103-673: The Mid State Trail (MST) is a 327-mile (526 km) linear hiking trail located in the Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau of central Pennsylvania , United States. It is the longest hiking trail in Pennsylvania, and one of just three (with the Appalachian Trail and North Country Trail ) to traverse the state from one border to another. A portion of the Mid State Trail is also part of
206-536: A Guinness World Record holder with Light Up State College organizing 5,226 lighted ice luminaries that were displayed across South Allen Street in Downtown State College. This is the most ice luminaries in any one location to date. The previous record was held by Vuollerim, Sweden, with 2,652 ice luminaries. State College is most known for Penn State Nittany Lions football , which draws over 100,000 fans to Beaver Stadium on home games. The borough
309-629: A boat, often a barge . They can be paved or unpaved and are popular with cyclists and walkers; some are suitable for equestrians. Equestrians have legal access to all towpaths in Scotland, and there is a campaign for similar rights in England and Wales. In snowy winters in the USA they are popular with cross-country skiers and snowmobile users. Most canals were owned by private companies in Britain, and
412-542: A bridleway must give way to other users on foot or horseback. The seawall in Stanley Park , Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada is popular for walking, running, cycling, and inline skating . There are two paths, one for skaters and cyclists and the other for pedestrians. The lane for cyclists and skaters goes one-way in a counterclockwise loop. Foreshoreway (also oceanway ) is a term used in Australia for
515-404: A family was $ 58,953. The per capita income for the borough was $ 13,336. 46.9% of the population and 9.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. However, traditional measures of income and poverty can be very misleading when applied to a community like State College that
618-592: A few farms, the MST next reenters Tiadaghton State Forest and rises to the top of the Allegheny Plateau . It then reaches Pine Creek Gorge and tackles a particularly difficult gap, descending to Pine Creek near the town of Ramsey, crossing the river on a defunct railroad bridge that also serves the Pine Creek Rail Trail , then encountering PA Route 44 . The MST then climbs very steeply back to
721-509: A general acceptance that towpaths are open to everyone, and not just boat users. The concept of free access to towpaths is enshrined in the legislation which transferred responsibility for the English and Welsh canals from British Waterways to the Canal & River Trust in 2012. Not all towpaths are suitable for use by cyclists, but where they are, and the canal is owned by British Waterways,
824-546: A gravel or dirt surface suitable for walking, mountain bikes and horses. In the USA the 42 mi (68 km) Cheshire Rail Trail , in New Hampshire , can be used by hikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, cyclists, and even dogsledders . In Canada, following the abandonment of the Prince Edward Island Railway in 1989, the government of Prince Edward Island purchased
927-625: A legally protected right to travel. National parks , nature preserves , conservation areas and other protected wilderness areas may have trails that are restricted to pedestrians. Footpaths can be connected to form a long-distance trail or way, which can be used by both day hikers and backpackers . Some trails are over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long. In the US and Canada, where urban sprawl has reached rural communities, developers and local leaders are currently striving to make their communities more conducive to non-motorized transportation through
1030-598: A mix of challenging terrain, singletrack , smooth fireroads , and even paved paths. Trails with an easy or moderate technical complexity are generally deemed cross-country trails, while trails difficult even to experienced riders are more often dubbed all-mountain , freeride , or downhill. Downhilling is popular at ski resorts like Mammoth Mountain in California, or Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, where ski lifts are used to get bikes and riders to
1133-413: A neighborhood between Holmes–Foster to the north, Orchard Park to the south, and Ferguson Township to the west. The population was 923 people. Nittany Hills and Penfield are two sections of the same neighborhood. Nittany Hills includes the eastern half and Penfield makes up the western half. The neighborhood is sandwiched between State College South and College Township. The population was 353 people as of
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#17327930028791236-636: A park that partly spills into Ferguson Township . Holmes–Foster makes up half of the Holmes–Foster–Highlands Historic District , which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Holmes–Foster had a population of 1,597 during the 2010 census. South State College, also referred to as the South Neighborhood, is shaped by Easterly Parkway, University Drive, and Atherton Street, which form
1339-491: A particular use is accompanied by prohibitions against that use on other trails within the trail system. Trail segregation may be supported by signage, markings, trail design and construction (especially the selection of tread materials), and by separation between parallel treads. Separation may be achieved by "natural" barriers including distance, ditching, banking, grading, and vegetation, and by "artificial" barriers including fencing, curbing, and walls. Bicycle trails encompass
1442-495: A period of record dating back to 1893, the lowest temperature recorded was −20 °F (−29 °C) on February 10, 1899 , and the highest was 102 °F (39 °C) on July 17, 1988, and July 9, 1936. Weather in State College is strongly influenced by the mountain and valley topology of the area. The surrounding mountains cause significantly lower temperatures in the winter, and make summer heat waves much rarer than in
