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Capital Area Greenbelt
4.6 ★★★★★ 167 Google reviews · Running trail in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 20 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Capital Area Greenbelt's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Featuring 20 mi. of mostly paved trails, this resource is popular for walking, jogging, and biking.
What runners say about Capital Area Greenbelt
“It's hard to express just how happy it makes me to have a beautiful, shaded walking/biking path just minutes from where I live.”
“Dropped in at mile marker 16 off of 19th, and road to mile marker 3, turned around and came back.”
Ever since we found out my trunk bike carrier works on our SUV late this summer, we've fervently explored biking trails around the Harrisburg area before the season's over. One of the first things that came to mind would of course be the Capital Area Greenbelt.
The ride is excellent. Mostly it’s on paved surfaces, some unpaved and some just a bit challenging. A gravel bike (I was riding my Specialized Diverge with Pirelli 40 mm M tread tubeless) is useful, but I’m sure a good rider on a road bike with 28 or 30 mm tires would be fine.
Very nice and well maintained trail. We loved it!! This was our second time on this trail. We parked and began our 20 mile bike ride loop from the City Island and crossed the awesome old bridge. The beginning of the trail was on the sidewalk along the river (today it was 46 degrees. Cold!!
One of the jewels of the Harrisburg area. 20 plus mile loop for biking and walking. Some parts are on city streets so parents should be aware. The trail includes riverfront park and you can easily connect to city island.
Trail conditions & character
“It's a 23 mile route interconnecting paved paths, crushed-stone trails, and public roads.”
“It's hard to express just how happy it makes me to have a beautiful, shaded walking/biking path just minutes from where I live.”
“We parked and began our 20 mile bike ride loop from the City Island and crossed the awesome old bridge.”
“We parked and began our 20 mile bike ride loop from the City Island and crossed the awesome old bridge.”
“Other routes actually take the innocent under the rail, and the climb back up the East side is truly brutal, so use State street when you can.”
“Dropped in at mile marker 16 off of 19th, and road to mile marker 3, turned around and came back.”
“A passing cyclist told us we could exit the rear of their parking lot, walk across the tracks and pick it up on the other side (go left on trail).”
Plan your run at Capital Area Greenbelt
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance20 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitecaga.org
- Phone+1 717-921-4733
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Harrisburg
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Five Senses Gardens
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Paxtang Commons Park
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Riverfront Park
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Riverfront public space, often hosting concerts, with paved paths for walking and biking that connect to City Island.
Reservoir Park
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Public green space for 150+ years with basketball & tennis courts, a playground & a sprawling lawn.
Capital Area Greenbelt Andrea Avenue Spur
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New Cumberland Borough Park
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Spacious facility with ballfields, a playground, picnic tables & pavilions, plus boating & fishing.