About Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
The first railroad to cross the Allegheny Mountains, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the final piece of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. "The Portage" opened in 1834, marking the first time that there was one, direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. All things to all people, it served merchants, passengers, slaves in pursuit of freedom, and soldiers from the Mexican War.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
The park is located in Cambria County, PA, and is at the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. Therefore, the park often takes on winter extremes. If planning on traveling from a long distance, please contact the park beforehand to ensure that the facilities are open. Please consult weather forecasts to…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Pennsylvania. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
The Visitor Center, Engine House No. 6 Exhibit Shelter and the Lemon House are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Buildings are open Fridays through Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Park grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset, weather permitting. Park buildings are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Times listed in "All Park Hours" reflect building operations.
Activities
Current Alerts
Due to a rockfall, the interior of the Staple Bend Tunnel is closed. The trail is still open. From the Mineral Point Trailhead, visitors can bypass the tunnel, via a path around the right side of the tunnel structure.
Getting There
The park is located just off U.S. Route 22 approximately 12 miles west of Altoona and 10 miles east of Ebensburg. Take the Gallitzin Exit and turn right, following the signs. Visitors prior to 1992 accessed the park in other ways, but the Gallitzin Exit of US Route 22 is the way to access the visitor center and historic area.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Allegheny Portage Railroad Van Tours
Please check back for 2026 van tour dates!
Summer Programs
Costumed rangers conduct a variety of program offerings throughout the summer season.
Evening on the Summit
Attend an Evening on the Summit program select Tuesday evenings during the summer months.
Guided Hikes
Heritage Hikes are led by a park ranger during the summer months. The distance varies by hike. Reservations are required.
Living History Day
Living History Day is an annual event at the park!
Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter
Visitors to Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter can view full scale models of the mechanisms that would have originally been…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Lemon House
The Lemon House tavern, built by Sam and Jean Lemon in the early 1830s, was a stop along the Allegheny Portage Railroad…
Explore the Summit Level Visitor Center
The Visitor Center has exhibits and a 20-minute park movie that is shown upon request. The Allegheny Portage Railroad, part of the…
Participate in the Junior Ranger program!
The Junior Ranger program is available in the Visitor Center. Ask the Ranger on duty for a booklet. The number of activities…
Hike or bike to the Staple Bend Tunnel
The Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in America, can be accessed from the trailhead on Beech Hill Road in Mineral…
Hike the Inclines 6 to 10 Trail
The Inclines 6 to 10 Trail follows the route of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The hiking sections of the trail are located…
Summit Level Visitor Center bookstore
The bookstore at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is operated by America's National Parks and is located in the Visitor Center.…
The picnic area
Enjoy lunch in our picnic area! Many picnic tables are available for use. Some are covered by a pavilion. Shade trees provide…
The Skew Arch Bridge
The Skew Arch Bridge is an original feature of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. It is the only road bridge that was built…
Watch the park movie
The park movie is 20 minutes in length and is shown upon request in the Visitor Center theater during the building's hours…
Hike along the Summit Level
At the bottom of the boardwalk at Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter, visitors are walking along the Summit Level of the Allegheny…
Visitor Centers
Summit Level Visitor Center
Located immediately off of US Route 22 at the Gallitzin Exit, this is the best place to start your tour. The Visitor Center has a…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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