1545-607: A permit is required. There is no charge for a permit, but it acts as an opportunity to inform cyclists about safe and unsafe areas to cycle. Some areas including London are exempt from this policy, but are covered instead by the London Towpath Code of Conduct and cyclists must have a bell, which they ring twice when approaching pedestrians. Parts of some towpaths have been incorporated into the National Cycle Network, and in most cases this has resulted in
1648-534: A proliferation of mountain bike trails in many countries. Often these will be grouped to form larger complexes, known as trail centers. In the early years of the 20th century, the term auto trail was used for a marked highway route, and trail is now used to designate routes, including highway routes, designated for tourist interest like the Cabot Trail , Nova Scotia, Canada and the Quilt Trails in
1751-461: A towpath, which makes a pleasant off-road track, and have the added virtues of flatness, shade and an abundance of villages along the way", though walking a canal can be monotonous, so that "a long trip beside a canal is better done by bicycle". State College, Pennsylvania State College is a borough and home rule municipality in Centre County, Pennsylvania , United States. It
1854-472: A trail is also called a track or piste. Recreational cross-country skiing is also called touring, especially in Europe. Some skiers stay out for extended periods using tents and equipment similar to bushwalkers and hikers, whereas others take shorter trips from ski resorts on maintained trails. In some countries, organizations maintain a network of huts for use by cross-country skiers in wintertime. For example,
1957-399: A triangular shape. The area began expanding around World War II and has a population of 1,313. Tusseyview is located south of South State College and has a population of 995. The neighborhood has three parks: Tussey View Park, South Hills Park, and Nittany Village Park. The area is home to State College Friends School, a Quaker school that serves the local school districts. Greentree is
2060-479: A type of greenway that provides a public right-of-way along the edge of the sea open to both walkers and cyclists. A forest road is a type of rudimentary access road, built mainly for the forest industry . In some cases they are used for backcountry recreation access. There is open access to most Forestry Commission roads and land in Great Britain for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and, since
2163-498: A wide variety of trail types, including shared-use paths used for commuting, off-road cross-country trails and downhill mountain bike trails. The number of off-road cycle trails has increased significantly, along with the popularity of mountain bikes . Off-road bicycle trails are generally function-specific and most commonly waymarked along their route. They may take the form of single routes or form part of larger complexes, known as trail centers. Off-road trails often incorporate
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#17327930028792266-678: Is University Drive at East Park Avenue. Rec Hall is a field house located on the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University . It was opened on January 15, 1929, and remains in use. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions women's and men's volleyball teams, and Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling . Rec Hall has a banked indoor track of approximately 257 yards around, or roughly 6.85 laps per mile. Pegula Ice Arena
2369-545: Is a Walloon initiative aimed at creating a network of route itineraries reserved for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and people with reduced mobility. The 1,350 km (840 mi) network makes use of towpaths on river banks and disused railway or vicinal tramway lines ( narrow-gauge tramways). Old railway lines have been leased by the Walloon Government for 99 years using emphyteutic lease contracts. Where necessary, new paths are created to link parts of
2472-464: Is a college town , dominated economically, culturally, and demographically by the presence of the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University . State College is the largest designated borough in Pennsylvania. It is the principal borough of the six municipalities that make up the State College area , the largest settlement in Centre County and one of the principal cities of
2575-423: Is a sunken path or lane , i.e., a road or track that is significantly lower than the land on either side, not formed by the (recent) engineering of a road cutting but possibly of much greater age. Various mechanisms have been proposed for how holloways may have been formed, including erosion by water or traffic; the digging of embankments to assist with the herding of livestock; and the digging of double banks to mark
2678-563: Is a 46-hour dance marathon that takes place every February on the University Park campus with the goal of raising money for the Four Diamonds Foundation. A number of events throughout the year pave the way to February's THON weekend. Blue-White Football Weekend occurs in April and includes a carnival, fireworks, food vendors, a student entertainment stage, live music, a parade, and more. On game day, autograph sessions with
2781-545: Is a 6,014-seat multi-purpose arena in University Park , on the campus of Penn State University , which opened October 11, 2013, to replace the 1,350-seat Penn State Ice Pavilion . The facility is located on the corner of Curtin Road and University Drive near the Bryce Jordan Center . Beaver Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in University Park , on the campus of Pennsylvania State University . It
