EBENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
I came without a plan, and that was what I got. In 2002, Andrew and I rode the full length of the Ghost Town Trail from Dillton to Nanty Glo and back. And in 2014, I met my fourth cousin, Nicole Sokira, in Ebensburg, and we rode the GTT to Dilltown. But that was my extent of riding this trail.
It has gradually expanded over the years and just this year opened a new loop extension. Driving through the area, I have crossed trailheads, and after a haircut in Nicktown, I headed down Rte. 271 to a trailhead. When I got there, I noticed there was no parking. I made a giant loop to Belsano and ended up back at Duman Lake County Park, where I recalled they had an extension trail to the GTT.
The extension from Duman Lake started out looking much like an improved rail trail. It was wide with a crushed limestone surface. But soon it would display the grades of the contour of the land, and it was clearly a trail, but not on an old rail bed. I was about one mile in when the improved portion ended, and the trail became narrow.
The limestone gave way to some gravel. And then single track. There was a tree down blocking access, and I simply went over it (carry, not jump). There was a very narrow bridge, and the trail declared itself best for a mountain bike. I had the next best thing, I guess – I was on a gravel bike. I decided not to return this way.
I reached the trail and headed west so that I would cross 271 and at least understand this portion. There were signs that the trail was washed out, and in some places it was rutted. I found a parking area not far from where the trail goes under Rte. 422. And that would be as far as I got.
Here Elk Creek and the North Branch of the Blacklick Creek converge before flowing under the 422 bridge. The creeks are pristine in this area.
With the temperature dropping and the sun starting to set, I knew I didn’t have time for a long ride. When I got back to Rte. 271, I decided to take the road back to the park. I don’t know that I would recommend the connecting trail from Duman County Lake Park to the Ghost Town Trail, but there are enough trailheads on this trail that one can find parking – if you plan ahead.
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