Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Pennsylvania, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Trail Image | Trail Name | States | Length | Surface | Rating |
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Overview
Today, the 7.5-mile route between inclines 6 and 10 has been converted into a rail trail featuring both hiking and biking sections, with historical culverts (drainage structures) visible...
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PA | 7.5 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt |
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This trail is not groomed. Three stacked loops offer a variety of hiking and skiing opportunities at a range of difficulty levels. The trail starts out on a railroad grade along Big Mill Creek. This...
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PA | 7.7 mi | Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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This moderately difficult trail features great views of Minister Creek and passes by several outstanding rock outcroppings, the latter about 1 mile from the trailhead parking lot. This heavily used...
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PA | 6.6 mi | Dirt, Grass |
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Located on the western side of the Allegheny National Forest, this trail extends north to south, parallel to the Allegheny River from the town of Tidioute to Grove Run. The trail retains much of the...
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PA | 4.5 mi | Ballast, Dirt, Grass |
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This trail passes through a variety of pleasing landscapes. The area near Crane Run is especially scenic. The trail is marked with white diamonds. The skill level of this trail is rated more...
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PA | 16.6 mi | Dirt, Grass |
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Overview
The Allegheny River Trail runs on asphalt between Franklin and Emlenton for 27.5 miles and on an isolated section between Foxburg and Parker for 2.5 miles.Â
About the Route
Keep your...
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PA | 29.6 mi | Asphalt |
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Closure notice:Â The 0.5-mile Brady Tunnel remains closed while under construction, disconnecting the northern 4.5 miles from the lower 39.2 miles. No bypass is available.
The trail section from...
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PA | 44.2 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Since it opened as a railroad spur in the 1800s, this pretty trail has always been about connections. In 1834 the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad launched the spur to carry goods from Bristol,...
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PA | 2.5 mi | Asphalt |
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Overview
The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, which runs between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg, is a 9.5-mile rail trail.
About the Route
The trail features interpretive signs related to the region's...
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PA | 9.5 mi | Asphalt, Gravel |
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The Clarion-Little Toby Trail lets you venture on the wild side for 18 miles as it traverses remote state hunting grounds adjoining the Allegheny National Forest. You’ll likely see deer and other...
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PA | 18.4 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail rolls 15.8 miles through a bucolic valley that’s hemmed in by the Blue and South Mountains in south-central Pennsylvania. Running from Shippensburg to east...
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PA | 15.8 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The Cynwyd Heritage Trail runs between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA’s) Cynwyd Station and Bala Cynwyd Park and also connects the historic West Laurel...
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PA | 1.9 mi | Asphalt, Gravel |
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Overview
The D&L Trail runs for more than 140 miles through Eastern Pennsylvania, from just north of Philadelphia to Mountain Top in the Poconos Region. It follows historical canal and railroad...
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PA | 144.7 mi | Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
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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....
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PA | 10.6 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The East Branch Trail is a rare dual-lane rail-trail. The 8-foot asphalt lane serves walkers, bicyclists, in-line skaters, and people in wheelchairs. Horses, specifically horses pulling...
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PA | 7.9 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
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Overview
Connecting Meadville, known as the home of the zipper, and Conneaut Lake, the 12-mile Ernst Trail meanders through farms and forests. The trail is named for Calvin Ernst, who owned the...
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PA | 12 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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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...
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PA | 49.2 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Constructed in 2012, the Gravity Trail is one of the newer additions to the extensive network of trails and greenways that criss-cross the Greater Reading metro area.
The trail's unusual name comes...
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PA | 4.15 mi | Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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Notice: There are a couple detours along the long GAP route. At mile 22, Big Savage Tunnel is closed for the winter. At mile 148, there is a detour around Monongahela Wharf, and there is a 0.75-mile...
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MD, PA | 153.22 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
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Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
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DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY | 3743.9 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
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The Greene River Trail provides an up close tour of riverside communities whose histories are steeped in the coal industry. You can see remnants of coal mining along the trail, as well as chipmunks,...
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PA | 7 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The Heritage Rail Trail County Park (HRT) runs between the Pennsylvania–Maryland state line and York, Pennsylvania. Most of the trail has a crushed-stone surface, although portions of the...
