Find the top rated walking trails in Gettysburg, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Biked from Hancock to Little Orleans and return on August 30, 2025. Distance: 34.5 miles. Stopped for lunch at Bill's Place in Little Orleans and got good food and friendly service. The paved portion of the trail is in excellent condition -- thanks to the Maryland Park Service for recently repaving the trail. The only negative is the 3-mile detour on the C & O Canal towpath around the abandoned Indigo tunnel. The towpath detour is unpaved and has a rougher surface than the trail. The nearly one-mile long tunnel was closed in 2010 to protect a handful of bats allegedly living inside. The tunnel is an engineering marvel that should be seen and experienced by humans. Opening it to trail users would help the economically depressed Western Maryland area. For example, the equally-long Blue Ridge Tunnel in Afton, Virginia, draws about 50,000 visitors annually since it was reopened in 2020.
We camped at Indian Rock Campground right along this trail. It was a lovely comfortable ride with our mountain bikes. The Howard Tunnel was neat too. We highly recommend this trail.
We started at Lake Needwood which had great parking. The trail is not well maintained. It is bumpy most of the way south. It looks like there has been some attempt to patch the asphalt but the transitions were not smoothed out so many jarring bumps. Also tree roots have pushed up the trail which is not unusual but given all the other bumps it was annoying. Also be aware that from Lake Needwood - it is downhill so if you are returning to the same spot, you will have an uphill climb which is not too bad.
We Loved this trail. We got on at the Brillhart Road Parking lot went down the trail through the Howard tunnel, all the way down to the Hanover Junction. It was pretty much all in the shade. There were sections with very low grade ups and downs but the grade was so low you couldn’t see the hills visually, you just felt the difference in your legs. There was also minimal street crossings and they were all super small back roads with minimal traffic, which was great for my kids.
This was the second time I visited this trail. But the change in parking location from Quarryville the first time to Red Hill Road in Pequa this time made all the difference. From the that trailhead, you can choose what direction you’d like to enjoy the trail. But I would highly recommend going west towards the Martic Forge Trestle and the beginning of the spectacular views of the Susquehanna to River
there are some really old bridges that go over the C&O. the highlight is the paw paw tunnel. better to walk through it. once you hit little orleans, i suggest going on the western maryland trail. it is fully paved and nice.
hancock is a great town
I’m giving this an extra star because of the eastern extension; the eastern extension is in great shape and fun to ride. However, the western mainline is not in good shape. Many spots had dense stones where I spun my wheels. The main parking lot is closed until November, and there’s a section of trail covered in orange construction material. I suppose it would be a nice walk, but it really wasn’t a great ride.
Very reminiscent of other longer rail-trails. A little rough in spots.
I love going on this trail when riding my bike to work. It's so nice to ride without cars being beside you. When going out early you can see all kinds of wildlife out.
It was kinda rough for a paved trail. The pavement was bumpy in many places. Most of the trail is impressively wide. Be prepared for many on-street sections and crossings, some of which are busy. Wildwood park has restrooms and water. I enjoyed the ride and will be back someday.
My wife and I rode from Newville to Shippensburg today. It was @ a 10 mile ride to the Shippensburg Trailhead. We continued for 2 more blocks on Earl St to King St. On the corner of Earl & King is the King St Diner, good and good prices.
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