Top 5 Bike Trails in Pennsylvania
- Redbank Valley Rail Trail
It’s easy to understand why Pennsylvania’s 51-mile Redbank Valley Trail was named Trail of the Year in 2014. Because of its packed crushed limestone surface and a 1% incline in most parts, the path provides a comfortable ride with spectacular views. There are 27 bridges, many stone arches, and three historic railroad tunnels on the 21-mile Redbank Creek Trail.
- Stony Valley Rail Trail
The Appalachian Ridge and Valley area’s 19.5-mile Stony Valley Rail-Trail passes through State Game Lands No. 211, past vanished coal boomtowns, a crumbling stone tower, and the well-hidden remains of a former 200-room tourist resort where tourists once soaked in cool spring waters before a fire swept through in 1900. The path follows the tracks of the ancient Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad and its predecessors, which date back to the 1850s, and the dirt and gravel trail surfaces, as well as the mild incline, make for an easy ascent. Please be aware that during hunting season, the path is not suitable for biking.
- The Montour Trail
Over a winding 62-mile half-circle circuit on Pittsburgh’s western side, the Montour Trail, one of the country’s longest suburban trail networks, includes a diverse array of bridges, trestles, viaducts, and tunnels framed by vibrant landscapes and flora. Highlights include the 575-foot Enlow Tunnel in Findlay Township, a 6.3-mile Enlow-to-Pittsburgh Airport link, the majestic 900-foot McDonald trestle that crosses the Panhandle Trail, and the Chartiers Creek High Bridge and the accompanying 235-foot-long Greer Tunnel just before Hendersonville.
- Capital Area Greenbelt
The Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile multi-surface outdoor route that circles Harrisburg, is accessible by bike. The terrain for cyclists, walkers, and other non-motorized activities ranges from asphalt on-road routes to gravel areas. Reservoir Park, the National Civil War Museum, Wildwood Park, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, City Island, and the Susquehanna Riverfront Park are all connected by the loop. Among the attractions are the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Pennsylvania Holocaust Memorial, and the Five Senses Garden.
- The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail
The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail, which is three miles long, is a hidden gem. The trail, which runs between the Johnstown communities of Riverside and Hornerstown, offers breathtaking views of the Stonycreek River, as well as a plethora of birdlife and wildflowers, historic turn-of-the-century homes, and, most importantly, views of the 50-foot Buttermilk Falls, which is located about halfway down the trail. The path is a nationally recognized National Recreation Trail that has been prepared for an easy cycling ride.