Explore the best rated trails in Shippensburg, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Stony Valley Rail-Trail and Lower Trail . With more than 34 trails covering 4193 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.
Echo a lot of other 5 star reviews, this a beautiful fully paved trail worthy of any biker to make the trip to ride. What I didnt expect is that the designers of this trail got just the right amount of curve and undulation to give a rider that feeling of flow. Varied views, plenty of shade, and some trains nearby but not too close, oh and also Marietta is a cool little town... makes a great divert on one leg to find a lunch spot. If only this tied seamlessly to the Enola lowgrade trail... it nearly does via roads!
It’s definitely a rail-trail: pretty straight and flat. This trail reminded me of the Torrey C Brown trail in northern MD. It was a little rough, but certainly not unridable or even particularly unpleasant on my 700C hybrid bike.
My son and I rode the C&O the first week of June '25 as part of a ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC.
I am going to preface this review making it clear that it was an unusually wet Spring and significant damage has occurred due to flooding. Kudos to the efforts to repair the damage and keep the trail open. There were numerous detours off of the trail but it was open and passable. However, had I not taken this into consideration, and had not just completed the GAP as a comparison, I would have rated the trail 2 stars.
Here are my key issues rated from most, to least, significant:
1) The terminus of the trail in Georgetown is inaccessible due to construction. We rode 334 miles in 5 days to unceremoniously end our accomplishment carrying our bikes up a series of stairs, only to encounter detour signs that literally pointed in all four directions. After a half hour walking through urine-laden alleys searching for mile 0, a bicycle cop told us that we were as close as we could get. Our victory picture was taken next to a detour sign, each of us providing a middle-finger salute.
2) The trail surface through the Paw Paw tunnel can only be described as interconnecting pot holes filled with 6" of water. Had there not been other traffic in the tunnel, it may have been rideable. Just accept that you will get the opportunity to stretch your legs for a half-mile walk in the dark. Your shoes will eventually drain and dry by the time you arrive in DC.
3) For 15-20 miles south of the Paw Paw tunnel the trail is unmaintained. The riding surface is basically sunken truck tire tracks, separated by a hump of uncut weeds. The tracks themselves were devoid of any gravel which ensured that you were riding in either water or mud. The weeds on both sides of the trail had yet to be trimmed and had encroached into the tracks. The good news is that we were concentrating so hard on keeping our bikes upright in the slop, we didn't have time to think about the ticks. Anyone who has hiked the Adirondack high peaks knows exactly what I am describing.
4) Most of the trail repairs have been made with loose, coarse, crushed stone. I was fortunate to be riding a mountain bike with 2" tires at 60psi. My son was riding a gravel bike with 40mm tires which mean he was riding sideways much of the time. He ended up riding a combined total of 400 miles considering the lateral component of his travel.
5) Where washouts had yet to be filled with the previously mentioned stone, you have to cross crevices 6-8 inches deep. Not such a big problem if you were travelling slow enough to identify them before jamming your arms through your shoulders and ramming your saddle through the softer tissues of your rear end.
6) Having camped in Assateague for half my life, I thought that I knew aggressive mosquitoes. However, since the trail is totally devoid of any breeze, the stabbing critters locate you as soon as your bike comes to a halt. The good news is that we saved time taking breaks.
I will be posting a 5-star review for the GAP next. If you average the two scores together, the total trail experience was a 4. That still makes the ride from the 'Burgh to DC worthwhile. Just be prepared for the unexpected challenges.
Billie and I rode the trail (some of it) on June 3rd for the first time. Headed South we got to the blockades at main St. I heard commotion under the overpass. I went and talked to the workers. They told me to ride through as the trail is open, but the horses were not removed but will be shortly. We are riding another section today. This by far, is one of the most interesting and beautiful trails we have been on.
The trail is easier to follow than I expected due to the “bike route” signs throughout. It’s in good shape. Multiple times it shares the road for miles at a time, but these roads had very little traffic.
Although not totally connected, we found this trail to be delightful. It takes you through some safe, side streets to a fairly flat, forested path. The woodsy part is dirt/gravel and can be a bit challenging, as you need to be aware of the twigs, uneven surfaces,and wildlife. But hey...isn't this why we ride?
I live in Northeast Lancaster county and have ridden most trails in this area. The Lancaster part of this trail was repaired with unridable large gravel. The last time I rode it, we stopped and turned around as we worried about the impact on our bikes. It’s a jarring unstable trail surface. We now only ride the Lebanon county part of this trail … which is beautiful, picturesque, shaded, uncrowded, and well maintained.
Well maintained and shady in the summer. Pastoral views
Well maintained and shady in the summer. Pastoral views
My husband and I broke the trail up into 3 segments between May 8th to May 19, 2025 riding our bikes. We started at New Freedom, PA and rode to Walker Road and back. (14.2 miles). The next time we rode from Walker Road to Monkton station and back. (14.2 miles). Then we finished the trail riding from Monkton to Ashland Road and back (14.2 miles). The scenery included beautiful foliage, a winding creek, and various forest creatures. The trail itself is well kept. It is also well traveled with walkers, runners and cyclists.
The overpass at mile marker 11.5 in Seven Valleys over PA Rt 214 is closed and Northbound trail users must descend an embankment next to the Four Springs Winery and ride through town to Church St to pick up the trail again. Southbound riders follow the same detour in reverse.
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