Path of the Flood Trail named Pennsylvania's 2025 Trail of the Year
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A historic trail tracing the path of one of the nation's deadliest disasters is receiving statewide recognition. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has named the Path of the Flood Trail in Cambria County as the 2025 Trail of the Year, celebrating its blend of history, recreation, and economic impact.
'This trail is a destination, inviting visitors from across the nation and the world to experience the history of the 1889 Johnstown Flood while enjoying outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting,' DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. 'We hope this designation will bring even more visitors to explore the trail, supporting local businesses and fostering economic, environmental, and social benefits for the region.'
The 14-mile trail follows the path of the catastrophic 1889 Johnstown Flood, which claimed more than 2,200 lives. Featuring crushed stone and pavement, the trail is popular for biking, hiking, running, birdwatching, and winter sports. It also includes significant historical landmarks, such as the Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in the United States.
The Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority (CCCRA), which manages the trail alongside the National Park Service and local volunteers, views the recognition as a testament to community collaboration.
'The Path of the Flood Trail's recognition as Pennsylvania's 2025 Trail of the Year is a testament to the partnership between many individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving this rich, historical trail,' CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said. 'We are honored and excited to continue sharing this unique journey with all who visit.'
The trail attracts about 80,000 visitors annually, including international tourists, and serves as an economic driver for the region. Events like the Path of the Flood Historic Races, which draw nearly 1,000 participants each year, have further boosted tourism and community engagement.
CCCRA Assistant Executive Director Caytlin Lusk noted that this is the second time in five years that a Cambria County trail has received the statewide honor.
'Following the Ghost Town Trail's designation in 2020, the Path of the Flood Trail being named Trail of the Year marks the second time in five years that a trail in our county has received this designation,' Lusk said. 'We are grateful to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee and DCNR for recognizing the exceptional trails that we are proud to offer here in Cambria County.'
DCNR selects a Trail of the Year annually to raise awareness of Pennsylvania's extensive trail network. The state has more than 14,000 miles of trails, and the Shapiro administration has prioritized closing key trail gaps to ensure access for all residents.
For more information on the Path of the Flood Trail, visit www.cambriaconservationrecreation.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cambria County trail celebrates being Pennsylvania's 2025 Trail of the Year
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A 14-mile stretch of trail tracing one of Pennsylvania's most devastating historic events has earned statewide recognition as the 2025 Trail of the Year. The Path of the Flood Trail in Cambria County, which follows the route of the 1889 Johnstown Flood, was honored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for its unique combination of history, outdoor recreation, and economic impact. Officials celebrated the designation this week in South Fork, where the infamous flood began after the South Fork Dam failed. Drawing roughly 80,000 visitors annually, including international tourists, the trail has become an economic driver for the region, supporting small businesses and hosting events like the Path of the Flood Historic Races, which brings in nearly 1,000 participants each year. The trail's route includes the historic Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel constructed in the United States, and is part of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail network. Designed for multiple outdoor activities including hiking, biking, birdwatching, and winter recreation, the surface is a mix of crushed stone and pavement, making it accessible year-round. Maintained through a partnership between the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority, the National Park Service, and local volunteers and businesses, the trail exemplifies the benefits of community and interagency collaboration. The recognition comes amid a statewide push to expand and enhance Pennsylvania's trail system. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the outdoor recreation industry contributed $19 billion to the state's economy in 2023, supporting more than 168,000 jobs and generating $9 billion in wages. DCNR continues to work toward its goal of placing a trail within 10 minutes of every Pennsylvanian and has closed four of the state's top 10 priority trail gaps over the last two years. More information about the Path of the Flood Trail and upcoming events can be found on the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Minutes from our doorstep': Statewide report shows increased tourism revenue to Cambria and Somerset region.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Sometimes people can take for granted what's in their own backyard, said Lisa Rager, executive director of Visit Johnstown, Cambria County's official destination marketing organization. However, Cambria County generated $300.8 million in visitor spending in 2023 – a $12 million increase over 2022, according to the recently released 'Economic Impact of Travel & Tourism in Pennsylvania Report.' The report, released by the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, shows that visitor spending in Cambria County directly supported 2,073 jobs in 2023 and generated $74.5 million in labor income; $15 million in state and local taxes; and $17.1 million in federal taxes. 'We are really blessed to have so much that's just minutes from our doorstep, and people from other areas are traveling here to bike and hike our trails, paddle our waterways, attend a festival, and explore our rich history,' Rager said. By category, visitor spending in Cambria County totaled $22.4 million on lodging; $68.3 million on food and beverage; $45.1 million on retail; $58.8 million on recreation; and $106.2 million on transportation, the report said. The latest tally represents a 97.35% recovery from pre-COVID-19 spending, which stood at $309 million in 2019, Visit Johnstown said in a press release. Rager expressed confidence that the county will continue to increase visitor spending in the future. 