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Western Pennsylvania has seen the steel industry rise and fall, and while it’s now been more than 40 years since most of the region’s mills closed, there are lingering traces of the Steel Country era dotting the counties around Pittsburgh. This includes the remnants of mining communities and company towns that lost their residents once the industry that employed them vanished. Ghost Towns of America has identified 71 of these now-empty places within a 50-mile radius of Pittsburgh. For context, the entire state of Pennsylvania has 105, and 36 are in Indiana County (the most claimed by any county in Pennsylvania). Additionally, nine of the state’s ghost towns are along the Ghost Town Trail.
The Ghost Town Trail is a rails-to-trails project that got its start in 1991, using 12 miles of the old Ebensburg & Black Lick Railroad line that had been donated to Indiana County. It’s been expanded over the years, most recently with the addition of the 32-mile Cambria & Indiana Extension loop in 2026, bringing the trail’s total length to 54 miles across two counties (Indiana and Cambria). It was known as a top recreation spot even before this latest expansion, as it was designated a National Recreation Trail back in 2003 and named Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year in 2020. The completion of the C&I Extension adds another accolade, making the Ghost Town Trail the second-longest rail-trail loop in the United States. For hikers, bikers, nature lovers, and history buffs visiting Pennsylvania, this expansive trail is definitely worth exploring.
Traveling the Ghost Town Trail
The Ghost Town Trail is open from dawn to dusk year-round for hiking and biking, and cross-country skiing is permitted in the winter. While much of the trail runs through remote areas, the trailheads at Dilltown and Nanty Glo have spots nearby to grab a meal. Camping isn’t allowed along the trail. If you’re planning a multi-day trip, you can stay in Dilltown or Ebensburg, or you can find accommodations in towns like Blairsville and Indiana near the Black Lick end…