2884-432: Is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians either within an urban area or through the countryside. An urban footpath is usually called an alley or lane and often paved (see also: sidewalk and pavement ). Other public rights of way , such as bridleways , byways , towpaths, and green lanes are also used by pedestrians. In England and Wales, there are rights of way on which pedestrians have
2987-559: Is common with rail trails . Shared use may also refer to alternate day arrangements, whereby two uses are segregated by being permitted every other day. This is increasingly common on long-distance trails shared by equestrians and mountain bike users; these two user communities have similar trail requirements but may experience difficult encounters with each other on the trail. The Trans Canada Trail can be used by cyclists, hikers, horseback riders, and walkers, as well as cross-country skiers , snowmobilers and snowshoers in winter. In
3090-424: Is dominated by students. The population of the State College metropolitan statistical area was 153,990 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Pennsylvania State University is the largest single employer in the region, employing over 27,000 full- and part-time workers as of 2016. Other industries in the area include health care, retail, hospitality services, construction, and government. Other notable employers include
3193-745: Is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions , who have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1990. Beaver Stadium has an official seating capacity of 106,572, making it the second largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and fourth largest in the world as of 2022. The Nittany Mountain Biking Association (NMBA) is active at maintaining and adding trails throughout the local state forest. There are miles of trails through Rothrock State Forest for
Mid State Trail (Pennsylvania) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3296-602: Is home to the State College Spikes , a minor league baseball team that is part of the MLB Draft League and plays their home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park , and Penn State baseball . Penn State also has Division 1 teams in basketball, ice hockey, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling. Jeffrey Field is a soccer stadium in State College that hosts the Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer and Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer teams. Address
3399-481: Is increasingly common and diverse. For example, bike trails are used not only on roads open to motor vehicles but also in trail systems open to other trail users. Some trails are segregated for use by both equestrians and mountain bikes or by equestrians or mountain bikes alone. Designated "wilderness area" trails may be segregated for non-wheeled use permitting backpacking and horses but not permitting mountain bikes and motorized vehicles. Often, trail segregation for
3502-459: Is located at an elevation of approximately 1,200 feet (370 m) above sea level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km ), all land. It is surrounded by large tracts of farmland and an expanse of Appalachian Mountain ranges and forests. Its location within a valley makes it prone to frequent rain and snowfall. Mount Nittany is part of Pennsylvania's geologic ridge-and-valley province of
3605-498: Is marked by orange blazes, with some spur trails to nearby points of interest marked by blue blazes. The MST holds the distinction of being measured entirely in metric , with all guidebooks and signs using metric distances while maps also show metric elevations. It was the first significant hiking trail in the United States to do so. This is because the founder of the trail, Tom Thwaites, was a proponent of converting America to
3708-407: Is preferred for pedestrian routes, including long-distance trails, and is used for urban paths and sometimes in place of pavement . Track is used for wider paths (wide enough for vehicles), often used for hiking. The terms bridleway , byway , restricted byway are all recognised legal terms and to a greater or lesser extent in general usage. The increased popularity of mountain biking has led to
3811-577: Is used similarly in St. John's, Newfoundland , Canada, where the " Grand Concourse ", is an integrated walkway system. In the United Kingdom, the term trail is in common usage. Longer distance walking routes, and government-promoted long-distance paths, collectively known as National Trails , are also frequently called ways as in the Pennine Way and South Downs Way . Generally, the term footpath
3914-633: The Appalachian Mountains . It is located at the approximate geographic center of Pennsylvania. Two major sections in State College include the Downtown Improvement District and University Park . Some significant neighborhoods include Highlands, Orchard Park, West End, College Heights, Holmes Foster, South State College, Tusseyview, Greentree, Nittany Hills and Penfield, and Vallamont. Four of these neighborhoods, Orchard Park, Greentree, Tusseyview, and South State College, are included as one area called "Suburban State College" under
4017-575: The Federal Government (452 employees), YMCA (446 employees), Wegmans (430 employees), Shaner Corporation (380 employees), McDonald's (263 employees), Giant Food Stores (255 employees), Hotel State College & Company (251 employees), Raytheon (251 employees), Sheetz (251 employees), Foxdale Village (250 employees), State College Borough Government (213 employees), Minitab (211 employees), and Penn State Hershey Medical Group (200 employees). The Central Pennsylvania Festival of
4120-527: The Great Eastern Trail . The Mid State Trail is known for its feeling of remoteness, though it is never more than 2 kilometers from a road. It is mostly on public lands, including state forest and state game lands , and it passes through numerous state parks, wild areas, and natural areas. In its southern half, the MST mostly follows rocky ridgetops in the ridge and valley province and reaches dozens of expansive vistas . The northern segment of