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PA | 27.4 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Overview
Stretching 12.6 miles through south-central Pennsylvania, this rail-trail runs between Riddlesburg and Everett.
About the Route
Tracing a relatively flat path from the community of...
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PA | 12.6 mi | Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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Notice:Â In July 2021, a storm exposed a steep drop off along one side of a portion of the trail's gorge section. As of November 2023, the washout is cordoned off with red tape and there is adequate...
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PA | 16.6 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt |
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Although the J. Manley Robbins Trail spans only 2.6 miles, its rich history and natural beauty make a stop in the rural Pennsylvania borough of Danville worthwhile. The rustic trail—forming a loop of...
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PA | 2.6 mi | Grass, Gravel |
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The 11.7-mile John C. Oliver Multi-Purpose Loop Trail is a centerpiece of Maurice K. Goddard State Park, which spans 2,856 acres in northwestern Pennsylvania. The mostly shaded, paved, off-road trail...
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PA | 11.7 mi | Asphalt |
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The 13.4-mile Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose National Recreation Trail loops around the picturesque Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula in Lake Erie. Considered Pennsylvania’s only seashore, the 3,200-acre...
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PA | 13.4 mi | Asphalt |
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Deep within the Allegheny National Forest lies a rail-trail with a past. The Kinzua Valley Trail follows the route of the former Kinzua and Hemlock Railroad (later Valley Railroad) near the town of...
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PA | 6 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Winding through the fields and forests of northern Pennsylvania, the Knox & Kane Rail Trail follows a former railroad corridor. Spanning four counties (Clarion, Elk, Forest & McKean), the Knox & Kane...
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PA | 47.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
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Overview
The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail travels for 19.6 miles in three distinct segments through Pennsylvania's Lebanon Valley. A majority of the route is unpaved, most gravel-surfaced, except for...
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PA | 19.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
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Less than an hour from Pittsburgh, the Little Crabtree Creek travels for just over a mile in Unity Township, east of Greensburg. This first phase of the trail opened in July 2014; a future phase will...
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PA | 1.3 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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OverviewÂ
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...
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PA | 17 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Located in beautiful Sinnemahoning State Park in Pennsylvania, the Lowlands Trail uses the former corridor of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. The trail and park are now part of the tour...
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PA | 4.5 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The Lycoming Creek Bikeway parallels a creek of the same name from Hepburnville to Williamsport in Central Pennsylvania. The 5.3-mile paved trail connects a village formerly named Eeltown due to the...
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PA | 5.3 mi | Asphalt |
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If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, Mahoning Shadow Trail users expect six more weeks of winter before spring arrives. The 15-mile Central Pennsylvania trail passes through the...
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PA | 15 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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The Marilla Bridges Trail provides a 1-mile loop around Marilla Reservoir in Bradford, not far from the Pennsylvania/New York border. The fine-crushed limestone trail offers a scenic trek through the...
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PA | 1 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The 63-mile Montour Trail & spurs forms a semicircle around the Greater Pittsburgh Area and is one of the longest suburban rail trails in the United States, featuring a selection of...
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PA | 63 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Overview
Moraine State Park features a paved multiuse trail, which runs along the north shore of Lake Arthur for 7.1 miles. Along the way, enjoy beautiful scenery, especially during the fall as...
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PA | 7.1 mi | Asphalt |
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The Newtown Rail Trail will one day stretch from the Fox Chase neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia to Newtown Borough, connecting Bucks and Montgomery Counties by trail. Along the way, the...
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PA | 2.55 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Overview Â
Spanning over 15 miles on the banks of the Susquehanna River, the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail is a tranquil and easy-going meander between the towns of Bainbridge, Marietta...
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PA | 15.9 mi | Asphalt |
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The Oil City Trail connects the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail and the McClintock Trail through the center of Oil City, Pennsylvania.  The 2-mile walking and biking pathway runs along the Allegheny...
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PA | 3 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete |
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It’s hard to believe that the world’s first oil boom occurred along the path of what’s now the Oil Creek State Park Trail. The park’s forests, beaver ponds, and trout streams were once the site of oil...
