Explore the best rated trails in Gettysburg, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elizabethtown Connector Trail and Farmingdale Trail . With more than 55 trails covering 4296 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.
Good mountain bike trail that as described in the trail overview traverses up and down the "rolling" hills with many areas of no shade. If you start up at the Germantown Soccerplex, I suggest you park near the BMX bike course and south along the tree line and you come across the starting marker for the Powerline trail (about a tenth of a mile down).
I was in Harrisburg for the weekend and looking for a bike ride on Sunday morning with friends. We greatly enjoyed biking the Capital Area Greenbelt. The ride is paved with short bits of gravel, mainly flat but with some steep but short hills. The trail does cross some busy intersections, but there was always a crosswalk and usually a traffic light. Cars often stopped for us at crosswalks. We rode counter-clockwise, starting at City Island. I agree with other reviewers that this trails is not the best for small children due to crossing these intersections. There was a short trail closure along the river on the southern part of the route, but I found the detour signs easily and we returned to the trail without problem. We biked on roads for a few miles, but we found only 1 road to be remotely busy (it was on the detour), the rest were neighborhood streets. There were walkers along the trail, especially in the parks, so caution was needed, especially at Wildwood Park. The trail was picturesque - both along the Susquehanna river and through several Harrisburg parks. Trail markings were present most of the time, but I agree with others - have a map. Or better, use the TrailLink app on your smartphone or download the route to your cyclecomputer (I found the route on Garmin.com and MapMyRide). We brought water and snacks, there was water along the way but few options for food. The bathroom at Wildwood Park was clean with running water and a water fountain. We are experienced riders, so I did not consider this a strenuous 20 mile ride, but it will be a challenge for beginners. Overall it was a very pleasant few hours exploring the area around Harrisburg, and if you are looking for an urban style bike ride this one will meet your needs.
My first ride of the season on this trail in my hometown. Lancaster Co. Parks & Rec Dept decided to patch this trail with large non-bike-friendly gravel which makes for a rough ride where it's patched. It is especially bad in the first couple miles between Rtes. 230 and 743. The Rt. 743 (55 mph 2 lane road) crossing is dangerous, but they are working on putting up lights, for what it's worth. If you want to ride this trail, park at Trolly Line Park off of Beverly Road and just ride north to the connecting Lebanon Valley Trail. ...you'll avoid the Rt 743 crossing and the roughest part of the trail.
The trail was nice and enjoyed the bird songs. I had started at the Northern trail head and heading south to MD border. The problem is the trail isn't well marked once I had made York. I had gotten lost and wasted a lot energy and looped around York trying to locate the southern Heritage Rail trail. Decided to head back, luckily my phone hadn't run out of charge.
All that being said I will try it again later this year.
We have been riding on Chestnut St. since the 25th Street trailhead opened to ride to Long Lane. Last year they began working on the Chestnut St. extension of the trail and it is finally complete. It runs from near the VW dealership to Gloninger Woods Park. If you want to the 25th St. lot, turn right at 22nd Street, go straight at the traffic light then follow the parking lot around the Lebanon Valley Mall to right on 25th St. to the trail on your left just after railroad underpass.
We rode e-bikes from 12th and Cumberland down to colebrook trailhead and back on a Tuesday . Very nice ride. Easy going. Pleasant folks. Seemed about 1/4 e-bikes of the bikes we saw.
I will say it was our first Time Visiting this area. Me and my girlfriend were taken away by the beauty of the area. We didn't get to see the entire area. Also, there is this restaurant on the trail that makes the atmosphere feel like you are at peace. We are definitely going back.
It is a very scenic rail trail. It is obviously well maintained and wide for a bike trail. As listed, it is hard packed gravel and dirt. I do not understand the negative complaints about the surface when it is clearly stated in the description. The minimum tire width for this type of trail is 32mm with 50 psi max. pressure. I ride 45 mm tires with 38 psi on this type of trail surface.
We rode from the I70 park and ride into Baltimore and then took the Jones Falls Trail up to Mt Washington and then back to I70.
While the Jones Falls Trail seems relatively well maintained, the Gwynns Falls Trail was not. Especially from the Carroll Park Golf Course to Edmonson Ave. There were at least 4 fallen trees laying across the trail that I believe had been there for a number of weeks based on reports from other riders. All sorts of debri covered the trails including tons of broken glass. And there's literally mountains of trash and dumped household items all along the trail.
The top part of the trail including the gravel sections were beautiful and I feel most of the trail could be a wonderful experience if it were better maintained and cleaned up.
Road from Railroad Pa to Ashland and then back to Railroad. Trail is pretty good. Faster than most rail trails. Saturday was very busy. Scenery was nice. A rider coming towards me almost collided with a deer. Few spots were a little muddy.
Brillarts Station to New Freedom and back = a nice ride just over 30 miles. Going south it's a very subtle climb very as you weave through valleys carved by the Cordorus creek. Going back north a little speed bump as you view the scenery from the opposite perspective. Love the variety and interesting features along the way. Road on 35mm tires; about perfect for the champagne gravel. Got back close to sunset and noted PA park police keeping an eye on the lot but also making sure no one on the trail after dark.
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