Altoona, PA Mountain Biking Trails and Maps

420 Reviews

Looking for the best Mountain Biking trails around Altoona?

Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Altoona, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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16 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Blairsville Riverfront Trail

1.7 mi
State: PA
Asphalt

Ghost Town Trail

49.2 mi
State: PA
Crushed Stone

Lower Trail

17 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Path of the Flood Trail/Staple Bend Tunnel Trail

11.8 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone

West Penn Trail

15.2 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel

Bellefonte Central Rail Trail

1.3 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone

Hoodlebug Trail

11.8 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Gravel

Houtzdale Line Trail

11.08 mi
State: PA
Gravel

Shuster Way Heritage Trail

3.9 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Snow Shoe Rail Trail

18.4 mi
State: PA
Ballast, Gravel

Wolf Run Trail (PA)

4.2 mi
State: PA
Gravel

Bells Gap Rail Trail

6.3 mi
State: PA
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Honan Avenue Trail

3.5 mi
State: PA
Dirt

Iron Horse Trail (PA)

10 mi
State: PA
Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt

PWS Trail System

36 mi
State: PA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Blairsville Riverfront Trail is a scenic woodland trail located along the Conemaugh River. The property the trail was built on is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who maintain a...
PA 1.7 mi Asphalt
The David S. Ammerman Trail rolls through Pennsylvania coal country for nearly 11 miles between Clearfield and Grampian, skirting the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and two of its tributaries....
PA 10.6 mi Crushed Stone
Overview Winding through the scenic Blacklick Creek watershed east of Pittsburgh, the 49.2-mile Ghost Town Trail is composed of the 32-mile main stem (running between Black Lick and Ebensburg) and...
PA 49.2 mi Crushed Stone
Overview  The Lower Trail runs between Alexandria and Williamsburg, tracing the meandering Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River. The trail, with a mostly crushed-stone surface, is a remote and...
PA 17 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Path of the Flood Trail might be unique among rail-trails for being named after a tragedy, the Johnstown Flood of 1889, considered the nation’s worst catastrophe of the 19th century. Some 2,200...
PA 11.8 mi Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone
Overview The West Penn Trail meanders 15 miles between Saltsburg and just west of Blairsville. The rail-trail winds through woods, fields, and along the Conemaugh River. About the Route Other...
PA 15.2 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel
Serene year-round, the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail (BCRT) in central Pennsylvania runs along 1.3 miles of the old Buffalo Run, Bellefonte and Bald Eagle Railroad corridor. The original 19-mile line...
PA 1.3 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone
If you have a tendency to tootle along when you walk or bicycle, then consider taking the Hoodlebug Trail. You’ll find many diversions in and around the college campus in the borough of Indiana and...
PA 11.8 mi Asphalt, Gravel
The old railroad line known as the Moshannon, or the Mills Branch, crossed the Moshannon Valley during the mid- to late 1800s. The line was the foundation of the region's late 19th- and early...
PA 11.08 mi Gravel
The Shuster Way Heritage Trail (formerly known as the Bedford Heritage Trail) provides a safe and picturesque connection between a topnotch resort and a nationally recognized downtown. From the Omni...
PA 3.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview Coordinated by the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association (SSRTA), the Snow Shoe Trail caters primarily to ATV and off-road motorcycle enthusiasts. It is open to other users as well, but...
PA 18.4 mi Ballast, Gravel
Running parallel to State Route 219, this 4 mile section of trail has been built on a former line of the Pennsylvania Railroad (Line 651) and runs from Sandy Township in Clearfield County (near...
PA 4.2 mi Gravel
The Bells Gap Rail-Trail is really two trails in one-a smooth 2.1-mile southern section with crushed limestone surface, and a rougher, more difficult northern section of 4.2 miles that is best-suited...
PA 6.3 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass
The Honan Avenue Trail is a 3.5 mile long community pathway in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The trail begins at the River Walk Trail in Cambria City, Johnstown, then heads north for three miles along...
PA 3.5 mi Dirt
The Iron Horse Trail follows two abandoned rail beds: the Path Valley Railroad and the Perry Lumber Company Railroad. Originally, the Path Valley Railroad was going to be an extension for the Newport...
PA 10 mi Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt
Forbes State Forest and the adjacent state parks (Linn Run, Laurel Mountain, and Laurel Ridge) maintain the PWS Trail System, a network of snowmobile trails and forest service roads though the...
PA 36 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Recent Trail Reviews

Shuster Way Heritage Trail

Not for road bikes.

December, 2024 by repacker

It's a nice walking trail, or if you're taking it to get to the MTB trails. But, if you have a road bike you should just take the road. It's a shame they couldn't have used crushed gravel so roadies could bypass the section of road past the Elks. As it is, it's worthless for road bikes.

Ghost Town Trail

Washout not so bad now

October, 2024 by jeannemoss

10/18/24 beautiful afternoon ride. First time on this trail with our e-bikes. Loved it! We started Wehrum (mile 16) and went to Nanty Glo (mile 24?) slight uphill grade, not difficult. Return ride is slight downhill, no pedal assist needed. The washout had cones around it, and there was clear area for us to pass by. Some other areas have dips, but the trail was dry, lots of leaves fallen, but never felt unsafe. Only 1 restroom in this stretch, very clean. Lots of benches along the way.

Huntingdon and Broad Top Rail Trail

correction to the review below

September, 2024 by mustang67

That is Red Cut, not Red Rut. My husband says the best part of the trail is Red Cut. If you stand there long enough you can almost hear the trains coming. Make sure you read the plaque there.

