Ghost Town Trail opens up recreation along coal mining communities

A new recreation corridor has opened along Pennsylvania’s former coal-mining communities with the 54-mile Ghost Town Trail, connecting Ebensburg to Blacklick. The article describes cyclist Cliff Kitner riding over a bridge crossing Blacklick Creek in Vintondale, part of the trail’s 32-mile loop. The Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority spent 32 years developing the project, including cleaning coal waste piles in Cambria and Indiana counties and repurposing nearby railroad beds into a bike path. Work began in 1991 when Kovalchick Salvage Company donated 12 miles of the Ebensburg and Black Lick Railroad. Additional segments were added in 1993 and 2005. The 32-mile loop was completed this spring, after earlier completion efforts finished the first 8 miles and concluded with a ribbon-cutting in April.