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PA | 9.5 mi | Asphalt |
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Overview
The Panhandle Trail offers a direct 29-mile journey between the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although the trail follows an old railroad...
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PA, WV | 29 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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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...
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PA | 11.8 mi | Asphalt, Ballast, Crushed Stone |
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Overview  Â
The Pennypack Trail travels through wooded parks on the outskirts of Philadelphia, following the wooded banks of Pennypack Creek to its mouth where it joins the expansive Delaware...
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PA | 16.8 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Cinder, Crushed Stone |
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Closure Notice: Northern portions of the trail are closed due to flooding. Stay up to date on this closure by visiting the Montgomery County page.Â
Overview
The Perkiomen Trail spans 20.6 miles...
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PA | 20.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The Pine Creek Rail Trail is one of Pennsylvania’s destination trails, and for good reason. The 62-mile well-maintained trail runs at the bottom of scenic Pine Creek Gorge, commonly called...
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PA | 62.5 mi | Crushed Stone |
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You’ve heard of the Steel Belt and the Sun Belt. The 6.7-mile Plainfield Township Recreation Trail passes through an area known as the Slate Belt. The quantity and quality of local slate made this...
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PA | 6.7 mi | Asphalt, Ballast, Grass, Gravel |
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Overview
The paved Power Line Trail carries users between residential neighborhoods, parks, schools, and other destinations in Horsham Township. The 5.5-mile utility easement trail also heads north...
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PA | 5.5 mi | Asphalt |
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Paralleling PA-66, the Rail 66 Country Trail runs between Marianne in Clarion County and the county line with Forest County. This paved, multiuse rail-trail lies on the historic Knox-Kane railroad bed...
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PA | 20.1 mi | Asphalt |
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Overview
The Redbank Valley Rail Trail carries trail users along the forested banks of Redbank Creek for nearly 51 miles to the Allegheny River and along a 9-mile perpendicular spur to...
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PA | 50.8 mi | Ballast, Crushed Stone |
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OverviewÂ
The Ridley Creek State Park Trail loops for 4.7 miles through the Park, encompassing over 2,600 acres of woodlands and meadows. The paved, multi-use trail runs along Sycamore Mills and...
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PA | 4.8 mi | Asphalt |
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The Rim Trail offers a 2.2-mile route in Hibernia County Park, following a former railroad bed along the West Branch Branywine Creek. This southeastern Pennsylvania excursion is one of a handful of...
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PA | 2.2 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Overview
Evidence of the Roaring Run Trail’s past lives are readily visible all along the 4.8-mile corridor in western Pennsylvania. Stone remains in the Kiskiminetas River (Kiski for short) mark...
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PA | 4.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Oil flows through the veins of the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail. Its northern departure point is Oil City, which was founded during the 1860s oil boom and became the headquarters for several...
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PA | 6.98 mi | Asphalt |
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Overview
Trail users will want to pack water, food, and flashlights to travel the Sandy Creek Trail, as it crosses 12 miles of remote, but scenic, countryside in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Named...
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PA | 12 mi | Asphalt |
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Saucon Rail Trail connects four communities: Hellertown, Lower Saucon Township, Upper Saucon Township, and Coopersburg. The trail has a slight 1% grade traveling from north to south and is easy for a...
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PA | 6.9 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Overview
Once an important thoroughfare for commerce carried by canal barges and railroad cars in southeastern Pennsylvania, the Schuylkill River (pronounced skool-kl) corridor now accommodates...
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PA | 82.4 mi | Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel |
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The Sheepskin Rail-Trail is a developing pathway located in rural Fayette County, Pennsylvania. As of 2018, the trail is open in three disconnected segments, totaling nearly 6 miles. Eventually, the...
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PA | 6.1 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Closure Notice: As of September 2023, the pedestrian/equestrian bridge near the intersection of Hamburg Road and Stamm Road is closed by order of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh...
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PA | 7.8 mi | Dirt |
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The South Bethlehem Greenway is a linear park that follows a former Norfolk Southern rail line through the southern neighborhoods of Bethlehem. The paved pathway begins just north of Lehigh University...
