Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site in Pennsylvania, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-22. Check linked official notices before travel.

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site explains how Pennsylvania carried canal traffic across the Allegheny Mountains. Start at the Summit Level Visitor Center near Gallitzin for exhibits, the Lemon House, and Engine House 6. Plan the separate Staple Bend Tunnel trail as another outing: its interior is closed because of a rockfall.

Railroad engineering on the mountain

• Summit Level: See exhibits that explain the inclined-plane railway and the canal connection.
• Lemon House: Explore the setting of an 1840s tavern alongside the railroad.
• Staple Bend: Walk or cycle the separate approach trail to the historic tunnel portals, without entering the closed tunnel.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check the building schedule before a trip focused on indoor exhibits.

Prepare for slopes and changing weather

Wet leaves, ice, and uneven surfaces can make walking difficult. Wear shoes with traction and carry drinking water. Check the mountain forecast before setting out. Cell service can be unreliable.

Do not enter the closed tunnel. The Staple Bend access notice describes the bypass to the right when approaching from Mineral Point. Follow posted closures if conditions change.

Protect the historic route

Keep pets on a physical restraint no longer than 6 feet where permitted. Remove their waste. Pets cannot enter public buildings; service animals have a separate exception. Use bicycles only on designated routes, including the Staple Bend Trail, rather than assuming every walking path permits them.

Picnics and permitted activities

The picnic area and pavilion operate first come, first served. The park does not reserve them. Contact staff about group activities or special uses. A special-use permit application carries a nonrefundable $50 fee, with additional administrative costs possible. Read the permit instructions before arranging an event.

Group camping requires the superintendent's permit and a designated site. Do not treat the grounds as an ordinary walk-up campground.

Find the Summit complex or the tunnel trailhead

For the main visit, use 110 Federal Park Road, Gallitzin, Pennsylvania 16641. Take the Gallitzin exit from US 22 and turn right from either approach. Follow park signs if a navigation app directs you toward Gallitzin town or the picnic area. There is no visitor-center entrance from old Route 22 beside the Lemon House.

The Staple Bend trail starts near Mineral Point, off Beech Hill Road. It is separate from the Summit complex. Download the route map before leaving the visitor center. Keep the emergency access road clear at the trailhead.

Nearby stops by road

• Johnstown Flood National Memorial: Reach the visitor center near Saint Michael via US 219, PA 869, and Lake Road.
• Canoe Creek State Park: Continue toward Hollidaysburg for lake and trail recreation. Its entrance is reached from US 22 at Turkey Valley Road.

Choose exhibits, historic buildings, or a trail

Begin with the visitor center's 20-minute interpretive film, canal-boat model, and railroad exhibits. Continue to Engine House 6 and the Lemon House to connect the machinery with life beside the route. Schedule this visit on a building-open day.

For Staple Bend, allow for a 4-mile round trip from the Mineral Point trailhead on crushed limestone. Bicycles are permitted on this approach. The tunnel interior remains off limits. Other park trails vary in surface and gradient; choose a route from the map instead of treating the historic railroad line as one continuous easy walk.

Visitor services and access assistance

The Summit Level Visitor Center has exhibits, a bookstore, accessible restrooms, and a drinking fountain with a bottle-filling station. RV parking is in the upper lot. Picnic facilities serve visitors who bring a meal.

Wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for loan at the visitor center. Ask staff about availability and assistance to the historic buildings. Some paths have slopes or uneven surfaces. Review the detailed mobility information for the route you intend to use.

About the mountain crossing

Linking two canal basins

The railroad opened in 1834 between Hollidaysburg and Johnstown. Ten inclined planes carried traffic over the mountain, with five on each side. Stationary engines pulled cars by ropes on the inclines, while locomotives worked the more level sections. The system connected the canal basins that the mountains separated.

Forest along a historic corridor

Oak forest surrounds parts of the old railroad route. White-tailed deer live in this landscape. Watch animals without approaching or feeding them, and keep the historic corridor and its vegetation undisturbed.

Contact the park

Call 814-886-6150 for visit planning, access assistance, or permitted activities. The National Park Service maintains the official site information.