EBENSBURG — In an effort to showcase how the Ghost Town Trail and the Hoodlebug Trail connect communities across county lines, officials in Indiana and Cambria counties have teamed up to offer a 44-mile Seat to Seat bike ride.

Set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, participants will ride 32 miles on the Ghost Town Trail to Saylor Park in Burrell Township and continue another 12 miles on the Hoodlebug Trail and its extension to downtown Indiana.

The event is being held in partnership with the Indiana County Parks and Trails, the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority and the Cambria and Indiana Trail Council.

Registration is $35 and includes a long-sleeve T-shirt, bike storage and one-way shuttle service from Indiana Borough to Ebensburg.

The idea is that participants will drop their vehicles off at the end point in Indiana Borough and ride the shuttle to the start point in Ebensburg. Participants will need to leave their bikes either the night before (between 6 and 8 p.m.) or the morning of the event (beginning at 7:30 a.m.). Secure overnight storage will be available at the Young People’s Community Center.

All proceeds go to the Cambria and Indiana Trail Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports initiatives along the Ghost Town Trail, which traverses through both counties, said Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Assistant Executive Director Caytlin Lusk.

Since registration opened a couple weeks ago, about a dozen people have already signed up for the event, she said, noting the shuttle can accommodate up to 48 riders.

As people bike back to their vehicles in Indiana, they’ll experience the natural beauty of both trails and see plenty of fascinating historical features in several communities along the route in between the county seats of Cambria and Indiana counties, Lusk said.

“This is a really great way to showcase how important trail connections are,” Lusk said, adding she was excited to partner with Josh Krug, deputy director of the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development’s planning section, who came up with the idea for the event.

Krug said much work has been done over the last few decades to develop the regional trail network that exists in both counties. Specifically, over the last decade or so, there has been a concerted effort to connect the trail systems in more safe and meaningful ways to nearby downtowns along the route.

“This has happened on the northern end of the Hoodlebug Trail with the Indiana Multimodal Corridor-Hoodlebug Trail Extension, which goes through White Township, (the) IUP Campus and Indiana Borough to a northern trailhead at Eighth and Church streets in Indiana, where this ride will end,” Krug said.

Since the southern end of the Hoodlebug Trail connects to the Ghost Town Trail, which runs west from Ebensburg Borough to Saylor Park in Burrell Township, Indiana County, the two trails provide the opportunity to travel between the two county seats by way of walking, running or riding a bike, Krug said.

“This was the inspiration for the name and premise of the Seat to Seat ride,” he said, adding the ride’s primary purpose is to implement the Indiana County Active Transportation Plan, which was adopted in 2023 and prioritizes programming and promotion for active transportation.

“We are hopeful for

25 riders and we are prepared for more,” Krug said, adding officials will consider an additional bus, if necessary, so that as many people as possible can participate in the event.

Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Ramada by Wyndham, the Hilton Garden Inn and the Quality Inn in Indiana. Seat to Seat ride participants have been asked to inquire about available room blocks or visit the event’s website, www.icopd.org/s2s.html, for additional information.

Participants need to register on the website by Monday, Sept. 8, to guarantee their T-shirt.

Krug said officials are already planning next year’s ride, for which the route’s direction will likely switch to start in Indiana and end in Ebensburg.

“We are very excited about this event to help promote active transportation and the connectivity of the regional trail network,” Krug said.

Volunteers and sponsors are also being sought. More information on those opportunities can be found at www.icopd.org/s2s.html or contact Krug at jkrug@ceo.co.indiana.pa.us.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.

If you go

What: Seat to Seat bike ride

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20

Where: Start at the Young People’s Community Center Trailhead on the Ghost Town Trail in Ebensburg and end in Indiana Borough via the Hoodlebug Trail

Cost: $35 registration includes long-sleeve T-shirt, shuttle bus

To register: Visit www.icopd.org/s2s.html

Rentals: Bike rentals are available at the Young Peoples Community Center, including two electric bikes; rentals must be returned after the ride. People interested in renting a bike for the event should call 814-472-4277 to make arrangements.

Other information: Sustenance stations with water, snacks and first-aid kits will be available at Dilltown and Saylor Park, and “sweeper” riders will follow the group to ensure no one is left behind.