Trail Town
Harrisburg
Dauphin County, PA
State capital
About Harrisburg
Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania, sits along the banks of the Susquehanna River and serves as a historic, cultural, and transportation hub in the heart of Central Pennsylvania. With a rich legacy dating back to the 18th century, Harrisburg is home to the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, museums, riverfront parks, and diverse neighborhoods. Its walkable downtown and extensive trail networks make it a natural stopping point for regional trail users and long-distance recreational travelers alike.
9/11 Connection
Harrisburg plays a central role in honoring the Commonwealth’s connection to the events of September 11, 2001. The attacks claimed the lives of approximately 30 Pennsylvania residents, and the state was directly impacted by the crash of Flight 93 in Somerset County, a defining moment in the national response to that day. In Harrisburg, remembrance is marked through annual ceremonies, memorials, and educational efforts at institutions such as the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum and local campuses, reflecting both statewide loss and the service of first responders. Through these acts of remembrance, the capital city helps ensure that the lives lost and the sacrifices made on 9/11 remain part of Pennsylvania’s collective memory.
Trail Access
Entering from the north in Harrisburg, the 9/11 National Memorial Trail follows the Susquehanna River corridor into Pennsylvania’s capital region. Entering the city, the route overlaps with established local trail infrastructure, including shared-use paths through Riverfront Park, providing a continuous waterfront passage through downtown with direct access to parks, services, and civic spaces. The 9/11 Trail also incorporates portions of the Capital Area Greenbelt, using its river-adjacent and park-connected segments to navigate through and around the city center.
Harrisburg also serves as a key junction on the memorial route. From the city, trail users may continue along the primary north–south alignment or choose to follow the South Central Pennsylvania Loop, a connected circuit that travels through surrounding communities, including the historic Gettysburg, PA, before rejoining the triangular route. This structure allows Harrisburg to function as both a through-route city and a hub for extended regional travel within the broader memorial trail network.