4223-805: The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 mandates that states must use a minimum of 30 percent of these funds for motorized trail uses. Some members of the US government and environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society . have criticized off-road vehicle use on public land . They have noted several consequences of illegal ORV use such as pollution, trail damage, erosion , land degradation , possible species extinction , and habitat destruction which can leave hiking trails impassable. ORV proponents argue legal use taking place under planned access along with
Mid State Trail (Pennsylvania) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-506: The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association maintains over 400 huts stretching across hundreds of kilometres of trails hikers use in the summer and skiers use in the winter. Horse riding and other equestrian uses of trails continue to be a popular activity for many trail users. Horses can usually negotiate much the same grades as hikers, but not always, although they can more easily clear obstacles in
4429-678: The Persian Empire , existed before the Christian era and covered great distances. The Post Track , a prehistoric causeway in the valley of the River Brue in the Somerset Levels , England, is one of the oldest known constructed trackways and dates from around 3838 BC. The idea of following a path or track for exercise or pleasure developed during the 18th century in Europe and arose because of changing attitudes to
4532-498: The US Route 30 expressway. The MST then climbs up the next segment of Tussey Mountain and passes through multiple tracts of State Game Lands 73 . Another abrupt break in the ridge must be tackled at Loysburg Gap, along Beaver Creek and PA Route 36 . The MST continues to the northeast through more of State Game Lands 73 and then State Game Lands 118 . Above Williamsburg , the MST descends, follows rural roads and city streets through
4635-840: The United Kingdom and Ireland , a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. The term is also applied in North America to accompanying routes along rivers, and sometimes to highways. In the US, the term was historically used for a route into or through wild territory used by explorers and migrants (e.g. the Oregon Trail ). In the United States, "trace" is a synonym for trail, as in Natchez Trace . Some trails are dedicated only for walking, cycling, horse riding , snowshoeing or cross-country skiing , but not more than one use; others, as in
4738-450: The "Grand Concourse", is an integrated walkway system that has over 160 km (99 mi) of walkways, which link every major park, river, pond and green space in six municipalities. A motorized trail is a trail intended for off-road vehicles for example 4×4 cars, dirt bikes, All-terrain vehicles (ATV). Motorized trail use remains very popular with some people, particularly in the US. The Recreational Trails Program defined as part of
4841-404: The 12,610 households, 9.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 18.2% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 75.6% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
4944-742: The 2010 census. Vallamont is a small neighborhood east of the Highlands, west of College Township, and north of Nittany Hills. The population was 124 people as of the 2010 census. The number of residents is attributed to an apartment building located within the census borders. State College has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ). Temperatures average 27.2 °F (−2.7 °C) in January and 72.2 °F (22.3 °C) in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.53 inches (105 cm), with 43.8 inches (111 cm) of annual snowfall on average. With
5047-556: The Arts , usually referred to as "Arts Fest", is held downtown every July. The five-day festival features artists from around the country and draws more than 125,000 visitors. Streets are closed off and lined with booths where people can buy paintings, pottery, jewelry, and other hand-made goods. There borough hosts musical performances, plays, and food vendors selling everything from funnel cakes to Indian cuisine. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon , commonly referred to as THON,
5150-631: The Countryside Bill of 1968, it has become the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Britain. The commission works with associations involved in rambling , cycling, mountain biking and horse riding to promote the use of its land for recreation. The trails open to the public are not just forest roads. A notable example of the commission's promotion of outdoor activity is the 7stanes project in Scotland, where seven purpose built areas of mountain bike trails have been laid, including facilities for disabled cyclists. A Holloway (also hollow way)
5253-651: The Dutch LF-Routes , the German D-Routes , and the British National Cycle Network , and existing general-purpose roads, together with new stretches of cycle routes to connect them. Off-road cycling can cause soil erosion and habitat destruction if not carried out on established trails. This is true when trails are wet, though overall, cycling may not have more of an impact as other trail users. In cross-country skiing,
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#17327930028795356-415: The Highlands is the borough's most populous neighborhood with a population of 9,726 people, 77% of whom are in the age range of 18–24 years old. The neighborhood also includes a section of the Holmes–Foster–Highlands Historic District . Orchard Park is a multi-family residential area mostly populated by college-aged residents and young professionals. Expansion for the area began in the late 20th century with
