trail is one of eight parks within the York County Department of Parks and Recreation. Winding through the very heart of York County. The trail extends over twenty miles, connecting Maryland's Northern Central Railroad Trail with the historic district of York, PA. The trail is a 10 foot wide compacted stone surface designed for hiking, bicycling, running, horseback riding as well as winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Adjacent to the trail is an active rail line, the Northern Central Railway.
... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
Parking is available in city of York on Pershing Avenue between Market and Philadelphia. The Trailhead is at Colonial Courthouse. Parking is available in the vicinty of the Colonial Courthouse. Hanover Junction: Interstate 83 to the Loganville Exit #3. Follow signs to 214. Take 214 West. Continue on 214 West for approximately 5 miles to 616 South. Follow 616 South. Rail/Trail parking lot is approximately 1 mile on the left. Alternate Route: Take 30 to 616 S. Hanover Junction is approx. 6 1/2 miles on the left. Glen Rock: Interstate 83 to Glen Rock Exit #2. Follow 216 West for approx. 4 1/2 miles to Glen Rock. Right on to Water St. Cross railroad tracks and turn right to follow tracks for approx. 1/10 mile to Rial/Trail parking lot. Railroad: Interstate 83 to Shrewsbury Exit #1. West on 851. Rail/Trail parking lot is about 2 miles on the right. New Freedom: Interstate 83 to Shrewsbury Exit #1. West on 851 to Railroad Borough. Left onto West 851. 1 1/2 mile to New Freedom Borough. Rail/Trail parking lot at Front and Franklin Streets (at the old train station).
... Click to read more
Seasonal Restrictions:
The trail is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk.
... Click to read more
Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Very nice trail
By cmefix on September 14, 2009
We took a ride on this trail, the Friday, over the 4th of July weekend. We started out in York so the scenery does not start to get nice until the first stop on the trail, although it was still a nice way to start the ride. This is pretty much a mountain bike trail as it is crushed stone all the way to the Maryland border. The trail itself was well taken care of, clean and well marked. Most of the trail is tree covered with sections that open up to completely no cover at all. It was really nice to ride past the little towns the trail crosses and to hit up the one rest area with food/water, as we ran out of water on our return trip. If you have the time as we did drive to the Railroad or New Freedom parking lots and ride the trail into Maryland. Its packed dirt but you get to ride downhill and the trail is narrow with shrubs on both sides before it opens up about a mile or so. The ride back is up hill and seemed to take forever so be prepared.
This trail is the best thing to happen to York County
By pagrunner on August 21, 2008
I use the trail 4 or 5 times a week to jog or bike. Everyday I see more and more people enjoying the lovely scenery and peacefulness of the trail and at the same time doing something good for their health. I have a question because on this site it says there is an active rail line and there have been no trains on this trail for over 7 years and the last train was a dinner train that ran only on weekends. This went out of business.
This is of concern because if they started to try and revive the rail line, this would greatly impact the trails safety and quality.
wonderful trail
By lameige on May 14, 2008
This trail is well maintained (at least the PA portion, I've not yet gone below the MD line); and the railroad museum and cafe in New Freedom is a welcome and comfortable rest stop. Like all railroad lines, the trail is flat, so I think it can get a little ho-hum for long bike rides, but for walking or running it's great - partly shaded, interesting scenery, and used by both locals and visitors.