Shippensburg: Rail Trail, Dykeman Park, and History

Shippensburg offers different reasons to visit: the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail runs for a long distance from downtown, Dykeman Park brings together trails and open space, and historic buildings give the community’s history a tangible setting. Ship First Fridays also take place on a regular schedule from April through October. When planning your trip, it’s worth first considering whether you’d like to focus on outdoor activity, scenery, history, or an event experience.

A long route on the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail

The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail runs from downtown Shippensburg, along the edge of Shippensburg University, to Greenhill Road beyond Newville. It is just under 13 miles long in total. This makes it a considerably longer route option than a short trail within an open space. If you’re interested in this trail, you can take its stated endpoints and total distance into account when planning your day. The route passes the university and continues beyond Newville; its course can therefore be followed using specific locations. The length refers to the Rail Trail as a whole and offers a factual guide to whether a longer route suits your planned stay.

Trails and open space at Dykeman Park

Dykeman Park is a preserved 56-acre open space surrounding the historic Dykeman Springs. The park has several different trails: the Dykeman Walking Trail, the Dykeman Park Meadow Trail, and the Dykeman Park Upland Trail. There are also two ponds, several picnic tables, and the Dykeman Baseball Field. These different features give the park a character distinct from the long Rail Trail: here, several named trails sit alongside other features of a larger open space. If you’re interested in scenery and walking trails, you’ll find specific names and places to include in your plans. Dykeman Springs is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so the site’s historical significance is another aspect of Shippensburg beyond its open space.

Community history in historic buildings

The Shippensburg Historical Society is housed in the Dr. Alexander Stewart House, an 18th-century limestone and brick mansion. The building is located in the heart of Shippensburg’s Historic District. The society collects and preserves the community’s history. If you’re interested in local history, you can connect two specific points of reference here: a historic house with named building materials and a date, and the work of an organization focused on the community’s history. Another restored building is Widow Piper’s Tavern. It now serves as the home of the Shippensburg Civic Club. These different building names and uses broaden the historical perspective beyond a single house.

Ship First Fridays from April through October

Ship First Fridays take place on the first Friday of each month from April through October at Ship Station. They include food trucks, a beer garden, and live music. If you’re planning your trip during this period, you can consider the event as a potential focus for your visit. Its monthly schedule and set venue make it easier to see whether the date fits your travel group’s interests. The event differs from the scenic and historical points of interest: it offers a scheduled experience with food, a beer garden, and music, while the trail, park, and buildings provide other themes for your stay.

When looking for a vacation rental in Shippensburg, you can first decide what you’d like to focus on: a longer route, the trails and features of Dykeman Park, insights into the community’s history, or a visit during Ship First Fridays. These interests can help you narrow down the kind of stay you’re looking for without letting any one theme overshadow the other options. Other places to discover as you plan your trip include Mechanicsburg, Wormleysburg, Boiling Springs, Enola, Carlisle, Camp Hill, and New Cumberland.

For the broader travel overview: Cumberland.