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PA | 1.9 mi | Asphalt |
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The Chester County Parks & Recreation Department opened this trail in 1979 on part of a former Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way. Today the 2.6-mile trail attracts more than 125,000 visitors each...
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PA | 2.6 mi | Asphalt |
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Closure Notice:Â There are several closure notices in effect for the Three Rivers Trail. The Three Sisters Bridge Pier is indefinitely closed to due construction beginning March 2023. Finally, there is...
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PA | 26.6 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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The Trolley Trail uses a former interurban line to link several communities north of Scranton. The trail comprises two disconnected sections that total 4.7 miles, although the nonprofit Countryside...
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PA | 4.7 mi | Boardwalk, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass |
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Tyler State Park, located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, covers over 1,700 acres on the grounds of an old farm in a charming woodland setting. The park features a network of interconnected trails,...
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PA | 10.8 mi | Asphalt, Gravel |
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Located along the banks of Conewango Creek, the open 3-mile segment of this proposed 11-mile trail follows an old New York Central branch north from the city of Warren. Designed to serve primarily as...
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PA | 3 mi | Asphalt |
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The Warrington Township Multi-Use Trail spans nearly 3 miles on the west end of town. The trail is part of an effort to make the community more pedestrian-friendly, connecting major points of...
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PA | 2.8 mi | Asphalt, Dirt |
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The Warwick Township Linear Park Trail is a joint project of Warwick Township and Lititz borough. The pathway extends from Market Street north, following the Santo Domingo Creek, to Newport Road....
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PA | 1.2 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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The West Creek Recreational Trail connects St. Marys and Emporium in a forested area of northern Pennsylvania known as elk country. The 19.5-mile trail follows the route of the Philadelphia and Erie...
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PA | 19.5 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The 21-mile Westmoreland Heritage Trail, a family-friendly multiuse rail-trail, offers opportunities for recreation and connections to nature along its two separated segments between Saltsburg and...
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PA | 21 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Apollo's Kiski Riverfront Trail, built on the former M-Line Railroad bed, begins in downtown Apollo and follows the scenic Kiskiminetas River (called "Kiski" locally) to North Apollo. The nearly level...
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PA | 1.5 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The Wilkes-Barre and Harveys Lake Railroad—the rail corridor that is now the Back Mountain Trail—was acquired from lumber magnate Albert Lewis by the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1887. Lumber, ice,...
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PA | 5.6 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The Bayfront Connector Trail, also known as the Bayfront Bikeway, offers a paved route across the city of Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. At its east end is the Penn State Behrend campus; from...
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PA | 8.9 mi | Asphalt |
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Swatara Creek runs through the vast woodlands of Swatara State Park in eastern Pennsylvania. Bear Hole Trail traces the eastern side of the waterway, while the Swatara Rail-Trail runs along the other...
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PA | 5.5 mi | Crushed Stone |
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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...
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PA | 1.3 mi | Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone |
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The Bloomsburg Rail-Trail runs for a short distance along the former rail bed on the northwest side of town. Following the east bank of Fishing Creek, the trail stretches between Millville Road just...
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PA | 1.5 mi | Asphalt, Gravel |
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Closure Notice: The Capital Area Greenbelt will be closed south of the PennDOT Building in Phoenix Park for the foreseeable future. The recommended detour uses S. Front, Sycamore, Cameron, and Shanois...
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PA | 24 mi | Asphalt, Cinder, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
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The Chambersburg Rail Trail is a 1.6 mile paved urban trail that connects neighborhoods just a few blocks west of the community's central business district. Starting at South Main Street (Route 11),...
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PA | 1.6 mi | Asphalt |
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Overview
As its name implies, the half-mile out-and-back Chickies Rock Overlook Trail leads to a beautiful vista in Chickies Rock County Park.Â
About the Route
Start at the trailhead on its...
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PA | 0.5 mi | Dirt |
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The scenic Coal & Coke Trail connects the communities of Mount Pleasant and Scottdale in Westmoreland County, offering samples of the picturesque nature and friendly suburban feel of the area. The...
