Explore the best rated trails in York, 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 77 trails covering 466 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.
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.
Pedaled from Kernsville Dam to just south of Auburn, 6 miles one way. Really nice section of trail. The new bridge over the river between Stony Creek trailhead and Auburn is open. Didn’t have time to pedal all the way to Auburn, had to turn back.
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?
One word. GREAT. Clean trail, beautiful sight seeing, lovely picnic areas, dog friendly environment... You can't beat it.
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
There is no access in Atglen, and no apparent trail. We drove further west to Bart Township along Route 896 parking at the Evergreen Hardware Store. There is a switchback down to the trail. For about two miles in each direction the trail is nice stone dust, but after that, at mile 23.5 turns into the transmission right of way with just a lane, which is okay to ride towards Quarryville. Going east, you can go to about mile marker 26.5 again with a mile or so in stone dust, but getting to Scarborough Twp it is the transmission right of way - just two single lanes, rideable until you get to yellow gates, unpassable unless you walk your bike down and up inclines. Can't say what's from there to AtGlen - it is high grass and TX right of way at best. If you can, drive down to Quarryville - a very nice trail from there west to Turkey Hill.
Some parts east of Carroll Park were a bit sketchy. That said, I love the variety that this trail brings. Western part is very well-signed and doesn’t even feel like city. Eastern part is a bit more confusing (I definitely recommend having the map open). This was a fun 2 rides.
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.
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