By KURT BRESSWEIN

The Express-Times

EASTON (TNS) — Pennsylvania’s 2025 Trail of the Year blends natural beauty and outdoor recreation with deep — and tragic — historical significance.

The 14-mile Path of the Flood Trail in the Cambria County community of South Fork follows the historic route of the catastrophic 19th century Great Johnstown Flood.

State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials announced the Trail of the Year designation May 30 for the destination in west-central Pennsylvania.

“Path of the Flood is a special trail that reflects the region’s history and provides a vibrant space for recreation and community engagement,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a news release. “I hope this designation brings even more visitors to explore the trail, supporting local businesses and fostering economic, environmental, and social benefits to the region.”

The flood struck May 31, 1889. It’s one of the most devastating tragedies to ever afflict the Keystone State — unprecedented in the property destroyed and lives lost, according to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Johnstown in the 1800s had become a boom town, as forests were clear-cut for lumber at the local sawmills and the iron industry grew. By 1854, the Pennsylvania Railroad completed continuous rail service across the state. This meant the decline of traffic on the Pennsylvania Canal that helped carry passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The canal was supplied with water by way of an earthen dam completed in 1852 on Lake Conemaugh, 450 feet above the community and initially known as the Western Reservoir or South Fork Dam.

By 1880, the reservoir became the property of South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Its 60 or so members included prominent industrialists with names like Carnegie and Mellon, who enjoyed the recreation the impoundment and surrounding grounds offered. Maintenance of the dam, however, fell to neglect and its discharge pipes were removed, making it difficult if not impossible to control the lake’s level, according to state historians.

“The center of the dam sagged because of inadequate repairs after a previous break,” PHMC researchers wrote. “Warnings from a few perceptive individuals fell on indifferent ears of the club’s officials. As for the vast majority of Johnstown’s residents, the heavy rains of May 1889, the storms of the month’s last few days, and the rising water in the streets, seemed not to alarm them. They had experienced previous floods that had spawned rumors that the dam would break. Little did they know what awaited them on the afternoon of May 31.”

The dam gave way at 3:15, as 20 million tons of water formed a wall 36 feet high traveling 14 miles at 40 miles per hour. It hit Johnstown, home to 30,000 people, at 4:07, after first striking the towns of South Fork, Mineral Point, East Conemaugh and Woodvale — wiping out most of them, according to the PHMC.

More than 2,000 were killed, and 900 were listed as missing. Some 600 homes and 280 businesses were leveled.

Today, the trail draws around 80,000 visitors annually, including international tourists, according to the DCNR.

It is an important economic and cultural asset for Cambria County — population 130,108, according to the U.S. Census Bureau estimate of July 2024. From a statewide perspective, the trail contributes to a $19 billion outdoor recreation industry, representing 2% of Pennsylvania’s gross domestic product.

The Path of the Flood Trail features crushed stone and pavement that makes it accessible for a variety of activities, including biking, hiking, running, birdwatching, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Its historical significance is further elevated by its inclusion in the 9/ 11 National Memorial Trail, a corridor connecting national sites of remembrance. Development and maintenance of the trail are a collaborative effort led by the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority and the National Park Service, supported by local businesses and volunteers.

“We are honored to celebrate this incredible honor for the Path of the Flood Trail and are excited to share the Pennsylvania’s top trail for 2025 with the public,” Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority Executive Director Cliff Kitner stated after the DCNR recognition was announced. “This trail is a testament to the partnership between partners at the local and county level, as well as with DCNR and the National Park Service. We would not be here celebrating today without the synergy that maintains this amazing trail and the history of this region.”