Pennsylvania’s 2026 Trail of the Year: Pine Creek Rail Trail & Appalachian Trail Packing Tips

Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Rail Trail, a 62-mile pathway stretching from Jersey Shore to Wellsboro Junction, has been designated the state’s 2026 Trail of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

The announcement, made by DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, highlights the trail’s economic and recreational benefits to the region. The DCNR estimates the trail attracts over 44,000 users annually, generating more than $5 million in local economic impact.

The Pine Creek Rail Trail follows a corridor originally used by the Iroquois Nation and later developed as a railroad in the late 19th century. Rail service ceased in 1988, after which the corridor was transformed into a non-motorized trail, completed between 1995 and 2007. It now serves as a key recreational asset within the Pennsylvania Wilds, the Route 6 Heritage Corridor, and the Lumber Heritage Region.

The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee selected the trail for the honor, citing its ability to build enthusiasm and support for trails statewide and raise public awareness of Pennsylvania’s land and water trail network. The designation is intended to strengthen support for local businesses and generate lasting economic, environmental, and social benefits for the region, particularly within the Pennsylvania Wilds and around the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and the recently improved visitor center at Leonard Harrison State Park.

Georgetta Frederick, a Somerset County resident, completed a 98-day, 2,197-mile hike of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail on August 6, 2024. Frederick, 43, of Conemaugh Township, began her journey in Georgia and finished in Maine. She is a self-employed house cleaner who trains at a gym at least five days a week. Frederick began planning the hike in January 2024, focusing on logistics and food supplies. Her daughters, Carla, 23, and Kaylee, 19, drove her to the trail’s starting point in Georgia.

Frederick’s journey began with a five-day backpacking trip on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail in 2017, which she later completed solo in three days, covering the 70-mile trail. She discovered her passion for backpacking during that initial experience and subsequently set her sights on the Appalachian Trail. She waited until her youngest daughter was old enough to allow her to undertake the extended hike. Frederick shares her experiences on social media, on Facebook at Trail Mama Hikes | Johnstown PA, and on YouTube at Trail Mama Hikes.

Frederick also offers guided tours in the Laurel Highlands, accessible through her website at trailmamahikes.com.