Explore the best rated trails in Carlisle, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Stony Valley Rail-Trail and Heritage Trail (PA) . With more than 53 trails covering 294 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.
Enjoyable trail with plenty of shade, river views, communities, points of interest, parks, and services along the way.
As someone else noted, this basically seems like a fairly well maintained access road for the company that owns the utility poles that line the entire route--on both sides of the trail for the first several miles, accompanied by chain link fencing on the river side. The trail is relatively flat, crushed limestone, wide, hot and sunny, with very little shade provided along its entire length. As a staff member at Columbia Crossing visitor center suggested, it would be a fine trial to ride at peak fall foliage time, as it runs directly along the Susquehanna and you could enjoy the colors on its opposite bank of trees for the first 10 miles or so. But to my taste, there's little reason to continue beyond that unless you're just trying to get your mileage in. Well before the Martic Forge trestle the trail diverges from the river and becomes a wide, hot, green tunnel with no towns, interests, or services until its abrupt end.
I've ridden all the trails in Lancaster County and this one was the roughest (and I don't mean difficulty, I mean rough as in large rocks instead of crushed gravel). I rode as far as the turnpike (6.5 miles), then headed back. The Lebanon trail is MUCH smoother. After the Enola Low Grade and Northwest River Trail (both of which are a dream), I was expecting a smoother ride. My dad used to say "rough as a cob" - and that describes this trail. Take along your muscle rub!!
This trail isn’t suitable for human beings. Two skinny single tracks with mounds of large size gravel in the middle and scattered over the single tracks. You wouldn’t push a wheelchair or stroller over this crap. Cycling was tricky due to the gravel and tapered shoulders. Several large separations between trail and bridge decks. One of the richest counties in the state can do better.
We are older Gen X rail trail mountain bikers and we found this trail near where we were RV ing. It was relatively flat and about 5 miles round trip. The views along the creek were nice and the tunnel and bridge were neat. Our rating is due to the condition of the trail surface, which we found rocky, rough, and in need of maintenance in a few spots. We only encounter 2 other bikers and a few hikers. We believe with some improvements this would could hecome a more sought out destination.
We began at the west end in Millersburg. Parking and restrooms at MYO park are well kept. Pedal north across a suspended bridge and see an old pair of working ferries! Awesome experience to "ride with our bikes" across the Susquehanna! After returning to shore, backtrack to MYO park and pick up trail by going east, across Route 147, and follow Pearl St. to the end. Take a right and follow this street until a street intersects on the right. (I believe there was signage). Trail is mostly shaded and calm. Some signs tell about the area. Surface is part gravel/ part crushed. It is not completely connected all the way to Williamstown (as we understand it). Maybe someday! ¿
I was recently told by fellow cyclists of local police lurking at the Colebrook parking lot and issuing citations to people riding the "wrong" types of ebikes.
From their website:
“Class 1 E-bikes are permitted on the LVRT, provided they meet all the following standards:
Electric motor less than 750 watts
Fully functional pedals
Weight not exceeding 75 lbs.
Maximum speed less than 15 mph
Does not have capacity to be completely self-propelled (must be pedaled to engage electric motor)
Class 2 and 3 E-bikes are not permitted on approved on the LVRT.”
Since many ebikes are class 2, why would they want to exclude the riders from their trail? Riders bring revenue to the area…
Enjoyed the trail, but there was no signage regarding the closure near the end of the loop. Not being a local, I missed the news,https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.abc27.com/local-news/capital-area-greenbelt-detour-remains-in-place/amp
We had heard good things about this trail, and were able to visit and ride circa 26 miles out and back yesterday, (June 4). This is a wonderful and very scenic trail with amazing views of the river and bucolic landscape. Much of the trail is shaded which helped during the heat but also adds to the allure of the trail. The Trail Welcoming Center is well maintained and the staff there very friendly and helpful. In addition, the rest room(s) were immaculate! I can't recommend this trail highly enough, and we will absolutely, (the Good Lord Willing), return to ride anytime we have the opportunity! Thanks for developing and maintaining such a marvelous and beautiful venue for relaxing and enjoying nature at its finest. We also stopped and had lunch at a wonderful tavern about 10 miles from the Welcome Center that is right along the trail. Very welcoming, great food, and very friendly clientele! Fantastic all around Great Experience!
Wasn't a fan of multiple issues. Traffic unsafe at multiple locations. Gravel and tapered to shoulders and feels unsafe. Bridge missing above road intersection. This causes huge group down to road on both sides.
Awesome trail available to me locally. Very high quality facilities. This is the best trail my wife and I agreed we ever used.
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