Hoodlebug Trail:
Pennsylvania
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Description:
Any trail with a name like "Hoodlebug" deserves a visit. The 10-mile trail follows the path of the 1856-era Indiana Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which ran from Blairsville north to the town of Indiana. "Hoodlebug" was the local nickname for the self-propelled passenger coach that traveled on the line until 1940.

The trail corridor has played an important role in the region for many years: as part of an extensive network of Native American trails, as a Pennsylvania Railroad branch line and now as a pedestrian and bicycle trail used for both recreation and commuting by local residents and visitors to the area.

Today the trail, surfaced in part with highway millings provided by a partnership between Indiana County Parks and District 10 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, also provides transportation options for commuters and university students and recreational opportunities along a historic corridor.

A dense forest of mixed deciduous and conifer trees lines most of the trail and provides a fine canopy on hot summer days. In contrast, the southern half of the trail passes rural and suburban homes along the US 119 corridor and follows a sound barrier wall. South of Homer City, as the trail crosses into Cambria County for its last mile, it parallels Two Lick Creek and becomes more rural.

Lengthened by 3 miles in 2005 as part of the Highway 119 improvement project, in 2010 the Hoodlebug Trail was connected to the nearby Ghost Town Trail in Black Lick, Pennsylvania, forming a completed route of 46 miles between Indiana and Ebensburg. From Black Lick west to Blairsville a signed 8-mile on-road route connects to the West Penn Trail, a 16-mile rail-trail that runs from Blairsville to Saltsburg.

A detailed brochure of the three trails is available from Indiana County Parks.

NOTE: The north side of the trail above Homer City is wheelchair-accessible with a slight grade. The southern half of the trail has grades exceeding 5 percent.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Floodway Park trailhead in Homer City, located 5 miles south of Indiana, from US 119 turn onto State Route 56 West. Turn right onto Main Street in Homer City and continue to Floodway Park; a parking area is on the right. Park amenities include restrooms (closed during the winter), a pavilion, picnic tables and a playground. The trailhead is left of the parking lot.

To the Red Barn trailhead in Homer City, from US 119, take Route 56 West in Homer City. Turn left on Main Street. Turn right on Kassal Street and continue to Red Barn Road. Turn right then quickly left onto Boosters Drive. The Red Barn Access Area is on the right.

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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Good Trail
By bank1 in July, 2011
This trail is somewhat rough and you have quite a few stop signs along the way. The trail mainly parallels Rt 119. So it can be noisy and less scenic. Otherwise, a nice experience riding this trail.
Great Day onthe Hoodlebug
By bykrydr in September, 2010
Rode from J P Saylor Park in Blacklick to Indiana. Slight 1-2 % grade in some sections as you head to Indiana. Great ride back with the same 1-2% downhill aided by tailwind.

Very nice neighbors on the trail, all say hello. great for avid and occasional cyclists. highly recommend this trail.

for a longer ride pick up the Ghost Town Trail at J P Saylor Park.
semi-suburban trail
By Brian Clark in September, 2006
"I've ridden this trail several times over the years, and most recently this year after riding on the Heshbon section of the Ghost Town Trail. The trail will link with the Ghost Town Trail at Saylor Park in the town of Black Lick, but as of July 2006 there is a short unfinished ""missing link"" from the park and under the Route 119 bridge that is supposed to link the two trails together. I rode from Saylor Park and turned left up the Old Indiana Road, and went for about a mile or so to where the road crosses Route 119, and crossed over there. Route 119 is a 55mph 4-lane road, and is dangerous to cross...hence the underpass that they are planning to have cross under it near the park.

The newest south section of the trail from near Black Lick up to the Homer City Legion baseball field is around 3.5 miles long. This section of the trail runs along the west side of Route 119's south-bound lane, and is up on the embankment and parallel to the highway. This section is kind of a semi-course pavement that looks similar to a tar-and-chip road treatment...not as smooth or as ""fast"" as regular asphalt but still OK for a roadbike. Since this section is right next to the highway, it passes right across people's driveways, and various road intersections.

In Homer City you have to make a left turn on to the public street, near the BiLo supermarket, and ride for about a block to re-connect with the trail heading north. Leaving Homer City and heading north the trail still runs parallel to Rt.119, but is farther away from it and is more secluded in some places. Mostly the trail runs past various neighborhoods, and through short wooded sections. Along the way the trail passes over a few short bridges over creeks, and under a railroad trestle.

It's 6 miles for this section of trail from the Homer City baseball field, up until the trail ends in the parking lot of the IUP campus near the football field.

Overall it's a pretty nice trail, but it's more of a suburban trail, since it goes through towns and crosses various roads along it's length. It's not a secluded ""out in the woods"" type of trail like the nearby Ghost Town Trail. One thing that I did notice about it was that the surface seems to have gotten ""lumpier"" over the years in some places, probably due to frost heaves or tree roots under the surface. "
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