TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy)
Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail:
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:
Well-maintained by volunteers, the trail features both a crushed stone path and a parallel, equestrian path surfaced with dirt and wood chips. Proceeding south from the city of Lebanon, the trail shares a utility corridor until is passes under Zinns Mill Road. Rounding a bend you'll come to the Cornwall Trailhead. There is adequate parking here but no restrooms. Just south of the Cornwall Iron Furnace National Historic Site, the trail crosses a historic 130-foot iron truss bridge. Here the trail begins a gentle climb and enters woodlands. This is a state game land area, so stay on the trail and be aware of the dates of Pennsylvania hunting seasons. Near the top of the ridge, the trail shares a private drive for ¼ mile. This shared used is well-marked. Once you reach the top of the ridge you will be close to the village of Mount Gretna. Beyond Mount Gretna, the Lebanon Valley trail slips through woodlands on a gentle downgrade. The Lebanon Valley trail continues through rich Lebanon County farmland to the Village of Lawn. The trail continues through farmland and past a horse farms to the Lancaster County line, where it joins the 5.1 mile Conestoga Recreational Trail.
... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To the city of Lebanon trailhead: Take PA Route 72 North from US Route 322. Turn right at Oak Street. Proceed two blocks and turn right on 8th Street. The trailhead will be on your right near the intersection with Popular Street. To the Cornwall Trailhead: From US Route 322 in Cornwall, turn onto Boyd Street. Boyd Street becomes Cornwall Road. Turn left onto Freeman Drive (PA Route 419). The trailhead is on the left.
... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Trail extension, MorningStar Photo
By gordon19 on August 08, 2009
The trail now runs from Zinns Mill Rd into Lebanon to Rte 72, S10th st. It is crushed stone until the overpass bridge, then it is paved to 10th st. There is an extension on the south side of the bridge to South Hills Park. There is parking at South Hills Park and between S 8th and S10th st, Lebanon. It is 4 miles from 8th st to Cornwall Parking area.
Meeting set for Lebanon Rail-Trail
By Abdue on September 07, 2008
Meeting set for Lebanon Rail-Trail
by MONICA VON DOBENECK, Of The Patriot-News (Harrisburg Pa)
Saturday September 06, 2008, 3:25 PM
With the Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail nearly complete, organizers are looking to extend the 20-mile path for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders another seven miles north to Swatara State Park.

Chairman John Wengert told the Lebanon County Commissioners that his organization has contacted 110 people whose properties adjoin the abandoned railroad line and has heard back from about 60. Many want more information, he said, so he has invited them for a wagon ride on the existing portion of the trail on Sept. 13 and has scheduled a public meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the North Lebanon Township municipal building.

"There's a lot of interest among people for close to home recreation," Wengert said.


The Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail extends from the Lancaster County line west of Lawn to Zinns Mill Road south of Lebanon . An extension to be complete by April will bring it into Lebanon around Eighth Street. The Conewago Trail extends the route six miles from the Lancaster line to Elizabethtown.

The proposed new section would start near Eighth Street in Lebanon and roughly parallel Route 72 before reaching Swatara State Park.


Awesome ride
By siegmeister on July 07, 2008
I am fortunate to live in northern Lancaster County (about 20 miles from the Cornwall Trailhead). I rode this trail in portions for a while,.. the section between the Cornwall Trailhead and Colebrook parking area is 6.5 miles and between Colebrook and the Elizabethtown Trailhead is 9.3 miles (each way), although 5 of the 9.3 section between the Colebrook are actually the Conewago trail. I finally rode the entire trail yesterday, and what a ride,... highly recommended to anyone.

It has parking at nicely spaced locations along the trail to break it down in manageable chunks for less experienced riders, plenty of rest stops/benches along the way, and is fairly flat (especially the 9.3 mile section) so kids can ride greater distances. It is also close to Mt. Gretna for lunch/ice cream stops, convenient shopping and lake swimming (a pay for beach that is worth the trip alone if you have never been to it). Also, there is a Twin Kiss restaurant by the Colebrook parking for a nice lunch/ice cream stop if you feel so inclined.

All in all, this is one of the nicest trails in the area with the various ammentities, ease and length of trail, variety of scenery from open fields to wooded areas.