Explore the best rated trails in Indiana, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Clarion-Little Toby Trail and Bells Gap Rail Trail . With more than 51 trails covering 4525 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.
Parked in Franklin and biked South to North Kent, and back, 12.5 miles one way. North Kent also known as Sunnyslope. Beautiful section of the trail. Not much shade for the first 8 miles though! This section of the trail is paved and in pretty good shape. Always and enjoyable ride!
This was my first time on this trail. The sides we mowed and you could tell that they have been maintaining the surface of the trail recently. This trail gives you nice scenic views of the Kiski river, but it is not super close to the river in most places.
The only potential downside is that the trail slopes up a good bit as you ride upstream, more than some other rail trails in this area.
We did only 10 miles today 10 miles up and 10 miles back, but I love this trail. They have rest stops every 3 miles which is great because you can use the bathroom. The trail was beautiful. We started from black lick. I can’t wait to ride the other side.
I rode the section from Dunbar to the GAP; except for the part by the railroad it's very pretty. But, today anyway, it was super soft. Like they'd laid a lot of sand & gravel and not packed it. A fine ride, but the softness made it hard going
This past Friday my buddy and I rode the entire Allegheny River Trail from Emlenton to Franklin and back - 54.4 miles. It was a great ride. The entire trail (with one exception) is paved and along the free-flowing Allegheny River the entire time. The river was a delight to view. The two tunnels on the trail are fantastic - large and long (6th and 9th longest bike tunnels in the country). The pavement through them has raised reflectors that your lights will light up and they are nice and cool on a hot day. I would say that about the southern two-thirds of the trail is well shaded but the northern section is more open and sunny.
The caveats with this trail are two. First, the root/frost heaves. This is basically a problem with the southern portion of the trail. Leaving from Emlenton they aren't too bad - lower and more rolling than sharp. After Rockland tunnel they are worse. We found that the east side of the trail was better for riding than the west side. After Kennerdell tunnel they lessened and eventually were mostly non-existent. We've had experience with heaves so nothing we haven't experienced before but it would be nice if they were ground down. The second caveat is the dirt/gravel road section. Coming from the south you immediately hit a climb so be prepared to gear down. This section is rough. It's a mix of dirt, gravel and embedded rocks. Fortunately, it's pretty short.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and would highly recommend it. If you're inclined after the ride, be sure to visit the Emlenton Brew Haus about a block from the beginning of the trail
Started in Emlenton and rode through the Rockland and Kennerdell tunnels to the gravel connector just past mile marker 110. Approximate 26 mile round trip. Quality light recommended for the tunnels. The trail surface is raised and buckled in a number of areas especially near the Emlenton end and detracts from what would otherwise be an outstanding ride.
Also took the gravel road near the northern entrance of the Rockland tunnel approximately up one half mile to the Rockland Furnace and Freedom Falls waterfall. The gravel road is a significant climb and the return descent can be challenging (caution required on bike - or walk) but the waterfall alone is worth the effort.
Loved this trail. The metal statues are such a nice addition and good reason to take a brief rest. Plenty of places for a picnic. Trails are well maintained. Great views throughout the trail. Historical information provided is interesting. Will definitely do this trail again.
Great trail! Ate lunch at The Sawmill in Leeper and then enjoyed a pint at Lost In the Wilds. Very fun!
We biked from Franklin, mile 0, South to Brandon at mile 10.5 and back. The first 8 miles traveling South are out in the open and not shaded.
I've lived in Boalsburg, PA for 10 of the last 13 years and have probably ridden the full 32 miles, there and back, of the Lower Trail nearly 100 times. It's because of this trail and the Pine Creek Rail Trail that I have fallen in love with rail trails and Pennsylvania. I won't repeat everything that has been said in other reviews, but I want to say a few things that have not been said and/or emphasized. These things are not necessarily unique to the Lower Trail by any means, but I promise you they can all be experienced on its path.
1) The Lower Trail is very remote, and this revives the soul! To get to any of the trailheads you are "forced" to drive through fertile farm fields, surrounded by majestic, ancient, and time-worn ridges. There's not a city in sight! It doesn't matter if you are coming from Altoona, State College, Huntingdon, or afar, you can't help but relax and let it all go on the drive there. Roll down the windows and enjoy Central Pennsylvania in all of its glory.
2) It's history, and this inspires! Native Americans forged this trail along the Juniata; the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Canal channeled its way through the ridgelines here; the Pennsylvania Railroad took a shortcut through the gorges to bypass Tyrone when traffic was heavy; Amelia Earhart spent her weekends in Williamsburg; there are hidden locks, loading docks, and long lost railroad bridges over the Juniata with only a few stacked stones of abutments left. Just think, Charles Dickens spent time on this trail as he was pulled upstream on a canal boat by a team of donkeys. He wrote fondly about this trail!
3) There's a river, and you can kayak it! It's called the Juniata! Leave your bike at Alfarata or Mount Etna Station, drive your kayaks to Williamsburg, kayak downstream along the Juniata back to your bike, and bike ride back to your car. You get the drift? You can spend a whole day biking and kayaking along this magnificent corridor. There's something incredible about paddling your boat under ancient railroad viaducts while navigating occasional rapids and waving to bikers on the trail as they ride by!
4) Human diversity abounds! Infants to retirees frequent this trail all year long. There are strollers, tricycles, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, street bikes, electric bikes, scooters, one-wheeled skateboards, recumbents, horses, and folks using their good old-fashion two feet. But, it's never too crowded, and everyone is so kind and courteous. The trail is wide enough to pass safely with a soft ding of a bell or a quick verbal cue of on your left. You can ride fast or slow, lazily or with determination. There is an in fact an 11 mile stretch with zero road crossings. Imagine the time trials one could ride! Or you can slow down and take it all in.
5) Natural diversity envelops you! Foliage and fauna, marmots and birds. My most memorable moment with nature occured while kayaking and a bald eagle on July 4th stayed with us for about a mile. Continually swooping past us, about 10 feet over our heads, gazing at us as he passed, perching in a tree just in front of us, and performing this dance over and over again.
My apologies if this review is a bit personal. The Lower Trail is truly a hidden gem. It's shaped me and my family - kept us sane and whole, and I give so much thanks to those who had the vision to make this trail a reality. There's nothing that gives me greater joy than when I ask my teenage daughter each spring if she'd like to go on a bike ride with me on the Lower Trail, and her eyes pop open and she enthusiastically says yes.
A friend and I rode the Armstrong Trail out and back from East Brady to Kittanning in June 2024. Temperatures were in the 90s with some humidity. Fortunately a fair amount of the trail had full or partial shade, even in the middle of the day.
On this stretch the trail surface is good, mostly packed dirt with occasional small or medium stones. At the north end of Kittanning, the pavement was quite rough from tree roots in places. At times the trail narrows to a track when coming to a crossing road.
The trail mostly follows the wide Allegheny River, a change from other regional rail-trails which follow creeks or small rivers. On the trail are a magnificent coaling tower at Redbank, a railroad turntable at Phillipston, and several locks and dams.
The trail passes through several towns, and past clusters of trailers and houses used as summer/weekend retreats. Their boats and jet skis were in use on the river.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
