Explore the best rated trails in Harrisburg, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Stony Valley Rail-Trail and Olde Hickory Village Trail . With more than 61 trails covering 438 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.
Mostly gravel, some large gravel. North 1/3 is not maintained, large ruts. OK for gravel bikes, not OK for a road bikes. North end just ends in a field. Bear Hole trail or Tomstown Road in FIG is a much better choice
Enjoyable trail with plenty of shade, river views, communities, points of interest, parks, and services along the way.
As someone else noted, this basically seems like a fairly well maintained access road for the company that owns the utility poles that line the entire route--on both sides of the trail for the first several miles, accompanied by chain link fencing on the river side. The trail is relatively flat, crushed limestone, wide, hot and sunny, with very little shade provided along its entire length. As a staff member at Columbia Crossing visitor center suggested, it would be a fine trial to ride at peak fall foliage time, as it runs directly along the Susquehanna and you could enjoy the colors on its opposite bank of trees for the first 10 miles or so. But to my taste, there's little reason to continue beyond that unless you're just trying to get your mileage in. Well before the Martic Forge trestle the trail diverges from the river and becomes a wide, hot, green tunnel with no towns, interests, or services until its abrupt end.
This was a ride done during the day prior to a wedding we attended in MD. We picked up the trail on rented bikes by PaperMill Road and headed north. Some of the surface was muddy from heavy rain but still passable. We had lunch at Monkton Hotel. There was a museum too that we were able to tour along the trail. Would recommend being ready for bugs but overall still a great ride.
away from the plain, crushed stone paths of some R/Ts, start from either end of the Roaring Creek Trail. The elevation changes up and down ever so slightly, providing added interest as you travel alongside 2 reservoirs, multiple picnic tables, a waterfall, and wildlife. The quietness while riding this trail is a welcomed bonus.
I've ridden all the trails in Lancaster County and this one was the roughest (and I don't mean difficulty, I mean rough as in large rocks instead of crushed gravel). I rode as far as the turnpike (6.5 miles), then headed back. The Lebanon trail is MUCH smoother. After the Enola Low Grade and Northwest River Trail (both of which are a dream), I was expecting a smoother ride. My dad used to say "rough as a cob" - and that describes this trail. Take along your muscle rub!!
This trail isn’t suitable for human beings. Two skinny single tracks with mounds of large size gravel in the middle and scattered over the single tracks. You wouldn’t push a wheelchair or stroller over this crap. Cycling was tricky due to the gravel and tapered shoulders. Several large separations between trail and bridge decks. One of the richest counties in the state can do better.
We are older Gen X rail trail mountain bikers and we found this trail near where we were RV ing. It was relatively flat and about 5 miles round trip. The views along the creek were nice and the tunnel and bridge were neat. Our rating is due to the condition of the trail surface, which we found rocky, rough, and in need of maintenance in a few spots. We only encounter 2 other bikers and a few hikers. We believe with some improvements this would could hecome a more sought out destination.
The trail is very nice and mostly shaded but the trail is a little rough. It is very bumpy. Scenic with the reservoir view near the end of the trail. Somewhat buggy.
This is a beautiful (and mostly in good shape) riverside trail for the south end to around mile marker 5.0, good for walking, jogging, and hybrid or mountain bikes. Above mile 5, best for mountain bikes only.
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