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PA | 6.1 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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Farms and pastures surround the Conewago Recreation Trail, but it was the discovery and mining of iron ore that led to the development of the railroad that eventually resulted in this trail. The path...
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PA | 5 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Crossing the state line into New York near Erie, Pennsylvania, the 7-mile trail runs through the beautiful Brokenstraw Valley, passing small streams, a tamarack swamp, deciduous woods and...
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NY, PA | 5.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
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This gently winding trail in Pine Grove Furnace State Park passes along the shores of two lakes and through the woodlands of Michaux State Forest. Pine Grove Furnace began operating in 1764 to take...
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PA | 2.2 mi | Asphalt, Cinder, Crushed Stone |
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Overview Â
In the forested and farm-dotted hills of Pennsylvania’s northeastern corner, the D&H trail runs 39 miles between the small town of Simpson and the state’s northern border. The crown...
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PA | 39 mi | Ballast, Cinder, Crushed Stone, Dirt |
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Overview
Running through southeastern Pennsylvania, the Enola Low Grade Trail is remarkably flat, even for a rail trail —it says so right in the name! Even across hilly terrain, the trail’s grades...
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PA | 29.15 mi | Ballast, Crushed Stone |
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The stars in the Big Dipper and Little Dipper help navigators locate the North Star. Following the five stars in the Five Star Trail—the municipalities of Hempfield Township, Youngwood, South...
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PA | 7.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The Forks Township Recreation Trail follows the an old right-of-way of the former Lehigh & New England Railroad. Starting at the trail's midpoint behind the Riverview Country Club in Easton, you'll...
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PA | 2 mi | Asphalt, Dirt |
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The George B. Will Trail in Tiadaghton State Forest is named for an early 20th-century Pennsylvania forest ranger. The trail is popular with cross-country skiers and travels through a mixed-pine...
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PA | 5.6 mi | Ballast, Grass |
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Like so many trails in this area, the Great Hazleton Rails to Trails occupies the former corridor of a railroad line that supported the local coal mining industry. After a half century of disuse, the...
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PA | 5.6 mi | Crushed Stone |
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The Hanover Trolley Trail is currently 5.5 miles in two disconnected trail segments. The trail is being built along the 16-mile corridor of the York-Hanover Trolley Line that ran between the two...
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PA | 5.5 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel |
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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...
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PA | 11.8 mi | Asphalt, Gravel |
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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...
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PA | 11.08 mi | Gravel |
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The Iroquois Trail is scenic and remote, stretching about 2 miles through Tunkhannock, a gateway community to the Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. The rail-trail follows the route of...
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PA | 1.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Note:Â With a surface of large-sized gravel, the trail is not recommended for road bikes or mountain bikes with no suspension.Â
Overview
The Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail runs nearly the...
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PA | 31.2 mi | Gravel |
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In 1979 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saw value in this corridor near the Tioga River, which was part of the Erie Lackawanna Rail Line. It once passed through the village of Lambs Creek, which is...
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PA | 3.5 mi | Asphalt |
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The beautiful Lehigh and New England trail is a short, crushed-stone trail that follows a section of the former Lehigh and New England Railroad corridor just south of Tamaqua in eastern Pennsylvania....
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PA | 2.7 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt |
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Tracing nearly two miles of riverfront, the Luzerne County National Recreation Trail (also known as the Luzerne County Rail Trail) will eventually form a 16-mile pathway along an active railway. Chain...
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PA | 1.8 mi | Cinder, Concrete, Gravel |
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Lykens Valley Rail Trail is approximately half-way complete with 9 miles of trail open out of 20 miles planned. Those 9 miles are available in three disconnected segments. In Millersburg, a 0.4-mile...
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PA | 9.2 mi | Crushed Stone |
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In 2017 the borough of Northampton added a single mile of asphalt to the nearly 6-mile Nor-Bath Trail, effectively extending the use of the trail by more than 100 miles in eastern Pennsylvania by...
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PA | 5.9 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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The Palmer Township Recreation Trail (a.k.a. the Towpath Bike Trail) is a terrific community asset for Palmer and Bethlehem township residents and a great destination for visitors as well. Three modes...
