PATH OF THE FLOOD TRAIL:
STAPLE BEND TUNNEL TRAIL:
[Part of the PATH OF THE FLOOD TRAIL]
SOUTH FORK-MINERAL POINT-FRANKLIN-JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
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Last Updated: August 04, 2025
Length: Path of the Flood Trail; Eastern Section; 6.3 miles
Staple Bend Tunnel Trail: Central Section; 2.2 miles
Path of the Flood Trail; Western Section; 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Path of the Flood Trail; Eastern Section: Easy. Mostly flat, crushed gravel trail.
Staple Bend Tunnel Trail; Central Section; Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Path of the Flood Trail; Western Section; Easy. Flat, paved trail.
Directions:
To Start from the South Abutment Road or Ribbon Lane parking lots for the Path of the Flood Trail in Southern South Fork [Southeastern End]; From the intersection of Routes 219 & 869 exit.
For the South Abutment Road parking lot; Travel north, along Route 869 to Ragers Hill Rd and continue right. Immediately turn left, on Ribbon Ln and right, down to the parking lot. Look for the "Blue" signs
For the Ribbon Lane parking lot; Travel south, along Route 869 and take your first left on S Abutment Rd and follow to the parking lot.
To Start from the Staple Bend Tunnel NPS parking lot for the Staple Bend Tunnel Trail in Mineral Point [Eastern End]; From Route 22 take the Route 219 S exit in Ebensburg. Travel 8.5 miles and take the Route 869 exit. Bear right towards South Fork. Turn left on Ragers Hill Rd. Continue straight on Clapboard Run Rd. Slight right onto Beech Hill Rd. Follow for 2.7 miles. Entrance is on your left just before the tunnel under the RR tracks.
The Staple Bend Trail, which follows the old rail bed of the Allegheny Portage RR [PA Main Line Canal] is part of the Path of the Flood Trail, which starts in South Fork and travels North, then West, to Mineral Point. The trail then shares the right of way with the Staple Bend Tunnel Trail, a National Park Service site, West, then South through the tunnel. From the end of the trail, at the South Portal of the tunnel, the Path of the Flood Trail continues Southwest, to Franklin. An on-road Gap of 3.5 miles Southwest, exists to Johnstown, where the Path of the Flood Trail continues North, alongside the Little Conemaugh River & Conemaugh River. You can also check out the JOHNSTOWN FLOOD MUSEUM . Along the Staple Bend Tunnel Trail you will find interpretive wayside exhibits with historic photographs that explain what took place on that fateful day of May 31, 1889. For more information visit; PATH OF THE FLOOD TRAIL , PATH OF THE FLOOD TRAIL & STAPLE BEND TUNNEL .
The Path of the Flood Trail & Staple Bend Tunnel Trail are all part of the regional TRANS ALLEGHENY TRAILS , located in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains.
Path of the Flood Trail; South Fork to Mineral Point:
Eastern Section:
Starting from the South Abutment Road parking lot at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial in Southern South Fork [Southeastern End]; I haven't checked out this section. "Blue" signs mark the route.
Note; You can also access the grass & dirt Carriage Road Nature Trail, which takes you up to a picnic area & restrooms.
From the parking lot, travel back along the road and pick up the start of the Path of the Flood Trail on your left. Informational signs. Mile 0 on the Map. A paved trail takes you down to the South Fork Little Conemaugh River, where the trail continues Northwest, passing by the remnants of the South Abutment of the old South Fork Dam. The old South Fork Dam failed on May 31, 1889, sending 3,600,000,000 gallons of water hurtling toward Johnstown. This flooding resulted in the deaths of 2,209 people & the loss of 1,600 homes.
Note; Across the river, you can spot the NPS JOHNSTON FLOOD NATIONAL MEMORIAL , where you'll find the Lake View Visitor Center and a short, 0.2 mile paved trail that takes you to an overlook of the spillway & remnants of the North Abutment of the old South Fork Dam. The valley below was the site of the Western Reservoir, created by the old South Fork Dam, which failed on May 31, 1889, sending 3,600,000,000 gallons of water hurtling toward Johnstown. This flooding resulted in the deaths of 2,209 people & the loss of 1,600 homes. See; JOHNSTOWN FLOOD NM MAP .
