Natural beauty, fascinating historical features, and length: The Ghost Town Trail is a 49-mile long ‘rails to trails’ trail that blends these qualities and throws in a bit of challenge for flavor. The trail includes the 32-mile main stem portion that stretches from Blacklick, PA to Ebensburg, PA, as well as the 17-mile C and I Extension that includes the 4-mile Rexis Branch that stretches from Vintondale to White Mill and the 8-mile Stritty’s Way that stretches from the end of the Rexis Branch near the Rt. 422 underpass to North St. in Cardiff, as well as the 5-mile section from the 219 underpass in Ebensburg to Springfield Street in Nanty Glo. A 2-mile mixed surface connection from the C & I to Duman Lake County Park gives trail visitors access to amenities such as picnicking, fishing, camping, and much more. Named for the long-gone coal-mining communities that once dotted its right-of-way, the GTT flows past two massive iron furnaces, old coal-loading tipples, boney (coal-refuse) piles and other traces of industrial history. The Blacklick Creek valley in which it is situated is gorgeous, with mountain streams, stands of rhododendron, dozens of wildflower species and cool woodlands.
GHOST TOWN TRAIL
MAIN STEM TRAIL HEADS
Ebensburg: 40.481565,-78.726928
424 Prave Street Ebensburg, PA 15931
Nanty Glo: 40.471959,-78.83597
1097 1st Street, Nanty Glo, PA 15943
Twin Rocks: 40.490504,-78.861355
1395 Plank Road, Nanty Glo, PA 15943
Rexis/Vintondale: 40.48149, -78.91848
1069 Main Street, Vintondale, PA 15961
Wehrum: 40.471229,-78.949648
2415 Wehrum Road Vintondale, PA 15961
Dilltown: 40.469021,-79.000105
7452 Route 403 Highway, Dilltown, PA 15929
Heshbon: 40.473363,-79.095179
10485 Route 259 Highway, Blairsville, PA 15717
John P. Saylor Park: 40.47413,-79.192096
1284 Old Indiana Road, Blairsville, PA 15717
GHOST TOWN TRAIL
C AND I EXT. TRAIL HEADS
Rexis/Vintondale: 40.485057,-78.923931
1069 Main Street, Vintondale, PA 15961
Vic Miller Rd/Belsano: 40.5305,-78.8866
200 Vic Miller Rd., Strongstown, PA 15957
Expedite Rd/Cardiff: 40.4997,-78.8377
670 Expedite Rd., Nanty Glo, PA 15943
North St/Cardiff: 40.4951,-78.8341
152 North St., Nanty Glo, PA 15943
Revloc/Bethlehem Rd: 40.4871, -78.7624
130 Bethlehem Rd., Ebensburg, PA 15931
Trail Description
As it climbs the western slope of the Allegheny Front, the Ghost Town Trail totals 49 miles in length. There is a:
- 32-mile main stem from Blacklick to Ebensburg.
- 17-mile C&I Ext.
- Includes 4 Mile Rexis Branch from Vintondale to White Mill
- Includes 8 Mile Stritty’s Way from Vic Miller Rd. to North St
- Includes 5 Mile section from Ebensburg 219 Underpass to Springfield Street
- There is also a 2-mile connection from C & I Extension to Duman Lake County Park
With the exception of the Duman Lake County Park 2 mile connection, which is a mix of crushed limestone and single track, the GTT and C & I Extension have a crushed limestone surface.
