Explore the best rated trails in Ernest, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Armstrong Trails and Clarion-Little Toby Trail . With more than 52 trails covering 4532 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Great trail..been riding it for years, from various trailhead sites. Disappointed to see a roofing company has placed several advertising placards along the trail in Ebensburg near the West Street crossing/entrance. This ruins the scenic beauty of the trail. Please remove before “others “ show up.
We started in Emlenton and headed North. Emlenton to Kennerdell. 12ish miles one way. Rockland tunnel and Emlenton tunnel, need lights...they are dark and long tunnels. Allegheny River water level high due to recent heavy rains. Trail surface is paved. Always an enjoyable ride on this section of the trail.
Day 2 of our ride to complete all 16.5 miles (and back). We parked at Flowing Spring Road/Trailhead and biked to Williamsburg and back. Another great day on the trail. This trail is crushed limestone with the exception of the Williamsburg area, which is asphalt paved. We enjoyed the historic Grannis Station, mile 13 on the trail.
Having traveled over 3 hours, we split this trail up over 2 days and made an overnighter out of it. So much history along this trail, old foundations, and locks & canals, with many interesting sights. We also stopped at Mt. Etna old furnace, near the trail. Day 1 cycled from mile 0 in Alfarata to Williamsburg, mile 11. Trail surface is crushed stone except the Williamsburg section is paved. We stayed in nearby Altoona which offers several hotels and many restaurants.
While in the area we stopped at this trail. Parked at the only parking lot, on Wexford Bayne Road, and headed South. Surface was crushed stone and about 8 feet wide. Very nice for walking or small children bicycling. We walked this trails entire length and back. Just beyond where the limestone ends is a culvert and large deep creek so you can't go any farther and there isn't anything ahead anyhow. This trail is surrounded by private property on each side, some business on the one side and residential homes on the other side. About 1/4 of a mile into the trail is the Rachel Carson hiking trail. It goes up the the chamber of commerce building.
PA-Cumberland 5/2023. Loved this trail with lots of places to camp, a winding and entertaining trail, views of the river, tunnels, small towns along the way. I particularly liked Frostburg and camped two nights. The switchbacks up to town aren't as miserable as some describe and the view is rewarding. The Toasted Goat in Hotel Gunter is an old hotel worth a walk around and a meal. Check out the basement holding cell and speakeasy.
While in the area, we stopped at this trail. We only pedaled up the first one mile due to it was later in the afternoon and we had already ridden 12 miles earlier. Parking on Igou Road just outside of Bellwood. Trail surface was crushed limestone which eventually turned to game lands access road, we didn't go out that far. The entire trail is 6.2 miles. Elevation at mile 00 Igou Road is 1,240 and mile 6.2 it's 2,180. Good workout uphill climb but nice downhill coast on the way back. There is a parking lot at the top. It's on Skyline Drive, and it's in State Game Lands 158.
Having ridden from Rosston to East Brady in 2021, a buddy and I decided to ride the newly opened southern end of the Armstrong. In a nutshell, It is not as nice. Starting again from the Rosston boat marina we headed south. Right away the surface is not as smooth as going north. Instead of a fine limestone sand, the surface appears to be a sort of fairly small gravel, close to what is known as crusher run but not quite. It is still quite rideable however. This section of the trail has little to see for quite a ways. Eventually, you come upon some riverside cottages. These are not as nice as the ones up towards East Brady but they’re okay. That’s it till you hit Schenley where you come upon abandoned or near abandoned factories - signs of the industrial decay in the area. At the end is the highlight of the trip, the newly opened bridge over the Kiskiminetas River. They did a very nice job on this and it’s pretty long. After the bridge we headed up the Kiski on the trail (also called the Leechburg Towpath). This section was less appealing. Right away there is some kind of rental campground for campers right along the river with campers packed in and there is a dirt road immediately to the left of the trail. It takes a while but you get past these. The ride in the woods is punctuated by acid mine drainage several places and then you come upon the large, abandoned Allegheny Ludlum steel plant. After riding past this for a ways the trail just pops out onto what was obviously an access road to the factory at one point. We weren’t sure if the trail continued but kept riding up the road. No one we saw knew either, there were no signs. After a ways we came to a gate across the road with a bike bypass and there was an Armstrong Trails sign there. This may be the end of the trail but we rode on a bit and saw the familiar green and white bike route signs and followed on. They led us on some bike paths and low traffic streets in Leechburg to the Leechburg Riverfront Park. If you ride this way be sure to stop here. They have picnic tables and a gazebo and it’s a very nice rest and lunch spot. After lunch we continued on as the signs took us on more side streets to the Hyde Park Foot Bridge - a suspension type bridge across the Kiski. Definitely worth the short ride. That was the end of the trail and we headed back. Note that there is less shade on this trail and we were cooked by the sun on the way back. While I gave the north end of the Armstrong four stars this section barely rates three. Stick to the north section if you’re riding for the first time.
Parked at Kline Road, though no designated parking area, there was enough space off to the side of the road to park one vehicle without blocking the gate and lane. Headed West approx 2 miles and turned around. Trail is flat, sits high up almost as high as the next ridge over, and looking way down is Sandy Creek. Surface was dirt, cinder and gravel. Very wide in some areas, almost like a 2 lane back road. Doable on a gravel bike or mountain bike and possibly a hybrid with wider tires such as 700x45's.
Well established and fun trail. Spring hike wasn’t too hot and the rain made the creeks fast and pretty. Park at the end of the trail and walked to the river and back. Uphill grade on the way back. Cool rocks and neat suspension bridge.
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