5459-553: The MST continues to climb up and down several different ridgelines and uses a rural road overpass to cross Interstate 80 to the east of its interchange with PA Route 880 . Now trending primarily to the north, the MST passes into Tiadaghton State Forest , walks through Ravensburg State Park , and crosses PA Route 880. North of that park, the MST follows a segment of the Native American Great Island Path , reenters Bald Eagle State Forest, and descends to
5562-654: The Mid State Trail has been routed and mapped, but as of 2022 some segments are still under development. The trail climbs back out of Pine Creek Gorge toward the top of the Allegheny Plateau again. It crosses PA Route 287 near Antrim , then continues north while exiting Tiadaghton State Forest. Most of the rest of the trail is on private lands through which passage has been negotiated with landowners. The MST crosses US Route 6 roughly halfway between Wellsboro and Mansfield , then walks through Hills Creek State Park followed by State Game Lands 37 . The trail skirts
5665-746: The National Citizen's Survey. Downtown State College, also known as the Downtown Improvement District, is State College's commercial and cultural center. The area receives approximately 1.5 to 2 million annual visitors and boasts major festivals such as the Central Pennsylvania Festival for the Arts. Downtown State College has a population of 4,417 people. The 2010s saw a construction boom downtown, with several mixed-use towers developed, including Rise, Metropolitan, Fraser Centre, and Here State College (a 15-floor tower on Garner Street), and others. Unlike older towers, many of
5768-498: The Trans Canada Trail development emulated the successful Rails-to-Trails initiative in the United States. The Trail is multi-use and depending on the section may allow hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. A towpath is a road or path on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The original purpose of a towpath was to allow a horse, or a team of human pullers, to tow
5871-593: The US. The term trail has been used by developers and urban planners for a variety of modern paved roads , highways, and boulevards , in these countries, and some highways continue to be officially called a trail, such as the Susquehanna Trail in Pennsylvania, a designation that varies from a two-lane road to a four-lane freeway. An unusual use of the term is in the Canadian province of Alberta , which has multi-lane freeways called trails. Animals created
5974-516: The United States National Trail Classification System, equestrian trails include simple day-use bridle paths and others built to accommodate long strings of pack animals on journeys lasting many days. Trail design parameters for these uses include trail base width and material, trail clear width, trail clear height, access to water suitable for stock (not human) use, and trail routing. A footpath
6077-513: The United States, the East Coast Greenway —3,000 mi (4,828 km) from Key West to the Canadian border — and the 11 September National Memorial Trail, a 1,300 mi (2,092 km) triangular loop connecting the three 9/11 memorial sites, are two long-distance multi-use paths for cyclists, runners, walkers, even equestrians. In Belgium RAVeL , French for réseau autonome de voies lentes ( autonomous network of slow ways ),
6180-445: The United States. The American Canoe Association has compiled a database of water trails in the United States. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program has compiled a list of water trail resources, success stories, and statewide contacts for water trails. Shared use may be achieved by sharing a trail easement, but maintaining segregated and sometimes also separated trail treads within it. This
6283-661: The West End has a high population of renters, representing approximately 96.3% of the population. The neighborhood had a population of 2,324 people as of the 2010 U.S. census. The West End also makes up a third of the Holmes–Foster–Highlands Historic District. College Heights is a neighborhood and historic district north of campus. The College Heights Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and makes up
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#17327930028796386-468: The White Mountains of New Hampshire. The path was blazed in 1819 by Abel Crawford and his son, Ethan Allen. Originally 8.25 miles in length (now 8.5 miles), the trail leads to the summit of Mt. Washington. Trails can be located in different settings for various uses. These can include: Trail segregation, the practice of designating certain trails as having a specific preferred or exclusive use,
6489-498: The area at the expense, in their view, of the borough's character. In 2022, the State College Borough Council repealed the zoning regulations in State College to deter dense housing developments. Critics of the change said that it would lead to urban sprawl and make housing less affordable, whereas proponents of the zoning change said that high-rise student housing was inconsistent with the character of
6592-613: The borough was 83.2% White , 3.8% Black or African American , 0.2% Native American , 9.8% Asian , 1.0% Other , and 2.0% from two or more races. 3.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. 22,681 or 54.0% of borough residents were males and 19,353 or 46.0% were females. A 2014 estimate had the racial makeup of the borough as 78.9% Non-Hispanic White, 5.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American and Alaska Native, 11.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 0.8% Some other race, and 2.2% two or more races. 4.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Of
6695-442: The borough. Happy Valley and Lion Country are also used to identify the State College area, including both the borough and townships of College , Harris , Patton , and Ferguson . State College evolved from a village to a town to serve the needs of Pennsylvania State College, which was founded in 1855 as Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. State College was incorporated as a borough on August 29, 1896, and it has grown with
6798-817: The boundaries of estates. These mechanisms are all possible and could apply in different cases. Rail trails or paths are shared-use paths that take advantage of abandoned railway corridors. They can be used for walking, cycling and horseback riding. They exist throughout the world. RailTrails Australia describes them as: Following the route of the railways, they cut through hills, under roads, over embankments and across gullies and creeks. Apart from being great places to walk, cycle or horse ride, rail trails are linear conservation corridors protecting native plants and animals. They often link remnant vegetation in farming areas and contain valuable flora and fauna habitat. Wineries and other attractions are near many trails as well as B&B's and other great places to stay. Most trails have
6901-559: The case of a bridleway in the UK, are shared-use and can be used by pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians alike. Although most trails are for low-traffic, non-motorized usage, there are also unpaved trails used by dirt bikes , quad bikes and other off-road vehicles , usually for extreme sports and rally races . In some places, like the Alps , trails are used by alpine agrarian communities for moving cattle and other livestock . In Australia,
7004-665: The college town. University Park is the largest Penn State campus and the postal address for the university. Notable sites include Old Main , a landmark of the Farmers' High School Historic District , Rec Hall , the Nittany Lion Shrine , the Palmer Museum of Art , Penn State Creamery , Beaver Stadium , and the Bryce Jordan Center ; both Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center are located in
7107-509: The college, which was renamed The Pennsylvania State University in 1953. In 1973, State College adopted a home rule charter which took effect in 1976; since then, it has not been governed by the state's Borough Code, although it retains "Borough of State College" as its official name. The university has a post office address in University Park, Pennsylvania . When it changed its name from Penn State College to Penn State University in 1953, its president, Milton S. Eisenhower , sought to persuade
7210-577: The first trails, which were "later adapted by humans". Subsequently, farmers moved cattle to market along drove roads and between winter and summer grazing creating trails. More recently, former industrial routes, such as railway rights of way and canal towpaths , have been turned into recreational trails. Many historic routes, like the Silk Road , the Amber Road and the Royal Road of
7313-624: The football student-athletes is held in Beaver Stadium prior to kickoff of the Blue-White football intra-squad scrimmage game. Other annual events in the area include "First Night State College", a New Year's Eve celebration with carved ice sculptures and musical performances that takes place in downtown State College, and "Central PA 4th Fest", a day-long event that includes Fourth of July fireworks, crafts, food vendors, and entertainers. On Saturday, February 4, 2017, State College set
7416-485: The greater State College-DuBois Combined Statistical Area with a combined population of 236,577 as of the 2010 U.S. census . In the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034 with approximately 105,000 living in the borough and the surrounding townships, often referred to locally as the Centre Region . Many of these Centre Region communities also carry a "State College, PA" address although they are not part of
7519-587: The landscape and nature associated with the Romantic movement . In earlier times, walking generally indicated poverty and was associated with vagrancy. In previous centuries long walks were undertaken as part of religious pilgrimages and this tradition continues throughout the world. The first footpath built specifically for recreational hiking in America, and likely the world, is the Crawford Path in
7622-453: The majority of the area. College Heights is dominated by families of professionals, other Penn State faculty, and Penn State students due to the area's proximity to the campus. From 1852 to 1920, the neighborhood included 15 homes just north of Penn State. Over the next decade, however, the number more than quadrupled to 69. Development continued throughout the 2010s with College Heights's population growing to 1,839 people. The neighborhood has
7725-489: The metric system . The Mid State Trail is traditionally described from south to north, and has been divided into four sections. The MST begins at the southern edge of Pennsylvania, at the Maryland border north of Flintstone, Maryland . That state's Green Ridge Hiking Trail reaches the border, and continues into Pennsylvania as the Mid State Trail. After some road walking, the MST enters Buchanan State Forest and climbs to
7828-601: The multiple environmental and trail conservation efforts by ORV groups will mitigate these issues. Groups such as the BlueRibbon Coalition advocate Treadlightly, which is the responsible use of public lands used for off-road activities. Noise pollution is also a concern, and several studies conducted by Montana State University , California State University , the University of Florida and others have cited possible negative behavioral changes in wildlife as
7931-555: The network. In England and Wales a bridleway is a trail intended for use by equestrians, but walkers also have a right of way , and Section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 , permits the riding of bicycles (but not motor-cycles) on public bridleways, though the act says it "shall not create any obligation to facilitate the use of the bridleway by cyclists". Thus the right to cycle exists even though it may be difficult to exercise on occasion, especially in winter. Cyclists using
8034-435: The newer buildings are mixed-use, with retail on the ground floor, offices on the next couple floors up, and apartments on the top floors. This high-rise building boom has drawn debate in the local area. Some residents see it as a boon to increase foot traffic downtown and reduce congestion on the arterial roads leading into the town. Others, however, are skeptical of the developments since they replace historical buildings in
8137-552: The north into New York as the Crystal Hills Trail, a branch of the Finger Lakes Trail . 39°47′36″N 78°32′48″W / 39.79337°N 78.54675°W / 39.79337; -78.54675 Hiking trail A trail , also known as a path or track , is an unpaved lane or a small paved road not intended for usage by motorized vehicles , usually passing through a natural area . In
8240-554: The objectives was to develop a trail that linked up the brumby tracks, mustering and stock routes along the Great Dividing Range, thus providing an opportunity to legally ride the routes of stockmen and drovers who once travelled these areas with pack horses . This Trail provides access to some of the wildest, most remote country in the world. The Bicentennial National Trail is suitable for self-reliant horse riders, fit walkers and mountain bike riders. Within
8343-470: The path such as logs. The Bicentennial National Trail (BNT) in Australia is one of the longest marked multi-use trail in the world, stretching 5,330 km (3,312 mi) from Cooktown, Queensland , through New South Wales to Healesville, Victoria . This trail runs the length of the rugged Great Dividing Range through national parks , private property and alongside of wilderness areas . One of
8446-651: The population then about 4,000 people. The neighborhood is home to two parks and is adjacent to Westerly Parkway Plaza, which houses many businesses. Orchard Park houses the South Hills Business School, a YMCA , and the Cedar Heights Church, which is used as a location for voters in State College. The West End, also referred to as Urban Village, is an extension of the Downtown and Holmes–Foster areas. Located adjacent to west campus,
8549-571: The purposes of mountain biking and hiking. At the federal level, State College is located in Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district , represented by Republican Glenn Thompson . Republican Greg Rothman represents Pennsylvania Senate, District 34 , and Democrat Scott Conklin represents Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 77 . The county seat of Centre County is Bellefonte , approximately 12 miles northeast of State College. State College Borough falls under jurisdiction of
8652-537: The rest of the state. Precipitation is about 20% lower than areas at comparable elevations, again due to the surrounding mountains. Snowfall typically occurs between October and April, but has happened as late as June. According to the 2010 census, there were 42,034 people, 12,610 households, and 3,069 families residing in the borough. The population density was 9,258.6 inhabitants per square mile (3,574.8/km ). There were 13,007 housing units at an average density of 2,865.0 per square mile (1,106.2/km ). The racial makeup of
8755-680: The result of some ORV use. Several US states such as Washington have laws to reduce noise generated by off-road and non-highway vehicles. Water trails , also referred to as blueways or paddling trails, are marked routes on navigable waterways such as rivers , lakes , canals and coastlines for people using small non-motorized boats such as kayaks , canoes , rafts , or rowboats . Some trails may be suitable for float tubing or developed in concert with motorized use. They include: signs and route markers; maps; facilities for parking, boat ramps or docks, and places to camp and picnic. There are also state programs and other promotion for water trails in
8858-484: The ridgeline around three sides of Bear Meadows Natural Area , then finally reaches the end of Tussey Mountain and rises to the top of Thickhead Mountain. The trail next reaches a junction with the Standing Stone Trail at Detweiler Run Natural Area. The trail then walks through Penn-Roosevelt State Park , and later uses a culvert to pass under the US Route 322 expressway near Potters Mills . Next,
8961-679: The right-of-way to the entire railway system. The Confederation Trail was developed as a tip-to-tip walking/cycling gravel rail trail which doubles as a monitored and groomed snowmobile trail during the winter months, operated by the PEI Snowmobile Association. A considerable part of the Trans Canada trail is repurposed defunct rail lines donated to provincial governments by the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways rebuilt as walking trails. Much of
9064-430: The rule that a permit was required to give access to a towpath, and began to encourage leisure usage by walkers, anglers and in some areas, cyclists. The British Waterways Act 1995 still did not enshrine any right of public access, although it did encourage recreational access of all kinds to the network, although the steady development of the leisure use of the canals and the decline of commercial traffic had resulted in
9167-532: The surface being improved. In France it is possible to cycle, rollerblade , and hike along the banks of the Canal du Midi . A paved stretch of 50 km (31 mi) from Toulouse to Avignonet-Lauragais and another 12 km (7.5 mi) between Béziers and Portiragnes are particularly suited to cycling and rollerblading. It is possible to cycle or walk the entire Canal des Deux Mers from Sète to Bordeaux . Other French canals provide walkers "with many excellent routes, as they are always accompanied by
9270-432: The term track can be used interchangeably with trail or walk, and can refer to anything from a dirt road to an unpaved pedestrian path . In New Zealand, the terms track or walkway are used almost exclusively except when referring to cross-country skiing : "walkways vary enormously in nature, from short urban strolls, to moderate coastal locations, to challenging tramps [hikes] in the high country [mountains]". Walkway
