Cumberland Valley Rail Trail

Cumberland Valley Rail Trail (CVRT) is a National Recreation Trail[1] rail trail that follows the former Cumberland Valley Railroad rail corridor for 9.5 miles, from Shippensburg to Newville, through the farmlands of western Cumberland County in south-central Pennsylvania.

Cumberland Valley Rail Trail
Length13 miles (21 km)
LocationCumberland County, Pennsylvania
DesignationNational Recreation Trail
TrailheadsShippensburg
Newville
UseHiking, biking, horseback riding
Hiking details
Trail difficultyEasy, level, ADA accessible
SurfaceCrushed stone

Historical development
The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail winds its way through the farmlands of western Cumberland County, PA.

Historical significance

The Cumberland Valley Railroad (CV) began service in the Cumberland Valley on the current CVRT corridor in 1837. In 1838 CV became the first railroad in the U.S. to offer overnight sleeping cars. Twenty years later, John Brown and his abolitionist compatriots traveled to Harpers Ferry on CV to stage their famous insurrection. After the Civil War began, CV played a strategically important role by transporting Union troops to the Shenandoah Valley. CV also served as a primary resupply route for these troops, making it a prime target for Confederate forces which destroyed various sections of CV roadbed.

Trail history

CV became part of the Conrail (CR) network in 1975. CR donated the corridor to Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council (CVRTC) in 1995. The first 4.5 miles of trail was completed in the fall of 2004, followed by five additional miles two years later.

Trail development
The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail heading west from Newville

Design and construction

The majority of the trail’s ten-foot-wide walking-biking path consists of well-packed, crushed limestone. The trail becomes macadam at the eight secondary road crossings which are all level, at-grade, and well marked with safe (perpendicular) crossing angles. The trail is wheelchair accessible and all road crossings have been designed to meet ADA specifications. A grassy bridal path parallels the pedestrian path the entire route of the trail.

Trail amenities

Ample parking, restroom facilities, and picnic areas are located in Shippensburg Township Park trailhead at the CVRT’s western terminus and at the Newville trailhead at the CVRT’s eastern terminus. Access to the trail near its midpoint, with a parking lot and shaded picnic area, is provided at the Oakville trailhead. There are also several park benches located strategically along the route where trail users can rest.

Community

Trail supporters

Doug Kennedy completed this information kiosk at the CVRT trailhead in Newville as his Eagle Scout project.

The CVRT is managed and maintained by the Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trail Council (CVRTC). The CVRTC is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable corporation dedicated to conservation, historic preservation, recreation, and alternative transportation through the development of multi-use trails along former railroad corridors and other areas. In addition to state and federal funding and dues collected from local members of the CVRTC, the following local and community organizations have provided funding and in-kind support for the CVRT:

Special events

CVRTC's annual "Race, Run, Ride, and Ramble," Spring 2011.

Each spring the CVRT stages its annual “Race, Run, Ride & Ramble” from the Shippensburg Township Park trail head. This event includes a 15-k hike, a 30-k bike ride, and runs of 5-k and 15-k. Each fall the CVRT stages its annual “Fall Down on the Trail” from the Newville trailhead. This event includes a 5-k race and 4-mile hike. Other walks and rides on the trail have been organized by the following organizations:

References
  1. "2010 National Recreation Trails". The National Recreation Trails Program. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
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