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PA | 7.8 mi | Asphalt |
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A renovated former railroad tunnel that features a separate entrance for bats is a highlight of the Penn's Creek Path. The path is a relatively flat segment of the 328-mile Mid State Trail that runs...
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PA | 2.7 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Located on the abandoned Erie and Pittsburgh branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, this short but intriguing paved trail runs through Pymatuning State Park, a large and popular two-state recreation...
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PA | 3.2 mi | Asphalt |
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This 2.4-mile paved trail provides a quiet, scenic escape northwest of Philadelphia, from Encke Park at Radnor-Chester Road to the shopping center at Sugartown Road and Route 30. The trail travels...
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PA | 2.41 mi | Asphalt |
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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...
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PA | 3.9 mi | Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone |
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Overview
The Stavich Bicycle Trail runs from the Youngstown suburb of Struthers to the outskirts of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Running through the Mahoning River Valley, the route follows a rolling...
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OH, PA | 9.9 mi | Asphalt |
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Note: During hunting season, Pennsylvania Game Lands Regulations require ALL non-hunters present on game lands between November 15 and December 15 (excluding Sundays) to wear a minimum of 250 square...
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PA | 19.6 mi | Dirt, Gravel |
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OverviewÂ
The Swatara Rail-Trail runs for 10.2 miles between Lickdale and Pine Grove, snaking around an Appalachian Mountain in eastern Pennsylvania. The trail passes through the forests of Swatara...
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PA | 10.2 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass |
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Tatamy Trail begins in West Easton and heads north to Tatamy Borough, primarily along a former railroad corridor. On its southern end, it meets the Palmer Township Recreation Trail, which connects the...
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PA | 6.6 mi | Asphalt |
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This trail is not groomed. The three loops are suitable for beginners. The trail is marked with blue diamonds. Check out the short 1.2 mile Hearts Content Interpretive Trail which offers a scenic hike...
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PA | 8.3 mi | Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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Located in one of Pennsylvanias most popular State Parks, the Beaver Dam Trail follows old railroad grades at Parker Dam State Park in Clearfield County. The trail runs past streams, beaver dams,...
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PA | 2.3 mi | Crushed Stone |
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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...
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PA | 6.3 mi | Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass |
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The Blaisdell-Emery Trail follows an abandoned railroad bed between South Bradford and the borough of Lewis Run. This scenic trail parallels Tunungant Creek (locally called Tuna Creek) for part of the...
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PA | 3.8 mi | Crushed Stone |
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PA | 0.5 mi | Dirt |
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Overview
The Clarion Highlands Trail is one of the highest rail-trails in the Commonwealth. It traverses the Allegheny Plateau, passing over the divide between the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers. Its...
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PA | 12.6 mi | Dirt, Gravel |
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The local riding club enjoyed this former rail line, which was purchased in 1944 for a dollar from the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, as a bridle trail for many years. It changed management...
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PA | 9.2 mi | Ballast, Dirt |
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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...
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PA | 10 mi | Ballast, Crushed Stone, Dirt |
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There are two trails named the O&W: one in New York and this one in Pennsylvania. Although the trail stretches 32 miles (as shown on the map), only the first 8 miles of trail (from Simpson to...
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PA | 8 mi | Dirt, Gravel |
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North of Mansfield lies the Railroad Grade Trail, know to locals as Ives Run. The 2.5-mile trail begins on the north end at the Ives Run Recreation area, near the boat launch parking lot. Travelers on...
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PA | 2.6 mi | Ballast, Cinder |
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The Schuylkill Valley Heritage Trail passes through the rolling green hills of the Schuylkill River Valley, from just outside of Tamaqua to Middleport. The trail runs immediately adjacent to US...
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PA | 7.3 mi | Dirt, Gravel |
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Primarily a cross-country ski route, the 13.4-mile Sentiero DiShay Trail can also be enjoyed for hiking and mountain biking. The trail winds through a mixed forest of conifer and deciduous trees. The...