9373-535: The top of Tussey Mountain , staying on top of this ridgeline (with a few gaps) for about 200 kilometers ahead and following it primarily to the northeast. Above Rainsburg the MST crosses PA Route 326 and enters State Game Lands 97 . South of Everett , the MST descends and crosses the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River on a rural road bridge, then walks through Everett and uses a street under
9476-553: The top of the mountain. EuroVelo bicycle routes are a network of (currently 17) long-distance cycling routes criss-crossing Europe in various stages of completion; more than 90,000 km (55,923 mi) was in place by 2020. EuroVelo is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF). EuroVelo routes can be used for bicycle touring across the continent, and by local people making short journeys. The routes comprise both existing national bike routes , such as
9579-547: The top of the plateau. The trail walks through Little Pine State Park , continuing through various parcels of Tiadaghton State Forest and State Game Lands 75. The MST then enters Tioga State Forest and descends into the canyon formed by Babb Creek, walking through the town of Blackwell via PA Route 414 and briefly joining the Pine Creek Rail Trail again in Pine Creek Gorge. North of Blackwell,
9682-592: The town to change its name as well. A referendum failed to yield a majority for any of the choices proposed as a new name, so the town remains State College. After this, Penn State requested a new name for its on-campus post office in the HUB-Robeson Center from the U.S. Postal Service . The post office, which has since moved across an alley to the McAllister Building, is the official home of ZIP Code 16802 for University Park. State College
9785-641: The town, then joins the Lower Trail (a rail-trail) and walks easily for about 18 kilometers, alongside the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River . The MST crosses US Route 22 at a parking lot for the bike trail, west of Alexandria . North of US Route 22, the MST climbs up the next segment of Tussey Mountain and enters Rothrock State Forest . It crosses PA Route 26 above Pine Grove Mills in an area that features several vistas of State College and Penn State University . The trail walks along
9888-570: The towpaths were deemed to be private, for the benefit of legitimate users of the canal. The nationalisation of the canal system in 1948 did not result in the towpaths becoming public rights of way, and subsequent legislation, such as the Transport Act of 1968, which defined the government's obligations to the maintenance of the inland waterways for which it was now responsible, did not include any commitment to maintain towpaths for use by anyone. Ten years later British Waterways started to relax
9991-614: The trail traverses slightly less rugged but still challenging landscapes on top of the Allegheny Plateau . The original route of the trail extended from near Alexandria on US Route 22 in Huntingdon County, to the West Rim Trail near Blackwell in Tioga County. It has since been extended to both the south and north, reaching from Maryland to New York and connecting with other trails in those states. The MST
10094-704: The trail walks through Poe Valley State Park and then Poe Paddy State Park ; at the latter it uses a former railroad bridge over Penns Creek and then a defunct railroad tunnel through a ridgeline. Poe Paddy State Park also includes a junction with the Reeds Gap Spur Trail, which leads southwest 13.9 miles to Reeds Gap State Park . Now in Bald Eagle State Forest , the MST trends to the north and climbs up and down several ridgelines, crossing PA Route 45 and then PA Route 192 at R.B. Winter State Park . North of R.B. Winter State Park,
10197-509: The university township half of University Park. From 1909 to 1932, the Highlands in State College were annexed. The area was acclaimed for its plots of land in proximity to the post office. Twenty mansions were built between 1925 and 1933 to attract fraternities , while smaller houses were also constructed. The neighborhood terminated around Irvin Avenue, but after World War II expansion was necessary to accommodate for returning soldiers. Today,
10300-720: The use of less traditional trails. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in the US has established the Active Living by Design program to improve the livability of communities in part through developing trails, The Upper Valley Trails Alliance in Vermont has done similar work on traditional trails, while the Somerville Community Path in Somerville, Massachusetts , and related paths, are examples of urban initiatives. In St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
10403-584: The valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River . The trail uses a rural road to pass under the US Route 220 expressway, then uses another road to cross the river between Avis and Jersey Shore . After crossing PA Route 150 , the MST traverses company lands owned by the Woolrich corporation and takes hikers past the company store. (This segment of the trail is sometimes closed.) After continuing through some low valley areas with
10506-519: The west side of Hammond Lake, crosses PA Route 287 again, then continues north through lightly developed rural areas. Approaching the New York border, the trail reaches the shore of Cowanesque Lake , follows the south shore parallel to PA Route 49 , then makes a U-turn and follows the north shore. The MST then leaves the lake, continues to the north, and reaches the New York border after 526 kilometers (327 miles) in Pennsylvania. The footpath continues to
10609-409: Was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.71. The age distribution of the borough was overwhelmingly influenced by its student population: 5.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 70.6% from 18 to 24, 13.1% from 25 to 44, 6.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. The median income for a household in the borough was $ 23,513, and the median income for
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