Rail-Trails Pennsylvania: The definitive guide to the state's top multiuse trails

by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Overview

Explore 60 of the best rail-trails and multiuse pathways with this official guide

All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted into public multiuse trails. Here, the experts from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy present the best of these rail-trails—as well as other multiuse pathways—in Pennsylvania. You’ll appreciate the detailed maps for each trail, plus driving directions to trailheads. Quick, at-a-glance icons indicate which activities each trail can accommodate, from biking to fishing to horseback riding. Best of all, the succinct descriptions are written by rail-trail experts, so you know it’s information that you can rely on!

Take a multi-day journey on the 152-mile Great Allegheny Passage, or enjoy a speedy out-and-back on the 4-mile Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails. Pennsylvania clocks in with 146 total rail-trails, so you’re sure to find the perfect route. Whether you’re on feet, wheels, or skis, you’ll love the variety in this collection of multiuse trails—from beautiful waterways and scenic areas to the hustle and bustle of the states’ urban centers!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899979687
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	05/21/2019
Series:	Rail-Trails
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	41 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to converting former railroad corridors to public, multiuse recreational trails that offer easy access to runners, hikers, bicyclists, skaters, wheelchair users, and equestrians. It serves as the national voice for more than 160,000 members and supporters, more than 22,000 miles of open rail-trails across the country, and more than 8,000 miles of potential trails waiting to be built—with a goal of ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and the connections they inspire. To find out more about Rail-Trails, check out the Conservancy's official website at railstotrails.org.

Read an Excerpt

Capital Area Greenbelt

• County: Dauphin
• Endpoints: Loop trail from Linglestown Road at Industrial Road north end to S. Cameron St. at S. 13th St. at south end
• Mileage: 20.5
• Type: Greenway
• Roughness Index: 1
• Surface: Asphalt, Cinder, Concrete, Crushed Stone
• Uses: Biking, Walking, Wheelchair Accessible, Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Mountain Biking

Every year, tens of thousands take to the Capital Area Greenbelt surrounding Harrisburg to play, exercise, and commute. The greenway trail completely encircles Pennsylvania’s capital city as it connects parks, museums, and a stretch of gardens and woods along the Susquehanna River.

Originally conceived by landscape architect Warren Manning in the early 1900s to improve livability in what was a gritty steel town, the greenbelt project was forgotten as more pressing matters arose and many residents migrated to the suburbs. Then in 1991, the volunteers with Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) resurrected the spirit in those plans and began building trails using wood chips or gravel. Today, the greenbelt has been adopted by local and state agencies and private foundations and benefits from state grants totaling millions of dollars.

The 20.5-mile Capital Area Greenbelt comprises paved and crushed rock paths, wide sidewalks next to streets, low-traffic streets, and road shoulders. Wayfaring signs with mileage markers direct visitors throughout. Six intersections were slated in 2018–19 for safety upgrades, such as pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, improved crosswalks, and curbs and buffers to separate pedestrians from traffic. In addition, the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association has added novice- to expert-level singletrack throughout the greenbelt that can be accessed from many points.

A central place to start is City Island in the Susquehanna River. You’ll find parking here, as well as recreational activities. The eastern half of the circa 1890 Walnut Street Bridge carries pedestrians to the greenbelt’s Riverfront Park; ice floes washed away the western span in 1996.

Crossing the bridge, turn left to head upstream through Riverfront Park. You can view up State Street to the State Capital Dome in 0.3 mile and come upon the waterfront Sunken Garden and Peace Garden in the first 2 miles. Just past 3 miles follow the signs onto Vaughn Street, Green Street, and Sixth Street to follow the greenbelt through neighborhoods north of downtown to Linglestown Road. Here a side trail was scheduled to open in 2019 that heads to the left another 1 mile upriver to Fort Hunter Mansion and Park, overlooking the Susquehanna. To stay on the main greenbelt, turn off Linglestown Road at Industrial Road and look for the Wildwood Park entrance on the left. The trail takes the east shore of the lake through the woods.

