Two stories meet on the Ghost Town Trail: This 54-mile trail tells the story of the rise and decline of the coal and iron industries, as well as nature’s return to the corridor. It runs through Indiana County and Cambria County and is designated a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This blend of industrial history and landscape shapes many discoveries in Indiana County—whether you prefer to get outdoors or explore historic sites.
Trails with Different Highlights
The Ghost Town Trail is 54 miles long, while the Hoodlebug Trail runs 10 miles between Black Lick and Indiana. It serves both recreation and commuting. The two trails therefore offer different points of reference: one tells the story of an industrial corridor and nature’s return to it, while the other connects two named places. E-bikes are permitted on the section of the Hoodlebug Trail in Indiana County under the regulations in effect there.
History can also be discovered along a trail at the Tunnelview Historic Site: The West Penn Rail Trail passes through the site and runs between Saltsburg and the trailhead on Newport Road near Blairsville. A visible, 900-foot section of the canal’s western division remains there. Tunnelview is the only place along the canal where an aqueduct and a tunnel stand side by side.
Water, Woods, and Protected Nature
Yellow Creek State Park covers 2,981 acres and includes a 720-acre lake used by boaters and anglers. Sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are common on the water. The park is open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset. Yellow Creek Lake and the state park are also an important stopover for migrating birds. If you’re planning a trip on the water, check the applicable conditions and regulations beforehand.
There’s more to enjoy than the lake: Yellow Creek State Park offers guided outdoor activities, hands-on activities, outdoor education, and special events for all ages. Indiana County Parks & Trails also operates facilities and activities that are available year-round, including an extensive range of environmental education programs. The regional park system includes 2,700 acres of parks, natural areas, and historic sites, as well as an extensive trail network. Blue Spruce Park is a 650-acre public park with Cummings Dam.
Buttermilk Falls Natural Area centers on its waterfall and woodland scenery: The waterfall is 45 feet high, and the area was designated to protect typical and unique plant and animal communities. Visitor amenities include a waterfall overlook, a hiking trail, a small picnic pavilion, a restroom, and a parking lot. Buttermilk Falls is also a stop on the Fred Rogers Trail, a regional driving tour with ten stops.
For a paddling trip from the Waterworks Conservation Area to near Saylor Park, plan for a little over 12 river miles and one portage. The Waterworks Conservation Area has a canoe and kayak launch, as well as fishing access on Two Lick Creek. Check water levels and downstream hazards before paddling.
Places and Stories to Discover
Eliza Furnace is listed on the National Register and is considered one of Pennsylvania’s best-preserved iron furnaces. A different kind of history awaits at the UGRR History Center in Blairsville. It is housed in the former Second Baptist Church, built in 1917 and considered Blairsville’s oldest African American church. The center is open year-round in the evenings and on weekends, or by appointment.
The Silas M. Clark House, dating to 1869 and 1870, is open exclusively for tours by prior arrangement. Two galleries at the Jimmy Stewart Museum focus on different subjects: The Indiana Gallery presents the history of Stewart’s hometown, his early ancestors, his childhood, and his education through Princeton University. The Hollywood Gallery traces his film career with more than 80 movies from 1935 to 1991.
Smicksburg also offers a glimpse of local diversity: Visitors can explore more than 20 specialty shops featuring country crafts, quilts, furniture, antiques, and food. Indiana County is known as the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World” and grows various kinds of evergreen trees for the Christmas season. The range of discoveries thus extends from trails and protected landscapes to industrial history, museum galleries, and regional crafts.
Discover more destinations: Indiana, Bartholomew County, Ripley, Putnam County, Tipton County, Wabash County, Jennings County, Spencer County.
Go to the main travel overview: Indiana.