The trail travels underneath Route 219 and up to Amsite Rd at 0.4 miles. I'm not sure what the trail surface consists of past the bridge. A short on-road section along Amsite Rd (residential) will bring you out to and across Ragers Hill Rd and up Ribbon Ln. A quick right will take you down to the Ribbon Lane parking lot at 0.6 miles. Just past the parking lot the trail picks up again, next to the South Fork Little Conemaugh River. Here, the crushed gravel trail continues North, past a gate into the woods. It parallels the river, but you won't always see it. It also passes through the former site of the 20-acre, 216,000-cubic-yard Stineman coal waste pile after it was removed and burned for energy at local cogeneration plants. Come to Maple St, in Northern South Fork after 2 miles. Gap. This is the start of a 1.2 mile detour through South Fork.
Travel right, on-road (sidewalk available/Route Not recommended for kids on bikes) crossing over the South Fork Little Conemaugh River. "Blue" signs mark the route, as well as, informational signs. Cross some RR tracks to Lake St.
Note; The Map Route continues straight, up a long hill through South Fork to Grant Street, then left, downhill to Railroad Street.
To avoid this steep hill, I would continue left, on-road (No shoulder) to Railroad Street, which bares right. RR along your left. Pass by Grant Street at 2.4 miles. Come to Oak St and turn left, crossing the RR tracks & Little Conemaugh River to Portage St.
Note; Right, on-road along Portage St, will bring you to the Mainline Memorial Park parking lot in Ehrenfeld.
Head left, West, along this residential St and you'll come to the Portage Street parking lot after 3.2 miles. I haven't checked out this next section. The crushed gravel Path of the Flood Trail continues West, through the woods. RR tracks and the Little Conemaugh River are along your left. Come to Reynolds Ln in Mineral Point at 5.9 miles. A 0.5 mile on-road detour begins. Follow the gravel, Reynolds Ln (residential) out to Mineral Point Rd (Caution; No shoulder) and head left to Front St, where you'll find an informational sign at Mineral Point, overlooking the river. Continue right to Beech Hill Rd and head left, South, crossing over the river and traveling underneath a RR bridge. Come to a gravel path on your right and follow it, bearing left at a gate, to the Staple Bend Tunnel NPS parking lot after 6.3 miles.
Path of the Flood Trail; Staple Bend Trail:
Central Section:
Starting from Staple Bend Tunnel NPS parking lot; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Restrooms, picnic tables, informational signs and Map Board located here. The stone-dust Staple Bend Trail heads left, West, into the woods. Informational signs are located along the trail as it follows a ridgeline with some active RR tracks right, down a steep drop-off. Past the RR tracks flows the Little Conemaugh River. Mile Markers are located every 0.5 miles. The trail turns South. At 1.3 miles you pass by stones inlaid in the ground. These are early RR ties (before they started using wood ties). Come to the Staple Bend Tunnel entrance at 2 miles where you'll find picnic tables. Travel through the dark (no lights, but railings guide you through) Staple Bend Tunnel, the nations first tunnel used by a RR in the US in 1833. Emerge from the other end at 2.2 miles.
This next section utilized a Incline RR down to Johnston, where you would transfer to a Canal Boat. I haven't checked out this next section. The hard packed dirt, grass & crushed gravel Path of the Flood Trail continues Southeast. The trail emerges onto old Spruce St, where it turns South and quickly comes to a gate after 3.7 miles. Kiosk and Spruce Street parking lot.
Western Section:
To reach the final section in Johnston, you'll need to follow a 3.1 mile on-road detour.
From Johns Street & the Little Conemaugh River in Johnston; I haven't checked out this next section. [Re-zeroing Mileage] The paved, Path of the Flood Trail starts from the Northern Side of the Little Conemaugh River bridge and travels North, above the Little Conemaugh River. Informational signs. Point Park is across the river. Travel underneath the Johnstown Stone RR Bridge as you now travel above the Conemaugh River, next to Iron St. Finally, you cross an old trestle bridge over the Conemaugh River to Roosevelt Blvd after 0.6 miles.
Note; South, along Johns St leads to the Sargent's Stadium at the Point, that sits between the Little Conemaugh River & Stony Creek River. Be sure to also check out the JOHNSTOWN INCLINED PLANE nearby.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR PATH of the FLOOD TRAIL MAP
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CLICK HERE FOR PATH of the FLOOD TRAIL MAP
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