The Highlands Trail trail route includes co-aligments on several existing trails across the Pennsylvania Highlands region. In addition to creating a network of existing trails, the Highlands Trail will create new trails and trail sections to connect existing trails together. The Highlands Trail connects several state parks, three rivers, national historic sites and landmarks, scenic vistas, and downtown business/cultural districts.

At the local level, Highlands Trail planning efforts have helped bring together community members and trail planning staff from across county and municipal borders, fostering trail connectivity between existing and planned trails.

DCNR Conservation Landscapes

The Highlands Trail connects four of the eight Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources designated Conservation Landscapes, including: Lehigh Valley Greenways, Schuylkill Highlands, Susquehanna Riverlands, and South Mountain. To view a map of the Highlands Trail alignment with the four Conservation Landscapes click here.

The Highlands Trail in Pennsylvania highlights common themes found throughout the Highlands Region and the Conservation Landscapes. These themes are representative of the geological characteristics, and related land-use patterns and history common to the Highlands Region.

The Highlands Trail in Pennsylvania is a connected trail network located in the 1.9 million-acre, 13 county Pennsylvania Highlands region.The Highlands Trail extends the New York-New Jersey Highlands Trail into Pennsylvania beginning at the Delaware River in Riegelsville, Bucks County. The Highlands Trail heads west to the junction of the Mason-Dixon and Appalachian Trails in the Whiskey Springs Uplands of Cumberland County. Along the way, the Highlands Trail co-aligns with several existing trails and creates a trail network across a variety of landscapes. The Highlands Trail includes paved multi-use trails such as the Schuylkill River Trail and rugged footpaths like the Horse-Shoe Trail. The Highlands Trail includes a spectrum of trail types to accommodate a wide range of uses including hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and other forms of non-motorized recreation. Portions of the trail are also ADA-accessible. The use(s) permitted on a particular trail are determined by the landowner and/or trail manager. The Highlands Trail is a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) designated State-wide Major Greenway. Trail planning and development on Highlands Trail gap areas is ongoing.