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Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Carlisle Trailhead

2.8 ★★★☆☆ 9 Google reviews · Running trail in Carlisle, Pennsylvania · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Carlisle Trailhead'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.

Trailhead parking

What runners say about Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Carlisle Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (9 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

The rail here is a mile long, so it's out-and-back. There are walking trails along the side of the main cycling trail that you can use to extend the experience, and the old bridge halfway along the trail is described in the historic marker at the trailhead by the road.

★★★★★ — E.A. , Mar 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 9 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Carlisle Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitecvrtc.org
  • Phone+1 717-860-8305
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Carlisle Trailhead

PA-465, Carlisle, PA 17013

Get directions

Running trails near Carlisle

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Valley Meadows Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Carlisle, PA

ShadedDog-friendly

1.2 miles away

1.5 miles away

Thornwald Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 209 reviews

Carlisle, PA

LitScenicDog-friendly

32-acre park featuring a 1910 mansion & walking trail that loops through a forested area.

2.4 miles away

North Middleton Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 288 reviews

Carlisle, PA

PavedScenic

Park featuring ball fields and walking trails as well as a basketball court and a creek.

2.5 miles away

Heberlig Palmer Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 39 reviews

Carlisle, PA

2.7 miles away

Opossum Lake

4.6 ★★★★★ 167 reviews

Carlisle, PA

4 miLoopScenicDog-friendly

Natural area featuring a playground, hiking trails, picnic tables, and boat ramps for fishing and kayaking.

2.9 miles away

All running trails in Carlisle, PA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.