Explore the best rated trails in Johnstown, PA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Bells Gap Rail Trail and Lower Trail. With more than 40 trails covering 4436 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
There’s a really nicely developed parking area with facilities and a full museum of the C & O canal in Williamsport, Just south of Hagerstown. The trail is fairly wide and well maintained . However, it is secluded and sparsely populated so if you’re not comfortable with that take note.
This trail is well maintained and an enjoyable ride, a bit cool even when the temps are in the 70's, a lot of shade. Volunteers were out trimming hanging limbs and clearing debris from the trail. They also gave us instructions to navigate the streets in Punxsutawney, could have been a real problem without these directions. Made the 15 mile trip out and on our way back stopped at Luigi's Pizza for awesome pizza. Jenn, the owner/manager was very friendly and made our time at lunch enjoyable. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Eagles nest as it was blown down in a recent wind storm. Definitely a trail to ride again.
Nice maintained trail but it is some sort of interesting paved surface. It is a bit bumpy in a few sections but overall nice trail. You do ride next to the highway and through several small towns. If you are looking for nature trail this is not it. We started in Blairsville and rode entire trail. Mostly downhill on the way back which was nice. Would ride again.
Nice maintained trail but it is some sort of interesting paved surface. It is a bit bumpy in a few sections but overall nice trail. You do ride next to the highway and through several small towns. If you are looking for nature trail this is not it. We started in Blairsville and rode entire trail. Mostly downhill on the way back which was nice. Would ride again.
This is a very nice Trail but there are a couple of issues. If you start in Salzburg when you reach the 4 mile mark you come to a stop sign at a two lane rural road. You have to cross the road and proceed up a dirt road about 100 yard to pick up the Trail again. Unfortunately, there are no signs letting you know that the Trail picks up again 100 yards up the dirt road. Very confusing. One sign at this point with an arrow directing you to where the Trail picks up would be very helpful and save you from riding aimlessly on the county 2 lane, busy, county road looking for the Trail. At the 9+ mile mark the Trail again ends at a two lane, curving, hilly, county road and, again, there are no signs to tell you where to go. Fortunately there was another rider at the Trailhead who informed us that the next section of the Trail has not been completed so you have to ride on the County road (a dangerous road to bike on) until you reach Export. So, despite the description of this being a 21 mile Trail, the actual Trail from Saltsburg to the missing section is only about 9 miles. That 9 miles is very well maintained with mile markers every 1/4 mile; two additional directional/informational signs would make a big difference to those riding it the first time. But, bottom line, if you start in Saltsburgh you are only on the Trail for 9 miles, an 18 mile round trip. We returned to Saltsburg and rode an additional 8 miles on the West Penn Trail which made the trip from Pittsburgh worthwhile.
It is a very nice path but it is short.
For scenic views and a step back in time this trail is a must. It's muddy, especially right after rain. We avoid our e-bike on this trail due to the mud, but it's mainly flat. Paw paw tunnel is a must see, but it's nothing out there along the way. Harpers Ferry is gorgeous and historic. Bring your Bug Guard you'll need it. And your swim tube.
Beautiful countryside. You will encounter very few people. Trail quality ranges from good to rough. South of Hopewell the trail becomes a gravel road. I believe there has been a slight improvement in road condition but you may dislike the ride based on what sort of tires you ride. The road ends after a couple of miles and trail continues. The trail is not mowed as frequently as one would expect. I ride a recumbent trike and the overgrown grass in the middle makes it difficult to ride. If you ride a trike, I would recommend you stay away from this trail.
I have ridden my fair share of rail trails and the GAP is the best rail trail I've ever experienced. I started in Cumberland and finished in Pittsburgh. I knew what I was getting myself into riding against the Eastern Continental Divide but I got the harder riding done right away. I spent three days on the trail staying overnight in Confluence, Smithton and ending in Pittsburgh taking Amtrak back to my car in Cumberland.
The GAP offers so much variety over its 149 miles from scenic river views, sweeping mountains, ruins of a mining past to human development from a rural to urban scale. Most of the trail is very tightly packed gravel which is in immaculate shape. For the first few miles out of Cumberland and the last twenty or so miles to Pittsburgh the trail is asphalt.
I went on my ride in mid-May right before peak riding season so while many businesses in the trail towns were open many still had limited hours. Riding during peak season will give you even more options to eat, stay and shop. Every town I visited were very bike friendly (I've never seen so many places to lock your bike), with plenty of signage to share the road and locals very happy to see tourism in their communities. Some of the smaller towns like Smithton and Boston are not heavily highlighted but still offer dining and places to stay overnight.
There are many bike fix-it stations located on the GAP. While I expected to see some in the trail towns I was surprised by the abundance of fix-it stations located outside of towns as well. There are bathrooms (a mix of businesses, port a pots and composting toilets) roughly every ten miles. Most trail towns had a store to buy refreshments and I did notice a few restaurants had no issue with filling up a water bottle for any who asked.
My least favorite part of the trail was the last twenty miles from Boston to Pittsburgh. The asphalt in this section is in pretty good shape but in comparison to over 100 miles of smooth gravel it is rough. McKeesport is a sudden shift to an urban environment with a fair amount of on road riding but it is well marked and I had no issues navigating and I felt safe. I had issues navigating in Pittsburgh as I felt the clear marking that helped me navigate McKeesport was non-existent. Also to note is the on-road detour to Point State Park. It is easy to follow if you have a map but it requires riding in a major city for a short distance.
I have ridden many trails, a few that are in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame. The GAP is by far the best and is truly the ride of a lifetime.
I mean, the trail is beautiful, and I would honestly give it five stars if it wasn’t for the fact that cars are constantly going on it, despite signs saying that they aren’t allowed. I seen no less then 4 cars/trucks/SUVs on it today, alone, and I am hiking this trail with my baby in her jogging stroller! The “no motor vehicles “ rule needs to be better enforced, and more signs need to be put up, as well as a barricades, to prevent these motor vehicles from going on the trail! Not only are those motor vehicles a safety hazard, but the trail is badly chewed up in places because of them! I love this trail, and want to be able to feel safe hiking it with my children! Also, I have found shot gun bullet casings along it, before. Probably some illegal hunting going on, but it makes me feel a bit uneasy…
I went on this trail from Laurel Summit. If you park in the lot, you can only go 1-2 miles before the trail is gated off and says no tresspassing. Even if you could pass that gate, the trail is covered by bushes, trees and rocks...there is nothing there...
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