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PA | 13.4 mi | Dirt |
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The route is primitive and unimproved. The trail crosses several streams that are not bridged. The trail follows the scenic Tionesta Creek with lots of great scenery and fishing.
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PA | 12 mi | Dirt, Grass |
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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...
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PA | 36 mi | Asphalt, Crushed Stone |
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OverviewÂ
The Great Shamokin Path runs for 3.6 miles between Yatesboro and Numine. The mixed-terrain path parallels Cowanshannock Creek in its entirety.Â
About the RouteÂ
The western end of...
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PA | 3.6 mi | Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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This trail is not groomed. The trail is a combination of logging roads, railroad grades and pipelines that offer challenges to a wide range of skill levels. Trail is marked with blue diamonds.
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PA | 9 mi | Ballast, Dirt, Grass, Gravel |
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The Mill Creek Trail serves as a connector between Twin Lakes Recreation Area and the Brush Hollow Trail. Just south of Forest Road 138, the Mill Creek Trail leaves the Twin Lakes Trail and heads...
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PA | 5.6 mi | Dirt, Grass |
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Included in the seven-mile network of trails in Little Buffalo State Park are two small sections of rail-trail. Together they are called the Newport and Sherman's Valley Railroad Trace.
The...
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PA | 1.16 mi | Crushed Stone, Grass |
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Notice: The North Branch Canal Trail is currently closed between trail miles 3.5-4.1 due to an ongoing legal dispute. Do not enter this area. The other sections of the trail remain open for...
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PA | 6.2 mi | Dirt, Grass |
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The Shawmut Trail begins in the southwest corner of the small, charming community of Smethport and continues southwest out of town along Marvin Creek. Along the way, views are a mix of woodlands,...
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PA | 0.6 mi | Crushed Stone |
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Also known as the Mill Creek Trails, the State Game Lands 326 Trails meanders through a protected wooded area in Central Schuylkill County. The State Game Lands 326 (SGL) stretches across the...
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PA | 6.1 mi | Dirt, Grass |
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My wife had a yen to do a through ride and chose the GAP trail as her goal.
We spent 5 days on the trail, starting in Pittsburgh, and finishing in Cumberland. Even with drizzling rain on several portions of the ride, we both count this as one of the best we ever rode.
The trail surface is so consistently even, it is easy rolling, especially once you cross the Eastern Continental Divide, where it steepens a bit, downhill. There was literally no trash to be found along the trail, and any debris from trees, like limbs, was quickly removed by the crews that do that. There were times when we rode many miles without seeing another rider, or crossing a road. Along the way we noticed many places to take a break, with benches or shelters, and near each trailhead you will find a bike maintenance stand, with tools and air pump. We stayed in Pittsburgh, Boston, Connersville, Confluence, Meyersdale, and finished in Cumberland. All the lodgings were very nice, and we left our vehicle at our hotel in Pittsburgh ( paid to park it there ) and hired a livery service to get us back from Cumberland to the steel city. If you are considering this trail, go do it ! It was great.
Beautiful ride. Nice good trail. Lots of shade. Relaxing and fun. Highly recommend. Will do again.
My wife had a yen to do a through ride and chose the GAP trail as her goal.
We spent 5 days on the trail, starting in Pittsburgh, and finishing in Cumberland. Even with drizzling rain on several portions of the ride, we both count this as one of the best we ever rode.
The trail surface is so consistently even, it is easy rolling, especially once you cross the Eastern Continental Divide, where it steepens a bit, downhill. There was literally no trash to be found along the trail, and any debris from trees, like limbs, was quickly removed by the crews that do that. There were times when we rode many miles without seeing another rider, or crossing a road. Along the way we noticed many places to take a break, with benches or shelters, and near each trailhead you will find a bike maintenance stand, with tools and air pump. We stayed in Pittsburgh, Boston, Connersville, Confluence, Meyersdale, and finished in Cumberland. All the lodgings were very nice, and we left our vehicle at our hotel in Pittsburgh ( paid to park it there ) and hired a livery service to get us back from Cumberland to the steel city. If you are considering this trail, go do it ! It was great.