Accordion

Huntingdon and Broad Top Rail Trail

Beautiful Ride

September, 2024 by mustang67

Rode this trail today on our Giant Momentum E bikes. Started at beginning of trail in Everett, ended at Red Rut where the trail ends. 24 mile round trip. Trail was mostly fine gravel with grass in the middle. Some places gravel was slightly thick, but was not a problem for us at all. Goes through two towns towards the end section. Signs are easy to follow there. Follows along the Juanita river. However there is about a 2 mile or so section that is stone road. Would ride again if in the area.

Ghost Town Trail

Beware of washout!

September, 2024 by ksjackson

We started out at Dilltown and the washout starts at about Wehrum and continues off and on until you almost reach Belsano. From Nanty Glo to Ebensburg, the trail is good.

Ligonier Valley Trail

Took the bikes one way then back. Flat and level with one small hill. Good condition with some areas with small gravel.

September, 2024 by richard.cohran

Took the bikes one way then back. Flat and level with one small hill. Good condition with some areas with small gravel.

Sandyvale Trail

Quick

August, 2024 by 4bgs9zstwq

Flat and mostly paved/gravel. Nice with the wind chime garden

Blairsville Riverfront Trail

Beautiful ride along the river

August, 2024 by stephenjyesenosky

I wish it was longer!!!! Excellent ride and beautiful ride along the river.

Path of the Flood Trail/Staple Bend Tunnel Trail

Trail Missing Between Johnstown and Conemaugh

August, 2024 by bcrinehart735

We tried following the TrailLink map beginning at the Johnstown Flood Museum. The trail is not well marked. It disappears at the end of Plum Street. This could be a great ride if it were maintained. We ended up following the rail line, riding and walking on ballast until we found ourselves in Conemaugh. We rode to the Spruce Street trailhead in Franklin but decided to end our ride and follow RT 271 back to Johnstown. We would have loved to continue riding north but didn't know what to expect.

Ghost Town Trail

beware of washed out trail

August, 2024 by willikowal

About a mile above vintondale the trail is washed out could be a very dangerous situation. The washout goes beyond where it’s marked and I don’t know what the rest of the trail looks like, but we turned around and went back. It was too much for us. We’re on Rance and it’s not worth rolling them in all the deep, washout places, caution

Ghost Town Trail

awesome trail

July, 2024 by willikowal

We did only 10 miles today 10 miles up and 10 miles back, but I love this trail. They have rest stops every 3 miles which is great because you can use the bathroom. The trail was beautiful. We started from black lick. I can’t wait to ride the other side.

Lower Trail

Lifts my soul

June, 2024 by cfbaggett

I've lived in Boalsburg, PA for 10 of the last 13 years and have probably ridden the full 32 miles, there and back, of the Lower Trail nearly 100 times. It's because of this trail and the Pine Creek Rail Trail that I have fallen in love with rail trails and Pennsylvania. I won't repeat everything that has been said in other reviews, but I want to say a few things that have not been said and/or emphasized. These things are not necessarily unique to the Lower Trail by any means, but I promise you they can all be experienced on its path.

1) The Lower Trail is very remote, and this revives the soul! To get to any of the trailheads you are "forced" to drive through fertile farm fields, surrounded by majestic, ancient, and time-worn ridges. There's not a city in sight! It doesn't matter if you are coming from Altoona, State College, Huntingdon, or afar, you can't help but relax and let it all go on the drive there. Roll down the windows and enjoy Central Pennsylvania in all of its glory.

2) It's history, and this inspires! Native Americans forged this trail along the Juniata; the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Canal channeled its way through the ridgelines here; the Pennsylvania Railroad took a shortcut through the gorges to bypass Tyrone when traffic was heavy; Amelia Earhart spent her weekends in Williamsburg; there are hidden locks, loading docks, and long lost railroad bridges over the Juniata with only a few stacked stones of abutments left. Just think, Charles Dickens spent time on this trail as he was pulled upstream on a canal boat by a team of donkeys. He wrote fondly about this trail!

3) There's a river, and you can kayak it! It's called the Juniata! Leave your bike at Alfarata or Mount Etna Station, drive your kayaks to Williamsburg, kayak downstream along the Juniata back to your bike, and bike ride back to your car. You get the drift? You can spend a whole day biking and kayaking along this magnificent corridor. There's something incredible about paddling your boat under ancient railroad viaducts while navigating occasional rapids and waving to bikers on the trail as they ride by!

4) Human diversity abounds! Infants to retirees frequent this trail all year long. There are strollers, tricycles, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, street bikes, electric bikes, scooters, one-wheeled skateboards, recumbents, horses, and folks using their good old-fashion two feet. But, it's never too crowded, and everyone is so kind and courteous. The trail is wide enough to pass safely with a soft ding of a bell or a quick verbal cue of on your left. You can ride fast or slow, lazily or with determination. There is an in fact an 11 mile stretch with zero road crossings. Imagine the time trials one could ride! Or you can slow down and take it all in.

5) Natural diversity envelops you! Foliage and fauna, marmots and birds. My most memorable moment with nature occured while kayaking and a bald eagle on July 4th stayed with us for about a mile. Continually swooping past us, about 10 feet over our heads, gazing at us as he passed, perching in a tree just in front of us, and performing this dance over and over again.

My apologies if this review is a bit personal. The Lower Trail is truly a hidden gem. It's shaped me and my family - kept us sane and whole, and I give so much thanks to those who had the vision to make this trail a reality. There's nothing that gives me greater joy than when I ask my teenage daughter each spring if she'd like to go on a bike ride with me on the Lower Trail, and her eyes pop open and she enthusiastically says yes.

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