You’ll enter the Harrisburg Area Community College campus at about 8 miles, and then enter the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center at 9.5 miles. The left fork at 10.5 miles takes you on a side trail for nearly 2 miles up Asylum Run through Veterans Park. The right fork continues alongside and on Pine, Stanley, and North Parkway Drives to the grounds of the National Civil War Museum.

The trail follows a creek and takes a couple of short side streets to the Five Senses Garden at mile 15. As you continue, watch on the right for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, accessible only from the trail. You’ll return to the Susquehanna River in another 2.5 miles through the woods surrounding Spring Creek. The Walnut Street Bridge is less than 3 miles from here.

If you’d like to experience the trail with a large group, the Tour de Belt mass bike ride is held in June. Groups of four or more bicyclists or hikers can arrange for a private tour with CAGA.

Contact: caga.org

Directions To reach parking on City Island from I-83, take Exit 43 onto Second St. Go 0.8 mile, and turn left onto Market St., crossing the bridge. Go 0.5 mile, and turn right to exit the bridge at the City Island sign. Follow the ramp to parking. Facing Harrisburg, the Walnut Street Bridge is to the left. To reach the north trailhead at Wildwood Park from I-81, take Exit 67B to US 322/US 22. Go 1.8 miles, and exit toward PA 39 Linglestown/Rockville, and turn left onto PA 39/Linglestown Road. Go 0.1 mile, and turn left onto Industrial Road. Go 0.2 mile, and look for trailhead parking on the left.

Table of Contents

About Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

How to Use This Book

Pennsylvania

1. 6 to 10 Trail
2. Allegheny River Trail
3. Armstrong Trail
4. Butler-Freeport Community Trail
5. Capital Area Greenbelt
6. Chester Valley Trail
7. Clarion-Little Toby Trail
8. Coal&Coke Trail
9. Conewago Recreation Trail
10. Cumberland Valley Rail Trail
11. Cynwyd Heritage Trail
12. D&L Trail
13. David S. Ammerman Trail
14. East Branch Trail
15. Enola Low-Grade Trail
16. Ernst Bike Trail
17. Five Star Trail
18. Ghost Town Trail
19. Great Allegheny Passage
20. Greene River Trail
21. Heritage Rail Trail County Park
22. Hoodlebug Trail
23. Huntingdon and Broad Top Rail Trail
24. Indian Creek Valley Bike Trail
25. Ironton Rail-Trail
26. John C. Oliver Multi-Purpose Trail Loop
27. John Heinz Refuge Trail
28. Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail
29. Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose Trail
30. Kinzua Bridge Skywalk
31. Kinzua Valley Trail
32. Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
33. Lancaster Junction Trail
34. Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail
35. Lower Trail
36. Luzerne County Levee Trail
37. Lycoming Creek Bikeway
38. Mahoning Shadow Trail
39. Montour Trail
40. Montour Trail - Airport Connector
41. Muhlenberg Rail Trail
42. Nor-Bath Trail
43. Northwest Lancaster County River Trail
44. Oil Creek State Park Trail
45. Panhandle Trail
46. Path of the Flood Trail
47. Penns Creek Path (Mid State Trail)
48. Pennypack Trail
49. Perkiomen Trail
50. Pine Creek Rail Trail
51. Plainfield Township Trail
52. Powerline Trail
53. Queen City Trail
54. Redbank Valley Rail Trail
55. Roaring Run Trail
56. Samuel Justus Recreation Trail
57. Sandy Creek Trail
58. Schuylkill River Trail
59. Stavich Bicycle Trail
60. Stony Valley Railroad Grade
61. Susquehanna River Walk&Timber Trail
62. Swatara Rail-Trail
63. Three Rivers Heritage Trail
64. Trolley Trail
65. Union Canal Trail
66. Warwick-to-Ephrata Rail-Trail
67. West Creek Recreational Trail
68. West Penn Trail
69. Westmoreland Heritage Trail
70. Wissahickon Valley Park (Forbidden Drive)
71. Wyomissing Creek Trail

Index

Photo Credits

Support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy