News article written by Ron Morgan for the Bedford Gazette on 5 November 2025
The H&BT Rail Trail reuses an abandoned railroad right-of-way and railroad bridge to provide public recreational access along the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. Over 13 miles of trail connects Tatesville to Warriors Path State Park near Saxton, intersecting Cooper Recreational Area at the trail’s center. For more information on helping to preserve this natural space.
The completion of the last segment of the H&BT Rail Trail near Saxton was identified as an important component in transforming the 349-acre Warriors Path State Park into a regional hub for outdoor recreation thanks in part to Pennsylvania’s funding assistance.
Serving as the keynote speaker at the dedication of the final stretch of the H&BT Rail Trail earlier this fall was Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, who offered high praise to trail owner/developer Broad Top Township, Bedford County, and other partners involved in the project.
In her remarks, the DCNR secretary noted that the Shapiro administration investment of state funding for the local rail-trail projects will “grow Pennsylvania’s $19 billion outdoor recreation economy, helping to boost local tourism and strengthening the state’s continued investment in the initiative.”
The Broad Top Townships developed the trail on a rehabilitated H&BT railbed in phases dating back several years. The scenic trail, which borders the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, also passes through several historic coal mining and ironmaking communities of the Broad Top and crosses the Raystown Branch at Cypher, using a rehabilitated H&BT railroad trestle.
Calling the H&BT Rail Trail and the day-use Warriors Path State Park “important milestones” for their role in Bedford County’s growing outdoor economy, the DCNR chief added that the new rail trail section has already driven a 47 percent increase in park visitation compared with last year.
“The connector trail is a major step in connecting people to nature and growing the outdoor recreation economy in the region,” said Secretary Dunn. “Thank you to the state and local partners who saw the opportunity for Bedford County in developing a well-connected tail system.”
She went on to say that the Commonwealth invested $200,000 to build the new section of the rail trail, as well as an additional $341,550 in grants to acquire, design, and construct the H&BT Rail Trail. Also signaled out for collaborative support were PennDOT and Broad Top Township to help secure the land and complete the connector trail—a key step in Saxton area’s effort to become a designated “Trail Town.”
“With the completion of this new connector trail, Warriors Path State Park becomes an even better destination for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy Bedford County’s trails and surrounding attractions, said Kellie Goodman Shaffer, president and CEO of the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. “These trails connect people to nature, to local businesses, and to the great experiences the region has to offer.”
Continued the chamber leader, “This is a proud milestone in making Bedford County a top-tier trail tourism destination in Pennsylvania, and a credit to the forward-thinking local leaders who’ve worked hard for many years to make the H&BT Rail Trail a reality.”
The Saxton area and neighboring Liberty Township is the location of three regional and important trails: the H&BT Rail Trail, the Terrace Mountain Trail along Raystown Lake and the proposed H&BT Mountain Rail Trail.
“The trail network is a part of Saxton’s initiative to spur economic development through increased outdoor recreation-based tourism,” the DCNR official noted.
The 349-acre Warriors Path State Park, created in the early 1960s in Liberty Township, is one of Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks that are free and open to the public. The local state park is near the famous path used by the Iroquois in raids and wars with the Cherokees and other Native American tribes in southern Pennsylvania.
The state park offers boating, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching, and much more. The park’s day-use area is open from mid-April through the end of October (at other times of the year, visitors must park near the main gate and walk into the park.) The two-mile access road connecting the park with Saxton also utilizes the original right of way of the H&BT railroad.
In a recent press release it was reported that Governor Josh Shapiro has prioritized strengthening Pennsylvania’s $19 billion outdoor recreation industry and since taking office the industry has grown by 10 percent—adding $2 billion to the state’s economy, nearly 4,000 new jobs, and supporting more than 168,000 jobs overall.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis outdoor recreation currently represents two percent of the Commonwealth’s GDP and delivers $9 billion in wages and salaries to Pennsylvanians while the Shapiro administration has made strategic investments to elevate outdoor recreation, transforming it into a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy and communities which helps drive economic growth, foster entrepreneurial opportunities, and creating jobs across the state.
Recent investments to close major trail gaps and support trail projects across Pennsylvania total over $10 million for 36 trail projects through the Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2) announced last fall—part of $79 million for 307 local projects—reinforcing a statewide strategy to expand access to safe, high-quality outdoor recreation.
Building on the governor’s creation of the Pennsylvania’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, the administration working with industry leaders recently announced new steps to help outdoor businesses grow and compete through investments in the Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania (OBAPA).
