“Trails are an important part of what makes Pennsylvania a special place for outdoor recreation, and we are excited to open up nominations for this prestigious honor," said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Commonwealth has some of the best natural resources in the nation, and uplifting our trails is essential to the future of our outdoor recreation industry. I look forward to the competition and seeing which trail comes out on top.”
The winning trail will be recognized in a news release; through a commemorative poster for statewide distribution; with a trailhead marker along the trail; and with a grant for educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection.
Each year, the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee designates a Trail of the Year to highlight the value of Pennsylvania’s trail network, build public support, and raise awareness of the economic, environmental, and health benefits trails bring to communities.
The 20-member DCNR-appointed committee represents both motorized and non-motorized trail users and guides the Commonwealth’s strategy for developing a statewide land and water trail network.
The 2025 Trail of the Year was the Path of the Flood Trail in Cambria County(opens in a new tab), a 14-mile corridor that traces the historic route of the 1889 Johnstown Flood.
Blending natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and historical significance, the trail features landmarks such as the Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel built in the United States.
With more than 14,000 miles of trails, the honor celebrates the best of Pennsylvania’s world-class outdoor recreation network and the communities that support it.
Click Here to submit a nomination.
Click Here for the DCNR announcement.
Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.
Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.
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-- DCNR Grants News: Nov. 6 Grants Workshop; Last Mile Of South Bethlehem Greenway Completed; Bloomsburg Trail Improvements; Waterway Access Grants
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NewsClips:
-- TribLive: Fall Foliage In Western PA May Be Less Than Splendid, Forecaster Says
-- Williamsport Sun: DCNR Forestry Officials Says Fall Leaves Should Be ‘Vivid,’ But Quick
-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro, DCNR Encourage 9/11 Trail Communities To Designate Paths, Add Signs
-- Warren Times Editorial: State 9/11 Trail Offers A Tribute
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Western PA Should Have A National Park
-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay News: Find Tree Planting Volunteer Opportunities Near You This Fall
-- Discover NE PA: Go Wild With North Branch Land Trust In Butler Preserve, Luzerne County [Video]
-- Altoona Mirror: Taking A Dip: ‘Forest Bathing’ At Canoe Creek State Park Connects Visitors To Nature [PDF of Article]
-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: PA Chapter Of The American Planning Association Names Frick Park, Boyce Park Additions To PA Great Places
-- Morning Call: Allentown Park Renamed After Longtime Barber, Community Leader Clyde E. Bosket, Sr.
-- TribLive: Special Needs Playground Project Moving Along In Arnold, Westmoreland County
-- Altoona Mirror: Allegheny Twp. Supervisor Chair Supports Motorcycle Trail On Altoona Water Authority Land
-- Tribune-Democrat: Registration Deadline For Ghost Town Trail Marathon Approaching
-- Williamsport Sun: Susquehanna Riverwalk Extension Plans Continue To Drum Up Excitement
-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Philadelphia Must Designate FDR Park As Protected Stopover Habitat For Migrating Birds - Robert Karchnyak, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
-- WNEP: New York Man Dies In Monroe County ATV Crash
[Posted: September 19, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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