Explore the best rated trails in State College, PA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Pine Creek Rail Trail and Buffalo Flat Trail. With more than 24 trails covering 291 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.
This is more of a local commuter trail than a destination trail, but it's very nice nonetheless. This trail is just one small part of a large and growing network of off-street bicycle paths that make getting around the State College area by bicycle a relatively safe and pleasant experience. The trail connects the Penn State University campus (via the Penn State West Campus Bike Path) with the neighborhoods and commercial areas along North Atherton Street, Tudek Park, and the neighborhoods near Valley Vista Drive. Tudek is a large and very nice community park with its own small system of crushed-stone multi-use paths, picnic tables/shelters, sports fields, and other amenities.
The trail intersects with another bike path that runs parallel to nearly the whole length of Valley Vista Drive and Science Park Road which in turn connects to other bike paths serving a larger area around State College. The entire trail and connecting spur are paved with asphalt/concrete. The western end of the trail connects to a singletrack mountain biking trail that continues on through the Scotia Barrens (State Game Lands 176).
This is more of a local commuter trail than a destination trail, but it's very nice nonetheless. This trail is just one small part of a large and growing network of off-street bicycle paths that make getting around the State College area by bicycle a relatively safe and pleasant experience. The trail borders or passes though the Penn State University golf course for most of its length and connects the main part of the Penn State University campus with the west end of downtown State College and with several other bike paths that traverse a much larger area. The sections of the trail paralleling Atherton Street and West Park Avenue are asphalt and the sections paralleling Corl Street and West College Avenue are crushed stone.
We rode this trail on October 9-10/2022 to see the colorful leaves. Nice trail with a beautiful setting along the Pine Creek. Parking was limited at the Blackwell trail head.
My family enjoyed a 3 mile walk from a starting point by Giant in Lewisburg. It was a busy day on the trail, so we had to keep looking behind us for bikers and joggers. I was disappointed to see quite a bit of litter along the trail, especially 7-Eleven cups. Not sure why people think it's ok to throw it along the way.
Easy Ride on crushed stone. Trail is very flat from Clearfield to Curwensville. However, begins to climb uphill from Curwensville to Grampian. Several bridges crossing the Allegheny River and a few creeks. Most of this trail is through the woods and is shaded.
Not that hard of a trail not sure why people say it's not a good trail did 24.11 miles of it start to finish and then back to the start A+++ in my book
My wife and I parked after turning on13th street to the spaces. This was MM 9 and we headed out towards the farm land. The grade was very mild both ways and the trail was is very good condition. There are a lot of crossings but it is a peaceful ride past well kept farms. I ride a MTN bike and there were ways riding slightly off trail to make the ride more challenging. We made it to MM 3.5 and turned around. We will probably come back to ride the entire trail.
My wife and I started at the Muleshoe trailhead parking area. It is a pretty steep and rough climb to the trail. I tried to ride my MTN bike up but didn't make it. More my fault than the bike. My wife walked her bike up. Once on top the trial was wide and in fairly good shape. On some of the steeper grades the trail had washed out and there was a lot of lose limestone so if you have road tires be careful. We made it down to where the hiking trail and the bike trail meet up and it is all macamdem on this stretch. We turned around there and the grade up was not that bad at all. My wife stuck to the trail but I rode off to the sides with the MTN bike and that added some adventure to the climb back up. We didn't see any wild life but there was sign a bear had walked through some of the upper trail. I bought my wife an electric and she wants to go back up and try it again. Maybe we will see some wildlife then. I am replacing the road tires with trail tires though for a safer ride. If your in the area the trail is worth doing.
From end to end this is a quality rail trail. There is so much scenery and great history of mining in Pennsylvania along this trail. No matter how you break it up, you won't be disappointed.
We started in Clearfield. We drove past the parking lot at first and then found it. The first mile in was with traffic off to our right but when we entered the shade the trail veered left away from the road. It is an easy ride, with lots of scenic views of the river. We only had time to do the first 5 miles but we are looking forward to doing the last 5 and it appears that part of the trail is more remote.
We have ridden the GAP in its entirety, we have ridden a large portion of the KATY trail, we have ridden the emerald necklace in OH, thousands of miles of trails - BUT, this gem is one of my top 5 favorites because of the kaleidoscope of scenery and experience. You start in a bustling college town at a fantast parking area. They thought of everything in less than a football field of space - parking, bike tool station, car charging station, a train car museum, bike lockers! and spacious bathrooms that seemed spotless!! Then you take off on the trail and its very well maintained, people are very friendly and then you roll through rural tree lined areas then farming communities. Its simply wonderful. I highly recommend this trail as a must do as equal to the Big name trails!
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