Gettysburg Trail

Pennsylvania

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Not to be confused with the nearby Gettysburg Inner Loop, the roughly 3-mile Gettysburg Trail is a paved walking trail that connects the Visitor Center to important locations on the battlefield, the National Cemetery and the southern end of town. It then cuts across the north end of the battlefield and follows a concurrency with Hancock Ave. to the Pennsylvania Memorial before turning back east, crossing Route 134 a second time, then heads back through the woods to the Visitor Center. These segments are notable for the serenity of the surrounding woodlands, and can provide welcome shade on hot summer days.

Although the trail is wide and paved, bicycles are not permitted and must remain on the nearby roads instead. This isn't a problem on the monument-lined "Avenues" that crisscross the National Military Park, since traffic, though heavy on some spring and summer days, is slow-moving. However, cyclists must use extreme caution when traveling on nearby main roads like Routes 134, 97 or Business Route 15.

In addition to providing access from the Visitor Center to the Battlefield and town, the greenway also directly links to, and shares some its route with the Bill Yank and Johnny Reb trails, two longer hiking paths that connect to sections of the Gettysburg National Military Park that are further away from the Visitor Center, and is planned to connect with the Gettysburg Inner Loop in the next couple years.

Longer range plans anticipate both the Gettysburg Trail and Gettysburg Inner Loop being incorporated into the Grand History Loop, an ambitious effort to for a system of greenways and rail trails that will link numerous historical sites in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking is available at the Visitor Center as well as a trailhead and parking lot across from the National Cemetery off Route 134.