Limestone Trail

Limestone Trail

Pennsylvania

Adventurers looking for a short and easy hike within a Pennsylvania forest should venture to Limestone Trail. Here, hikers will find more than a beautiful woodland walk. Hikers will discover among the trees some enormous remnants of Pennsylvania history.

Rated as easiest hiking, the scenic Limestone Trail is located within Canoe Creek State Park. The park is in Pennsylvania’s southcentral region, in Hollidaysburg, near Altoona.

The trailhead for the well-marked trail is easy to find at the edge of a parking lot. The trail leads past the park’s amphitheater where a variety of activities take place. Check the signboard for a listing of park programs which may include such fun events as an outdoor movie or a campfire and s’mores.

The trail follows an old railroad grade as it winds through the forest. The trail passes alongside and over Mary Ann’s Creek with several well-constructed bridges at the creek crossings. The popular trail is also known for spotting woodland birds and beautiful wildflowers. But the most outstanding feature along the trail are the historic Blair Limestone Company kilns.

This region of Pennsylvania has geologic formations which contain limestone. Once the limestone was mined, it was taken to a kiln and heated. Two lime kilns operated in the park in the early 1900’s. The Pennsylvania Railroad’s Petersburg spur traveled through today’s park to connect the lime kilns to the mainline railroad. The limestone was used for many purposes especially within the iron and steel industry that once flourished in Pennsylvania.

The trail has modern restrooms at the trailhead, and a few benches along the route. A picnic table is placed in front of the lime kilns. Enjoy a picnic while contemplating the history that happened here. Adventurers are permitted to wander around the kilns. Look up, down and through these massive kilns for a fascinating historical addition to this beautiful Pennsylvania woodland hike.