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Swatara Rail Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 36 Google reviews · Running trail in Jonestown, Pennsylvania · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Swatara Rail Trail'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.
Gravel-surfaced trail for hiking and mountain biking that links to the Swatara Rail Trail.
What runners say about Swatara Rail Trail
“Little hilly first half but still scenic and enjoyable.”
Very nice 20 Mile round trip hiking biking trail. Mostly flat with a slight grade down along with the stream. One of the best isolated trails in the area with very little traffic on the trail. Only issue is the upper is unfinished and has some my spots and the lower part is large gravel instead of crushed Stone.
Great trailhead when riding out on the Swatara Rail Trail. Ample parking. Also has a boat launch for non-powered boats (kayaks, canoes, floats, etc)! All-around quality spot!
Love this place. Fishing , kayaking , biking , hiking and lots more right in my back yard.
this trail follows Swatara Creek upstream for about 10 mi, then you can cross over and return on the bear hole trail. Very scenic quiet mostly shady. The only problem was the first mile-and-a-half going north of lickdale it's very stoney and definitely not suited for skinny tire bikes.
Trail conditions & character
“Great trailhead when riding out on the Swatara Rail Trail.”
“Little hilly first half but still scenic and enjoyable.”
“Only issue is the upper is unfinished and has some my spots and the lower part is large gravel instead of crushed Stone.”
“Mostly flat with a slight grade down along with the stream.”
“Trail at beginning is rough stone and if you go across bridge and do the loop (16 miles) you get to do it again.”
Plan your run at Swatara Rail Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- 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
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8:30 pm |
Running trails near Jonestown
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Swatara State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 843 reviews
The fields, woods & streams draw visitors for fishing, hunting, hiking & cross-country skiing.
Trout Run Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews
Swatara Water Trail
5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews
Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 43 reviews
Dog-friendly hiking area with a wide trail that's good for quick walks.
