Note: 5.7 miles of the Heritage Rail Trail's northern extension is now complete and open to the public. This northern extension does not yet connect to the 21.5 miles of rail trail south of the City of York, and there is now a temporary 8-block on-road connection. The City of York will be constructing an off-road dedicated connector in 2020, at which time the Heritage Rail Trail will be approx. 28 miles in length.
The trail travels south 21.5 miles passing through eleven municipalities including the towns of Seven Valleys, Glen Rock, Railroad and New Freedom and adjoins directly with the Maryland Northern Central Railroad Trail (20 mile non-motorized rail trail). This trail, located in the center of York County, is the central spine of a planned greenway trail system to interconnect communities. Trail amenities include twelve interpretive signs that explore natural and historic features such as:
- Hanover Junction Railroad Station - A rail stop with a connection to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
- Howard Tunnel, 1838 - A 250 foot long tunnel named for a Revolutionary War soldier from Baltimore
- New Freedom Railroad Station , 1860 - Served as a passenger and freight station until 1971
- Mason Dixon Line
- The old line of freedom
- Agricultural - Numerous preservation lands adjoin the trail
The trail is constructed adjacent to the railroad tracks (tracks remain in place and are usable) with a surface of crushed compacted stone. The cost to construct the trail totaled 3.7 million dollars. Funding partners included: federal, state, county and municipal dollars, individual and corporate donations as well as utility fees collected for use of the corridor. In 2006, visitation to the trail totaled 310,295.
