1
Surface
Asphalt, Cinder, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Every year, tens of thousands of people take to the Capital Area Greenbelt looping around Harrisburg to play, exercise, and commute. The greenway completely encircles Pennsylvania’s capital city as it connects parks, museums, and a stretch of gardens and woods along the Susquehanna River.
Originally conceived by landscape architect Warren Manning in the early 1900s to improve livability in what was a gritty steel town, the greenbelt project was forgotten as more pressing matters arose and many residents migrated to the suburbs. Then in 1991, volunteers with the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) resurrected the spirit of those plans and began building trails using wood chips and gravel. Today, private foundations and local and state agencies have adopted the greenbelt, which benefits from state grants totaling millions of dollars.
Trail users can take Walnut Street Bridge from Riverfront Park to City Island.
The Capital Area Greenbelt’s 20.6-mile main loop comprises paved and crushed-rock paths, wide sidewalks next to streets, low-traffic streets, and road shoulders; the greenbelt also includes a small spur and loop within two parks. Wayfaring signs with mileage markers direct visitors throughout. In 2018 CAGA paved or repaved four sections of trail, and in early 2019, CAGA completed safety upgrades on six intersections, with work including pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, improved crosswalks, and curbs and buffers to separate pedestrians from traffic. Additionally, the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association (SAMBA) has added novice- to expert-level singletrack throughout the greenbelt that can be accessed from many points.
A central place to start is City Island in the Susquehanna River. You’ll find parking here, as well as recreational activities. The eastern half of the circa 1890 Walnut Street Bridge carries pedestrians to the greenbelt’s Riverfront Park; ice floes washed away the western span in 1996.
Cross the bridge and turn left to head upstream through Riverfront Park. In just 0.3 mile, you can turn right onto State Street to head to the Pennsylvania State Capitol and historic South Capitol Park; however, your route continues north. In about 1.4 miles from the start point, you’ll come upon the waterfront Sunken Garden to your left, followed by the Peace Garden in another 0.9 mile. Just past 3 miles, follow the signs taking you through neighborhoods north of downtown to Linglestown Road: turn right onto Vaughn Street, left onto Green Street, left onto North Sixth Street, right onto Lucknow Road, and left onto Kaby Street. Here, CAGA is working to complete a 1.5-mile side trail that heads to the left and upriver to Fort Hunter Mansion and Park overlooking the Susquehanna River; it’s expected to open mid-2020. To stay on the main greenbelt, turn off Linglestown Road, taking a right onto Industrial Road, and look for the Wildwood Park entrance on the left. The trail takes the east shore of the lake through the woods, eventually curving west past the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center.
Heading south underneath I-81, you’ll enter the Harrisburg Area Community College campus at about 8 miles, and then the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center grounds at 9.5 miles. The left fork at 10.5 miles takes you on a side trail for nearly 2 miles up Asylum Run, a tributary of Paxton Creek, with a section that breaks off and heads north to Veterans Memorial Park just after you pass the Susquehanna Soccer Club complex. The right fork continues alongside and on Pine, Stanley, and North Parkway Drives to the grounds of the National Civil War Museum.
The path follows a creek and takes a couple of short side streets to the Five Senses Garden at mile 15. As you continue, watch on the right for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, accessible only from the trail. You’ll return to the Susquehanna River in another 2.5 miles through the woods surrounding Spring Creek. Note the extra loop in the trail that takes you around Phoenix Park. The Walnut Street Bridge is less than 3 miles from here.
The Capital Area Greenbelt commands a view of the Market Street Bridge, which spans the Susquehanna River.
If you’d like to experience the trail with a large group, the Tour de Belt mass bike ride is held in June. Groups of four or more bicyclists or hikers can arrange for a private tour with CAGA.
CONTACT: caga.org
DIRECTIONS
To reach parking on City Island from I-83 S, take Exit 43 onto Second St. Go 0.8 mile, and turn left onto Market St., crossing the bridge. Go 0.5 mile, and turn right to exit the bridge at the City Island sign. Follow the ramp to parking. Facing Harrisburg, the Walnut Street Bridge is to the left. Cross the Walnut Street Bridge to access the Capital Area Greenbelt.
To reach parking on City Island from I-83 N, take Exit 41B for Lemoyne. Turn left onto Lowther St., and go 0.2 mile. Turn left onto S. Third St, and go 0.5 mile, and then turn right onto Market St., and go 0.6 mile. Continue onto the bridge, go 0.1 mile, and turn left to exit the bridge at the City Island sign. Facing Harrisburg, the Walnut Street Bridge is to the left. Cross the Walnut Street Bridge to access the Capital Area Greenbelt.
To reach the north trailhead at Wildwood Park from I-81, take Exit 67B to US 322/US 22. Keep right to merge onto US 22 W, and go 1.8 miles. Exit toward PA 39 toward Linglestown/Rockville, and turn left onto PA 39/Linglestown Road. Go 0.1 mile, and turn left onto Industrial Road. Go 0.2 mile, and look for trailhead parking on the left.
6 Chester Valley Trail
Counties
Chester, Montgomery
Endpoints
King of Prussia Road between S. Gulph Road and US 202/W. Dekalb Pike (King of Prussia) to 0.3 mile west of Indian Run St. and Commerce Dr. (Exton)
Mileage
14.8
Type
Rail-Trail
Roughness Index
1
Surface
Asphalt
The Chester Valley Trail provides opportunities for recreation and alternative transportation in the congested commercial center at the northern edge of Greater Philadelphia. The paved rail-trail rolls for just under 15 miles between King of Prussia and Exton, encouraging a variety of users, such as stroller-pushing parents, colleagues on a walking meeting, or cyclists seeking a quick 30-miler.
The trail uses the corridor of the Chester Valley Branch of the Reading Railroad, which was completed between Bridgeport and Downingtown in the 1850s; the line hauled freight into the late 20th century (passenger traffic ended in 1935). Work by Chester and Montgomery Counties began in 2009 to convert the railbed into a trail. Plans call for extending it westward to Downingtown. A planned extension eastward to Bridgeport, which includes a connection to the Schuylkill River Trail, will create access to Valley Forge National Historical Park to the north and Philadelphia to the south. The Chester Valley Trail is also part of the Circuit Trails, a developing 800-mile urban network of trails in Greater Philadelphia,