Canoe Creek State Park — Limestone Trail / Blair Limestone Company Kilns

Walk an abandoned railroad grade to giant lime-kiln ruins hidden inside a wildlife-rich state park. Follow an old railroad grade beside Mary Ann's Creek to a row of enormous industrial lime kilns left from Pennsylvania's steel era.

This 2.2-mile out & back on limestone trail adventure in Allegheny Front / Hollidaysburg is best approached as a real outing, not simply a pin on a map. The experience centers on Canoe Creek State Park — Limestone Trail / Blair Limestone Company Kilns, with the route and stopping points chosen to make the defining features accessible from the documented public starting point. Allow time to enjoy the setting rather than racing through it.

GETTING THERE & STARTING OUT Enter Canoe Creek State Park and use the main beach-area parking lots. The Limestone Trail begins near the northeast corner of the parking area; use the red blazes. Follow the old railroad grade, cross the park road and Mary Ann's Creek, then continue upstream until the Blair Limestone Company kiln remnants appear beside the route. View the historic structures without climbing them and return by the same red-blazed trail. Your documented starting point is Beach Area Parking — Limestone Trail. Use that access rather than navigating directly to a scenic feature, which may not have legal parking or a public approach. For driving navigation, the recorded destination is Canoe Creek State Park Beach Area, 205 Canoe Creek Road, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

THE ROUTE & WHAT TO EXPECT The recorded outing is approximately 2.2 miles with about 120 feet of elevation gain and is categorized as light effort. Along the way, key route elements include red blazes, old railroad grade, Mary Ann's Creek, bridges and Blair Limestone Company kilns. The recorded time allowance is 1–1.5 hours. The route information describes the intended experience, not a guarantee that every segment is signed or maintained. Use the land manager’s current map and posted instructions to make decisions at junctions.

WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL The red-blazed Limestone Trail follows the old railroad grade used by the limestone operation. The Blair Limestone Company kilns supplied quicklime tied to Pennsylvania's iron and steel industry. The official trail is 1.1 miles; an out-and-back from the beach-area trailhead makes about 2.2 miles. Canoe Creek also protects a bat maternity colony and a monitored limestone-mine hibernation site.

LOOK CLOSER Canoe Creek is also a Pennsylvania Important Mammal Area. Learn why its old limestone landscape now protects some of the park's most important bat habitat. The Blair Limestone Company was a subsidiary of Jones and Laughlin Steel Company. Canoe Creek is a Pennsylvania Important Mammal Area with a bat maternity colony and monitored hibernation mine.

SEASON, CONDITIONS & SAFETY State park trails are available year-round; snow, ice and hunting seasons change conditions. Relevant hazards identified in the source research include ticks, wet bridges, hunting seasons, historic structures, winter ice. Before leaving, check trail maintenance, hunting seasons, snow/ice, temporary park advisories. Dogs are recorded as allowed on leash; follow all posted rules and keep them controlled.

BEFORE YOU GO No reservation or permit is required for ordinary day hiking. This Challenge is ordinary day hiking to a state-park historic site. No entrance, parking, trail or kiln-viewing fee is required. Check current hours, trail or tour availability, and on-site signs before traveling. Bring appropriate water, footwear and layers for the terrain and forecast. Respect closures, neighboring private land and any protected natural or historic features.