Explore the Huntingdon & Broad Top Rail Trail: Bedford County’s Hidden E-Bike Gem

Pennsylvania is home to some of the country’s most scenic rail trails. Among them, nestled right in the heart of Bedford County, is the Huntingdon & Broad Top Rail Trail. This 13.4-mile trail connects the small southernmost Everett community, Tatesville, with Riddlesburg and Warriors Path State Park in the north. The upper portion of the trail follows the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, making for gorgeous views of the water.

Trail History

The Huntingdon & Broad Top Rail Trail was originally established in 1852 as a way to transport coal from Broad Top Mountain to markets located in the east. The railroad hit its peak during World War I, where it served as the heartbeat of the area’s coal mining industry. However, when the desire for coal declined, the railroad was quickly dragged underneath with it.

When the area’s railroad filed for bankruptcy in 1953 and operations ceased, a long route was left behind. Eventually, Broad Top Township acquired it, using donations, funding, and grants to renovate the trail. Construction, which was separated into five separate phases, helped to ensure that enough funds were available along the way.

Path Trailheads

The trail is broken down into six trailheads: Warriors Path, Riddlesburg, Hopewell, Cooper’s, Cypher, and Tatesville. As you bike along each trailhead, you are immersed in several different scenes.

Starting at the Tatesville trailhead, riders are immediately thrown into the beauty of a lush forest canopy. This canopy, which offers a great source of shade during the summer months, leads northward into a striking landmark: a 1930s-era bridge that spans the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. This stunning 250-foot-long bridge offers perfect views of the river below.

Continuing down the trail, you hit the Cooper Sawmill ruins, where coal was once burned in massive ovens. This transitions into the small town of Hopewell, where the trail transforms from loose gravel to coarse stone.

As you ride on, cyclists pass by a large slag pile near Riddlesburg, which was created when coal was burned in ovens to produce fuel for nearby furnaces. Riders can walk through these beehive-shaped ovens that once helped to power local communities.

From Riddlesburg, cyclists can soak in the stunning rock formation known as Red Cut. This formation was carved out during the creation of the railroad and is popular for having been the site of a tragic 1909 head-on train collision.

North of Red Cut is the final section of the trail: Warriors Path State Park. Here, you can ride down the banks of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River and see excellent views of the water.

Why the Huntingdon & Broad Top Rail Trail?

This trail offers the perfect blend of history and nature right in Bedford County. It is well-maintained, making it a safe trail for exploration and riding. Whether you stop at each of the historic landmarks that the area’s railroad and coal business left behind or soak in the views of the Juniata River, you are sure to make lasting memories with every mile.