North Gettysburg Trail

Part of the Gettysburg area's growing trail network, the North Gettysburg Trail begins at the north end of the borough at the northwest corner of East Broadway and Old Harrisburg Road. The asphalt trail extends north along the west side of Old Harrisburg Road, passing the Adams County Agricultural Center and the historical Almshouse, then entering the grounds of the Gettysburg National Military Park. This segment offers views of the monuments on nearby Barlow Knoll and the Almshouse Cemetery, both of which can be accessed by turning west onto Howard Ave.
The trail narrows north of Howard Ave., with a narrow sidepath designated for foot traffic, while cyclists must use a bike lane on the left side of Old Harrisburg Pike. The trail continues across Rock Creek and passes the Josiah Benner Farm, the site of a hospital for Confederate troops in the Civil War, and parallels the road to a point just north of Gettysburg Animal Hospital. Here, it takes an abrupt turn west onto the campus of Gettysburg High School. The bike lane along Old Harrisburg Road ends at this point and cyclists can again follow the offroad trail a final quarter mile onto the high school grounds, where the trail ends at the parking lot by the Tech Center.
In addition to providing pedestrians and cyclists access to a section of the Gettysburg Battlefield that is less well known than those to the south and west of town, the North Gettysburg Trail gives students and faculty at Gettysburg High School, the HACC campus and Vida Charter School (formerly Eisenhower Elementary School) a safe means to walk or bike to school. A network of sidewalks connects the southern terminus of the trail to downtown Gettysburg and Gettysburg College, while plans call for a section of the Gettysburg Inner Loop to link to this trail via 4th Street as well as future paths that will cross the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking is available at the high school, the shopping center that houses Weis Markets and HACC, the Adams County Agricultural Center and along streets in Gettysburg.