Bellefonte Central 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:
Serene year-round, the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail (BCRT) in central Pennsylvania runs along 1.3 miles of the old Buffalo Run, Bellefonte and Bald Eagle Railroad corridor. The original 19-mile line connecting the towns of Bellefonte and State College, home to Pennsylvania State University, was built in the mid-1880s to move iron ore. It changed hands in 1892 to become the Bellefonte Railroad and transported passengers, including many students and freight, until it ceased operation in the 1980s. In 1953 President Dwight Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower traveled on the Bellefonte Central to visit Dwight's brother, then-president of Penn State.

The Bellefonte Central Rail Trail is part of the master plan for the Arboretum at Penn State, where it will be a major artery through the site. Visitors and staff will use it to reach the botanical gardens, wetlands and research facilities, and—closer to the trail—woodlands that are being restored to the oak and hickory forest that dominated the area before invasive, nonnative plants appeared.

The trail sets out a 0.25 mile west of Sunset Park along the McKee Street and Clinton Avenue Bike Path. The southern end of the trail is less than 1 mile from Pennsylvania State University, making the trail a popular route for commuting students. For most of the way it is tree lined, with open fields beyond the shade-lending serene pastoral views, until it ends after passing over a culvert and shortly before reaching the Mt. Nittany Expressway overpass.

An informal trail extends nearly 2 more miles to Toftrees Resort and Golf Course, residential areas and beyond, ending at Montauk Circle in the town of Port Matilda. At its far reaches, the trail becomes rugged and is best suited for pedestrians or mountain bikes. A feasibility study is looking into extending the developed trail to Toftrees and another 13 miles to Bellefonte in the future.

... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To McKee Street trailhead: From I-80 west, take exit 161, turn left and follow US-220 South 11 miles toward Bellefonte. Take exit 74 toward Penn State University on E Park Ave. At 2.3 miles turn right at McKee Street. At the end of McKee Street (about seven blocks) are Sunset Park (with parking and restroom facilities) on the left and McKee Street/Clinton Avenue Bike Path straight ahead. Follow the bike path downhill less than a quarter mile to the flat where the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail begins.
... 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]
Rocky start at Toftrees
By sxh36 in August, 2008
I rode this trail last week (Sun., Aug. 3, 2008). From the entrance on Cricklewood Drive near Waddle Road, the trail has been filled with large jagged stones that make for deep, rough going on that downhill slope (not to mention having to walk back up). There's also a patch of sand further along but by keeping far to the right it's easy to negotiate. Once the trail picks up on the old railbed, it's cinders and smooth sailing. At the end of the rail trail is a T; going left takes you to Sunset Park (up a steep hill) where I did not go yet. Going right brings you to the bottom of Curtin Street, another steep hill.
Maintenance Day!
By in September, 2003
"Your help is needed! Please assist with the effort to maintain our local rail-trail!

From www.arboretum.psu.edu/planning/rail.html: The United Way Day of Caring in October 2001 helped launch a successful effort to establish the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail. With funding now secured and a design nearly finalized, the 1.3 mile trail is on schedule for construction in the summer of 2004.

Those who have visited the trail recently know that the weeds have taken full advantage of the area's rainy spring and summer. The result is that the trail is virtually blocked.

With the help of United Way Day of Caring volunteers, the Centre Rails-to-Trails Association plans to reclaim the trail so that the design and construction can be completed on schedule next season.

The 2003 Day of Caring will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. To volunteer to clear the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail, contact the Day of Caring Office at (814) 238-2941, or send an email to dayofcaring@ccunitedway.org."
Browse Trails by Activity: