HARRISBURG, Pa. (EYT) — State officials on Wednesday released a complete digital trail data resource for Pennsylvania state parks, providing detailed information on more than 1,750 miles of formal trails.
According to a press release, the new information is publicly available through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s Open Data Portal and Interactive Map.
The resource is designed to support outdoor recreation, mobile app development, land management, conservation planning, and emergency response.
“This new trail data resource marks a major advancement in our geospatial resources,” said State Parks Director John Hallas. “We’ve gone beyond simply mapping trails. Each segment now includes more than 30 detailed attributes that show how trails are used and maintained, and how they fit into larger ecological, recreational, and infrastructure systems.”
To build the inventory, DCNR staff surveyed every state park trail using GPS equipment. Field teams documented details such as width, surface material, and use designation.
Expanded trail information has also been added to each state park’s webpage, giving visitors details on trail difficulty, design, and notable features.
The outdoor recreation industry contributed $19 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy in 2023, an increase of 10 percent from the previous year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The sector supports more than 168,000 jobs.