Most people drive past the cement kilns in Coplay without knowing what they are. Nine massive brick structures, each rising ninety feet into the air, standing in a row like the ruins of some ancient civilization. They were built in 1893 for the Coplay Cement Company and operated for just eleven years before being abandoned. Today, they are an open air museum, visible from the Ironton Rail Trail, and they are among the most striking industrial ruins in Pennsylvania.
The kilns are just one attraction along the Ironton Rail Trail, a nine mile path that loops through Whitehall Township, Coplay, and North Whitehall in Lehigh County. The trail connects nearly a dozen parks and two dozen historical sites, making it one of the most interesting rail trails in the region.
The Route
The main trail forms a 5.3 mile paved loop, with a 3.9 mile spur extending west toward the village of Ironton. The surface is smooth enough for strollers and wheelchairs, making it one of the most accessible trails in the Lehigh Valley. The grade is flat to gentle, following the old rail bed without any significant climbs.
The loop connects parks that provide rest stops, playgrounds, and picnic areas along the way. You can walk, bike, fish at designated spots, or cross country ski when winter arrives. Dogs are welcome on leash.
The History
What makes the Ironton Rail Trail special is its connection to the industrial history of the Lehigh Valley. The cement kilns are the headliner, but the trail passes through a landscape shaped by the cement, iron, and railroad industries that built this region. Interpretive signs along the route explain what you are seeing, turning a casual walk into an informal history lesson.
The rail bed itself tells a story. Trains once carried cement, iron ore, and freight along these tracks. The villages the trail connects grew up around these industries. Walking the trail is walking through the economic history of the Lehigh Valley in a way that no museum can replicate.
A Local Favorite
The Ironton Rail Trail has a loyal community of users who walk and ride it daily. Morning joggers share the path with parents pushing strollers. Cyclists cruise the loop in both directions. On weekend afternoons, the parking areas fill up and the trail hums with activity.
The trail association maintains the path beautifully, with regular cleanups, seasonal events, and ongoing efforts to extend the trail and improve connections to other paths in the region. It is a volunteer driven operation that reflects the pride the surrounding communities take in this resource.
If you live in the northern part of the Lehigh Valley and you haven't explored the Ironton Rail Trail, you have a great weekend ahead of you. Park at any of the trailheads, pick a direction, and go. The kilns will be waiting for you.