I would not recommend. The area wasn’t kept up. Not a lot of nature, at least not that I felt comfortable walking through with my kids. But I found a couple nearby who was doing what looked like excellent car detailing service!
ride trail on Oct. 3, 2024. went to end point at Conneaut Lake. miles 7&8 rough with gravel. last 4 miles on old RR bed of cinders, but fairly smooth. plenty of shade and lots of wetlands to view. Take water to drink. last miles thru Pa Game Lands. round trip from Beans trail head is 22 miles
We love the view across the entire trail ;however, it was so bumpy with many parts of the asphalt missing or pushed up from weeds, it took away from the ride.
If you have researched the GAP at all, you already know this was among the first trails inducted into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame. Many riders continue to go back to ride it again. That speaks volumes to the experience of riding this trail. If you are an end-to-end rider, and not a camper, you will need accommodations. I would like to highly recommend Cardinal's Roost B&B in Rockwood, PA. You will not find more amiable hosts than Jennifer and Chris. The accommodations are spotless, comfortable, and tastefully decorated. The breakfast is out of a 5-star restaurant. They have a huge garage to store your bikes with plenty of space to do maintenance if need be. Jennifer and Chris are bicyclists themselves so they understand needs of cyclists. If passing through Rockwood on the GAP or just enjoying the beautiful scenery, you cannot go wrong with Cardinal’s Roost.
The Meadville Connector which is at mile 0, Beans Trailhead, is now paved. It runs behind the bowling alley, Hoss', and comes out at the plaza (under the Smock Bridge) and continues to Kerrtown. Is one mile in length from Beans trailhead. Follows French Creek. This section has several small wooden bridges.
We are doing the trail now. It is beautiful with the colors changing. This trail is so well kept, with the surprise statues, just a joy to us and the dog.
While profiling the Lehigh Valley trails over the past year, I've noticed that several of them have a particular theme. The Ironton Rail Trail prominently highlights the cement and iron industries that were served by the old RR by taking users past the ruins of several mills and preserving numerous pieces of infrastructure and memorabilia from the RR itself. The D&L Trail, meanwhile, focuses on the role water transportation played in the region's economies as it winds its way past numerous locks and historic buildings that once served the Lehigh and Delaware canals.
Named in honor of a German immigrant who moved to Easton and became a renowned artist, the Karl Stirner Arts Trail celebrates the thriving community he established in the city. The 2.4 mile long trail follows the banks of Bushkill Creek from N. 13th Street to the south end of Lafayette College campus, where it extends into downtown Easton via a concurrency along 3rd Street. Cyclists will appreciate the trail's smooth, asphalt surface, though the shorter, woodchip and earthen nature trail that branches off at about midpoint and passes beneath an abandoned RR bridge is also worth checking out. Caution should also be used on the eastern half of the trail, which mostly follows on-street concurrencies with Bushkill Drive and 3rd Street.
However, the trail is most notable for the numerous sculptures, murals and paintings that line its route. Although several of these works were created by local artists, some came from as far away as California, and one, a gate near the Blue Bridge over Bushkill Creek, was constructed by Stirner himself prior to his death in 2016. Several pieces of infrastructure, including an electrical box and guard fences lining the trail, are also artistically decorated, while the Witness Tree, a giant American Sycamore situated along the trail near the Blue Bridge that has been dated to 1757, is celebrated as a natural work of art. It's also common to see outdoor art classes being conducted. Although the trail, which follows an old RR grade, is level and bicycle friendly, I recommend doing it on foot in order to fully appreciate all it has to offer. Easton's Linear Art Gallery is a fitting tribute to the legacy of one of the region's most influential residents in recent history.
Started in Simpson and headed north. The first 12 miles is very nice, except for the occasional noise from the ATV trail nearby. The next eight miles is a little rough, but not too bad. Then a mile of the trail was very soft, like they were working on the trail. After that, it becomes VERY rough - riding on balast. Some very nice scenery; has the potential to be a great trail - if they ever finish cindering the full length of the trail.
Would recommend to anyone. Make sure you check out the memorial for Marcy Suzette Nellis on the oil City end. Good idea to carry a firearm or a knife in case there are any Sickos like david bosley running around.
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