'Visit Johnstown has been facilitating the rebranding of the area to focus on the area's outdoor recreation and experiences that only this area can claim,' she said. The Path of the Flood Trail passes through the Staple Bend Tunnel, which was America's first railroad tunnel. The Ghost Town Trail will soon be country's second looped rail-trail, Rager said – and the Stonycreek River has the longest continuous set of Class III-IV rapids in the eastern United States. 'The downhill mountain biking trails on the Inclined Plane hillside will become a bigger draw once the Inclined Plane reopens because nobody else has trails that are connected to a transportation system like the Incline, which is also the steepest vehicular inclined plane in the world,' Rager said. In addition, Rock Run Recreation ATV park is considered one of the premier ATV recreation parks in the eastern United States, she said, and Prince Gallitzin State Park is one of the most visited state parks in Pennsylvania. 'We have a lot to capitalize on,' Rager said. 'Our area's contributions to America's story are beautifully told in our national parks, historic sites and museums, which are a big draw for the history and heritage traveler.' The economic impact report also shows Somerset, Fayette and Westmoreland counties – marketed together as one Laurel Highlands region – has reached a tourism milestone. Visitor spending grew by 3% in the Laurel Highlands region in 2023, exceeding $2 billion – a record high, said Eric Knopsnyder, GO Laurel Highlands public relations director. The 2023 visitor spending in the Laurel Highlands surpasses even pre-pandemic spending of $1.9 billion in 2019. 'The world in general has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic and that includes travel,' he said. 'People have found outdoor spaces to their liking and the Laurel Highlands has so many wonderful outdoor spaces, but it's also culture, arts and unique lodging. 'We are seeing more people taking advantage of that.' Russ O'Reilly is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @RussellOReilly.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cuts are impacting national parks. But state parks around Centre County remain open, busy
With federal layoffs forcing national parks to cut services, Pennsylvania's own state parks experienced a significant surge in March campsite reservations — and the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now 'preparing for a record-breaking summer.' And that goes for all of the state parks in and around Centre County, too, such as Bald Eagle State Park, Black Moshannon and Poe Valley. 'Pennsylvanians and visitors alike are embracing the outdoors like never before,' DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a news release. 'With increased demand for camping, we encourage everyone to plan ahead and take advantage of the many beautiful sites still available.' Based on data provided by DCNR, state parks in the Keystone State saw a nearly 30% increase in March campsite reservations compared to the same time last year. In Centre County, that amounted to a 16% increase at Poe Paddy, a 38% increase at Poe Valley, a 42% increase at Black Moshannon and a 51% increase at Bald Eagle. Data at every park wasn't immediately available, and not all parks provide camping, such as Whipple Dam State Park in Huntingdon County. Other variables could've also artificially inflated some of those numbers, as March was unseasonably warm and Bald Eagle added more camping sites since last spring. Still, those increases are significant — and the DCNR is still expecting a big summer. So are the park managers on the ground. 'We're at full staff, and we're mainly just getting our ducks in a row and getting everything put back after the winter,' said Black Moshannon park manager Mathias Weinzen, who added visitation has 'definitely increased' this spring. 'We are fully prepared to welcome everyone in with open arms. Just like the slogan that DCNR put out, we're still open.' The slogan Weinzen referred to — 'Still Open. Still Awesome.' — plays off the fact that state parks are thriving while national parks around the country have been forced to cut back on essential services, shortening hours at some parks and closing campsites at others. The impact to national parks has been far-reaching. According to Frommers, the renowned travel guide, the iconic Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming went from being open 24/7 to closing at 5 p.m. California's Yosemite National Park had just one EMT in March, meaning hikers were 'reportedly taking their own lives in their hands.' And various parks — from Arkansas' Hot Springs National Park to Nevada's Great Basin National Park — closed their visitor centers and museums. The situation remains fluid. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to rehire about 1,000 fired park employees. And a Trump official earlier this month ordered national parks to be 'properly staffed.' It's unclear how quickly that all might occur. In the meantime, national parks are suffering while Pennsylvania's state parks continue with business as usual. Raystown Lake, the largest lake that is entirely within Pennsylvania, is part of a national park — about an hour's drive from State College — that has been forced to close many of its campsites. It's unknown how those campsite closures influenced the increases in Centre County, which amounted to several hundred more reservations in March. But it's clear the closures are not having a positive impact on Huntingdon County. According to the visitors bureau, Raystown campground users alone contribute more than $7.4 million annually in visitor spending there. For park managers around Centre County, uncertainty elsewhere means they'll have to be prepared here. Weinzen recalled the crush in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and, if state parks can handle that, he's confident this summer will be no different. 'It's nice when we get people out here to see Black Moshannon,' Weinzen added. 'The hiking is pristine here. We have 22 miles of trails, with our featured trail being our fully-accessible Bog Trail. So I think that brings a lot of people, but that'll transition to competing with kayaking and paddleboarding as we go on.' For more information on state parks' offerings, or to book a campsite, go to
