Cumberland Valley Rail Trail

Cumberland Valley Rail Trail
Location	Shippensburg, PA to Newville, PA
Length	9.5 miles
Trailheads	Shippensburg Oakville Newville
Use	Hiking, biking, horseback riding
Difficulty	Easy, level, ADA accessible
Surface	Crushed limestone
Hours	Dawn to dusk, year-around
Amenities	Benches, mounting blocks, picnic facilities at all three traiheads
Bathrooms	All three trailheads

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

Trail enthusiasts can enjoy walking, jogging, bicycling, horseback riding and other non-motorized recreational uses from dawn to dusk, seven days a week throughout the year. Nearly every mile of the trail offers beautiful landscapes of rolling farmlands, with ridges of the Appalachian mountains rising to the north and south. Wooded stands of native trees shade much of this historically significant trail through the warm months of the year.

Historical development

The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail winds it's way through the picturesque farmlands of western Cumberland County, PA.

Historical significance

The Cumberland Valley Railroad (CVRR) began service in the Cumberland Valley on the current CVRT corridor in 1837. In 1838 the CVRR 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 the CVRR to stage their famous insurrection. After the Civil War began, the CVRR played a strategically important role by transporting Union troops to the Shenandoah Valley. The CVRR also served as a primary resupply route for these troops, making it a prime target of Confederate forces which tore up the CVRR’s roadbed in various places on several occasions.

Trail’s history and evolution

The corridor for the CVRT was donated to Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council (CVRTC) by Conrail in 1995. The CVRTC spent the next 11 years developing the corridor into a multi-use trail to serve all ages and abilities. The first 4.5 miles of trail were completed in the fall of 2004 and the next five miles were finished in the fall of 2006. Near-term plans include extending the usable trail corridor from 9.5 to 11 miles by improving the first mile of the trail in Shippensburg and the last half-mile of trail at Newville. The longer-term vision includes an 11-mile extension of the trail east along the old CVRR corridor from Newville to Carlisle. When that work is complete, the CVRT will run 22 continuous miles from Shippensburg to Carlisle.

Trail development

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 wheel-chair 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:

• Shippensburg Area United Way and Unitarian Universalists of Cumberland Valley (funding)

• Boy Scouts of America (construction, maintenance, and several special Eagle Scout projects)

• Newville Borough; North Newton and Shippensburg Townships (construction and maintenance)

• Cumberland County (equipment)

• West Pennsboro Township (construction)

• Carlisle Area Health & Wellness Foundation (funding)

• PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (funding)

• Shippensburg Borough (trail support)

• Southampton Township (trail maintenance)

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:

• Carlisle Parks & Recreation Department and the Carlisle Area Health & Wellness Foundation (walks)

• Big Spring School District students (annual dog walk to benefit the Humane Society)

• The Kings Gap Environmental Education Center (bike rides)

References

1. ^ "2010 National Recreation Trails". The National Recreation Trails Program. http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/10NRTapps.html. Retrieved 3 October 2011. 

External links

• Cumberland Valley Rail Trail Council
• CVRT Extension
• TrailLink.com
• Carlisle Area Trails