HARRISBURG — The Redbank Valley Trails in Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson counties is the 2014 Trail of the Year in Pennsylvania, announced Ellen Ferretti, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources secretary.

This is the first year the state has named a Trail of the Year winner.

Much of the 51-mile Redbank Valley Trails runs along Redbank Creek and includes bridges and stone arches. The trail connects schools, soccer fields and rural areas to commercial and residential centers.

One spur begins at the Allegheny River about 3 miles east of East Brady, while another begins south of Sligo. The spurs meet in Madison Township, Clarion County, and then it continues as one trail and ends in Brookville, Jefferson County, according to the DCNR news release.

The trail network is a former railroad line. The Allegheny Valley Land Trust has the title to the corridor and works with the Redbank Valley Trails Association to improve the trail. Volunteers have contributed more than 3,000 hours per year since 2010 to trail development.

Redbank Valley Trails connects to the Armstrong Trail and from there to the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail and to the Great Allegheny Passage to Washington, D.C. It also is part of an initiative to connect Pittsburgh to Ridgway in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

This new Trail of the Year designation is coordinated by DCNR to elevate public awareness of trails in the state.

“Eighteen fantastic trails were nominated during this inaugural year for this designation,” Ferretti said. “Redbank Valley Trails stood out because of the dedicated work of tremendous volunteers; its scenic beauty; connection to other trail systems; and quick and efficient pace of development.”

Darla Kirkpatrick, Redbank Valley Trails Association president, said, “The Trail of the Year designation will help us garner more support so we can improve and open the Climax Tunnel; finish surfacing more miles; add amenities; attract more businesses for needed economic development in the region; and make more people aware of this truly beautiful recreational asset.”

For information on the trail, visit Facebook and a website at www.redbankvalleytrails.org.

To honor the Trail of the Year, the DCNR will create a commemorative poster.