Trail Events

The Cambria County Trails Series features an event on each of the Cambria County Trails. Proceeds from the Cambria County Trails Series benefit the enhancement and expansion of the Cambria County Trails.

Become a Friend of the Trails member and receive a $5 discount off all 2026 Trails Series events.

Thanks to a generous donation from the 1889 Foundation, all entries for youth 17 and under are FREE for all races in the series.

A Flood of Runners is returning to Johnstown, PA for the 12th year of the Path of the Flood Historic Races! This event allows runners to experience the historic 1889 Johnstown Flood in its entirety with the 14 mile course, or in small droplets through the 5K or 8 mile races. The course follows the Path of the Flood Trail, travels through Staple Bend Tunnel – the first railroad tunnel in the United States – and finishes at Peoples Natural Gas Park where you can see the historic Stone Bridge, still standing after stopping the majority of the flood’s energy. 

For those who choose the 14 Mile distance, you will have the opportunity to “be the water” as you face the new trail and it’s steep initial eighty foot ascent – forcing your way up and over the top, breaching the “dam” and allowing your potential to shift into kinetic energy where you will roil and foam along this new 1.75 mile stretch. You will be able to see the town of South Fork from a whole new perspective before rejoining our previous course and continuing towards the finish.

All runners will have the opportunity to experience the new Trolley Line Extension from East Conemaugh to Woodvale Heights. This new trail allows us to get you off that long, exposed, mean stretch of road that ran from miles 10.5 to 12.0, but running in the shade doesn’t come without a price! This Trolley Line gives everyone an opportunity to take in a view of Johnstown that few ever see with a little climb before descending into The Heights of Woodvale and the continuing shade of Plum Street, passing through the Hope Tunnel and back onto the course for a strong push to the finish at Peoples Natural Gas Park, where you can see the historic Stone Bridge, still standing after stopping the majority of the flood’s energy.

The 14-mile course allows runners will get to experience the true, and full, Path of the 1889 Flood!

All three distances will have timing mats with chip timing.

This event is hosted by Heritage Johnstown  and the  Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority  – all proceeds benefit the Cambria County Trails and the heritage of the Johnstown region.

Visit the official website of the Races for more details.

The 11th Annual Ghost Town Trail Challenge, hosted by the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority, will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, close to the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year.

The Challenge is known for its 32-mile long (50k), endurance hike along the entire length of the Ghost Town Trail from Black Lick, PA to Ebensburg, PA. Participants begin at sunrise and are challenged to complete the entire 32 miles by foot before sundown. This is not a race, but rather a challenge, which tests your mental and physical ability to journey this distance in one day. Other distances offered are a *new* 50-miler (running only), 25k run/walk, or 12k run/walk.

All proceeds from the Ghost Town Trail Challenge will benefit the Friends of the Trails program, which exists to enhance the Cambria County Trails.

50-Miler Run (15 min/mile pace) – It begins at 6:15 a.m. near the Dilltown Trailhead and ends at the YPCC in Ebensburg (this event utilizes both the Ghost Town Trail and the 20-mile C & I Extension)
Full Challenge (32 Miles – 50k) – It begins at 7:00 a.m. at Saylor Park in Black Lick and ends at the YPCC in Ebensburg.
Half Challenge (16 Miles – 25k) – It begins at 8:00 a.m. near the Wehrum Trailhead and ends at the YPCC in Ebensburg.
Friends/Family Challenge (7.5 Miles – 12k) – It begins at 8:45 a.m. at the Nanty Glo Trailhead and ends at the YPCC.

Due to lower participation in the 10K event, we will be offering the 5K only this year.

The 5k out-and-back course will begin and end in Riverside, with a turn around point at Bridge Street. Runners and walkers of this event will follow a scenic section of the trail along the Stonycreek River. Top 3 finishers, both male and female, adult and youth, will receive placement medals.

All proceeds from the Jim Mayer Trail Family Fun Run will benefit the Friends of the Trails program, which exists to enhance the Cambria County Trails.

Join us for a day of running and biking along PA’s 2020 Trail of the Year at the 6th annual Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon!

The Trail-a-thon offers the only marathon in Cambria County, 15-miler, 5k, 0.0k (yes, it’s that easy), or 26.2 mile bicycle ride for trail enthusaists to enjoy.  All pre-registered participants will receive a commemorative long sleeve Trail-a-thon shirt. Finishers of the events will receive a finisher’s medal, and top 3 placement prizes male/female will be issued per distance for running events only. The marathon course utilizies 23 miles of the Ghost Town Trail system in Cambria County, and includes the trail connection to Duman Lake County Park.

Proceeds from the Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon will go to the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority’s Friends of the Trails Program and the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association’s Fire Training Facility.