Along the Ghost Town Trail, traces of the iron and coal industries appear amid a landscape of streams and woodlands. The history of the Johnstown Flood and the early railroad is also explored at various sites in Cambria County. Discoveries range from long outdoor trails to exhibitions that delve into individual chapters of the region’s history.
Industrial History Along the Trails
The Ghost Town Trail is a 54-mile rail trail with a continuous 32-mile loop. Along the route are iron furnaces, old coal loading bunkers, coal waste piles, and other remnants of industrial history. In the Blacklick Creek valley, mountain streams, rhododendron stands, numerous wildflower species, and cool woodlands shape the trail. Industrial remnants and landscape features sit side by side along this trail.
The two distance figures offer different points of reference: 54 miles is the length of the Ghost Town Trail, while 32 miles refers to a continuous loop. Those interested in the history of the flood will find a different focus on the Path of the Flood Trail. It connects the damaged South Fork Dam with the Stone Bridge in Johnstown. Trail markers explain the history of the Johnstown Flood in the Little Conemaugh River valley. The 14-mile bike ride follows the former lakebed and passes the remains of the breached dam.
Flood History and Railroads
The Johnstown Flood National Memorial is located in South Fork, Cambria County, at the site of the South Fork Dam. Visitors can see the dam ruins there. The Johnstown Flood Museum presents the history of the 1889 flood and Johnstown’s subsequent recovery. Together, the two sites offer different perspectives on the same historic event: at the dam itself and through the story of the city afterward.
Another chapter in transportation history is told at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. It lies in Cambria and Blair Counties, where the Appalachian Plateaus meet the Ridge and Valley provinces in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Allegheny Portage Railroad was the first railroad across the Allegheny Mountains and opened a direct connection between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in 1834. The Historic Site also includes more than 15 miles of trails in different park sections; the historic rail route and trails offer different ways to explore the area.
The Johnstown Inclined Plane was built after the 1889 flood to support evacuations in the event of another flood. It climbs Yoder Hill at a grade of 70.9 percent. The facility’s purpose reflects the lessons learned from the flood, while its precise grade is a specific technical detail of its design.
Trails and Landscapes in the County
For hiking and backpacking, Laurel Ridge State Park—with its 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail—is another option. The park extends across Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties; the trail offers hiking and backpacking opportunities in a semi-wild setting. Prince Gallitzin State Park is in northern Cambria County. Visitors can fish, boat, camp, hike, and watch wildlife there.
The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail has a different character: it is a 3.1-mile urban walking trail on the eastern edge of Johnstown. It follows the Stonycreek River from Hornerstown to the Riverside residential community. The 50-foot-high Buttermilk Falls are about 0.7 miles from the trail’s Riverside access point. The Riverswalk thus combines a clearly defined stretch of river with an additional natural feature near its access point; the stated distance is approximate.
Other recreation areas also differ in location and use. Duman Lake County Park is the only recreational park in the county operated by Cambria County and covers 71 acres. The Rock Run recreation area lies in the rural parts of northern Cambria County and southern Clearfield County. Rock Run ATV Park offers more than 140 miles of trails for various motorized vehicles. The options range from an urban walking trail to extensive motorized touring.
Exhibitions and Local Insights
On the first floor of the Heritage Discovery Center, the exhibition America: Through Immigrant Eyes uses interactive media to give visitors a sense of the sights and sounds of immigrants’ everyday lives. The Iron & Steel Gallery is a three-story gallery. Its exhibition, Forging a Nation: Johnstown Iron & Steel!, traces the history of the steel industry in Johnstown from the 1700s to the present. The Johnstown Children's Museum is on the Center’s third floor.
A regular event with a seasonal limitation is the opening of the Ethnic Social Club by Heritage Johnstown. It usually takes place on the last Friday of the month, with a summer break and occasional changes to individual dates. Music begins at 5:30 p.m. For a different kind of local discovery, Vale Wood Farms makes ice cream and dairy products on site using milk from its own cows and offers customizable ice cream samplers.
Discover more destinations: Ebensburg, Johnstown, South Fork, Loretto, Hastings, Spring Hill, Carrolltown, Cresson, Northern Cambria.
For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.
