Path of the Flood Trail:
Pennsylvania
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Description:
Though it memorializes a sad occasion, the Path of the Flood Trail is a beautiful, tranquil trail. In the Johnstown Flood of 1889, the South Fork Dam failed and more than 2,200 townspeople lost their lives.

The first 2 miles of the trail opened in 2007, extending from the historic Staple Bend Tunnel, believed to be America's oldest railroad tunnel, and continuing on-road to a wooded hillside. This section ends at the Franklin Ball Field in Johnstown, where it connects to the Allegheny Portage Railroad & Incline Trail. It is part of the Mainline Canal greenway, and there are plans to extend the trail to the town of Ehrenfeld, southeast to Alleghany Portage National Park to Cresson. This extension would be part of the Mainline Trail, a rail-trail that was part of the Old Portage Railroad and the South Cambria Trolley Line.

The 2-mile Path of the Flood Trail is hilly in some sections, as it follows a portion of the Little Conemaugh River. Mostly ballast, with asphalt near the tunnel, the trail is used mainly by joggers, walkers and cross-country skiers.

A few memorial markers relating to the flood are posted along the trail. While in the area, you may want to poke around the Johnstown and Cambria County area, where several 1860s-era buildings from the area's steel industry are being restored to their former glory.

During the summer months, the trail is heavily canopied with large trees, and native wildflowers flourish throughout the section leading from the tunnel to Franklin Ball Field. Benches along the trail overlook an active rail-line and a lush green valley.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To access the tunnel trailhead from the Johnstown National Memorial, follow US 219 North to State Route 53 North, Railroad Street. Exit toward South Fork and Portage, and turn right on State Route 53 to Summerhill. Turn left on Main Street then turn right on Madison Street; turn left on Jackson Street. Go approximately 1 mile on Jackson Street, which becomes Swigle Mountain Road (State Route 3043). Bear left onto Mineral Point Road. Use caution on the steep hill.

Turn left on Beech Hill Road and proceed over the bridge to the railroad underpass. Drive under the underpass and up the short hill. The trailhead is on the right, marked by a large sign and nicely landscaped with an informational kiosk at the far end of the asphalt parking lot.

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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Path of the Flood
By Workman in July, 2010
To enhance your understanding of the history here, I suggest reading "The Johnstown Flood" by David McCullough. The upper portion of the trail from Mineral Point to Ehrenfield is streets at each end and former streetcar line (no vehicles) set high above the river, in between the ends. There is parking at the park (restrooms) at Ehrenfield and at the Staple Bend Tunnel parking lot (restrooms and water) across the river and railroad at Mineral Point. you can ride the street from Mineral Point to the Staple Bend parking lot. The Staple Bend portion of the trail was part of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, which connected the eastern and western portions of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canalin the early 1800's. (The Flood was in 1889.) The best view of the tunnel entrance is the one on the far end. The close entrance, for some reason is quite plain but the far end was built with "Corinthian Collumns decorating it.
They tell you to walk your bike thru the tunnel. I didn't. You can see the other end and can concentrate on it and ride thru. On the way back, I was hot and tired, so I walked and midway thru, realized I had a small flashlight in my bag. I stopped and got it out and looked at the interior. As iI started walking again, I ran over some chunks of rock that had fallen from the ceiling but that I missed (luckily) on the first trip thru. You can not see the trail surface when you ride thru, only the light at the end, so don't ride. At the far (Johnstown) end, the trail decends (one of the inclines where they hauled the canal boats up or down) to the valley level. There is an informal trail to the unused railroad bed, which when followed, take you into Franklin (the upstream end of Johnstown). However you end up inside a scrap yard fence with no way out. There is about a mile of trail at the Franklin end, but it is way up on the hillside, with no connection to the Staple Bend Trail yet. The is a planned connection in the future, but not yet. To get to the Franklin trail start. follow the "Bike Route" signs from downtown Johnstown, north (upstream) and it will lead you right to the "Path of the Flood Trail" at the top of the hill. Do no be afraid of the "No Trespassing" sign on the street at the brick posts and gate. It leads to a ball field. Just continue to the top. There is not much parking, but it is only 1 mile long right now. You can park at the ball field, but it a heck of a climb to the trail start. Enjoy.
A Beautiful, Historic Trail
By JSB in March, 2010
The Path of the Flood Trail actually consists of two sections with a 3900 foot unfinished section in between. The South Fork exit off of Route 219 leads to the Ehrenfeld Trail Head. It is 4.1 miles from here to the Staple Bend Tunnel Trail parking lot, then 2 miles on to the tunnel. After going through the tunnel the trail ends.This is the north end of the unfinished section.

The second section of the trail begins at the Johnstown Flood Museum on Washington Street. It is 3.8 miles from here to the south end of the unfinished section.

For more information about this historic and beautiful trail please contact the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority 401 Candlelight Drive, Suite 234, Ebensburg, PA 15931

Phone: 814-472-2110 email: dcolumbus@co.cambria.pa.us
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