The trail was made from tracks of the defunct Ironton Railroad and includes a paved 5 mi (8.0 km) loop.
[2] The trail has many events such as a 10k race held every year.
It transported iron ore from mines in Ironton, Pennsylvania to the Thomas Iron Company plant in Hokendauqua, Pennsylvania.
The railroad was acquired by the Reading Company in 1923 and was consolidated into Conrail in 1976.
[3] Right of way for the 9.2 miles (14.8 km) stretch that would become the Ironton Rail Trail was purchased from Conrail in 1996.