All the vehicles that passed us were very considerate. Spotted deer, bluejays and redtail hawk along the way. State Forest Hiking Trail, the West Rim Trail is a 30-mile hiking trail maintained along the western rim of Pennsylvanias Grand Canyon. About 62 miles round trip. Wonderful trail! Maybe some day. The DCNR has a great map that has distance in miles from one point to an other and has a lot of information. This 30-foot waterfall can be seen from the trail, but its even better to see up close. Not only is it home to some of the cleanest state forest bathrooms youll find, but it also features picnic tables, making this a great place to stop for lunch or just a quick break. This site uses affiliate links and cookies. The room was very clean and the food was good. We love this trail and have completed every mile at least twice. "I rode this trail end-to-end in mid-April, before the leaves were on the trees and most of the stores along the way were open. Looking for other biking adventuring in Pennsylvania? Again, the maintenance crew clears debris and smooths the trail regularly. SR 44 arrives at Waterville, 1,450 feet below the surrounding ridgetops. The Pine Creek trail is our best to date. Rode the trail in segments Thursday through Sunday, mostly out and back except for one day from Ansonia to Cedar Run then a pickup by Pine Creek Outfitters. We split a sandwich but honestly, neither of us was hungry. Never too windy and mostly shaded all the way. Even though I biked it on a fairly cool day in May, I still saw three snakes on the trail, including a rattlesnake. It's time to celebrate #MyFlickrYear22! The first day we rode about 23 miles to Cedar Run Village. Easy trail but beautiful and well maintained! I stayed at the Wellsboro Lodge, in an outside room what a dump. We are experienced riders my husband and I do between one and two thousand miles a year and this is one we look forward to every year. Not only is the upper half the more scenic, in my opinion, but traveling south will give you a slight downhill the whole way. ", "We have ridden the whole thing and it is a very nice ride, especially when you stop at Cedar Run for a treat. There are apparently a lot of rattlesnakes in this area and it was only a little further along the trail that we saw our one! Go 13.3 miles, take the Thomas St. exit, and turn left onto Thomas St. Go 0.2 mile, and turn right onto Railroad St. Go 0.2 mile, and turn left into the parking lot. Wind past dramatic rock outcrops and waterfalls along the trail. We love riding all of the trails in Western PA There are about 12 other ones besides the GAP trail that are long enough for a full days ride. If someone gets hurt there, it is a long time being rescued. It should also be noted that there is no cell service throughout much of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. My daughter and I were not able to eat the dinner. In this direction the average 4% grade is all downhill. The sites are grassy, level, have shade, picnic tables and fire rings. More on that service can be found at the end of this article. It is on Railroad Street. A great time and I highly recommend it. From rt.220, at the Jersey Shore area, a more scenic drive is rt. Starting at Slate Run, i went south to Jersey Shore, then the next day, i did the northern half (not bad for an old man). The Pine Creek Rail Trail is one of Pennsylvanias destination trails, and for good reason. Most offer ample parking, outhouses, and water pumps. The surface of this trail is the very best that I have ever been on, it is crushed limestone and is in great shape from end to end, the night between my round trip we had a number of thunder strom's come though over night and my ride back did not see any standing water. Tiadaghton Campground sits on the site ofa community that was once in the canyon. Although the pedaling was easy, there was never a time where we could just coast.
This portion is much less scenic so we actually turned around in the Village of Asaph (we explored Asaph but nothing and nobody was around) to begin the trip back to Slate Run. Jersey Shore is one of the gateway communities into the ""Pennsylvania Wilds."" This is one trail that lives up to it's billing. On the way out and back we stopped at several lovely locations that afforded us spectacular views. The beauty of the Pine Creek Rail Trail continues as you travel south beyond Tiadaghton Campground. We too rode the trail from Ansonia to Jersey Shore in two days over Memorial Day and loved it! A quick look at what is happening in the Central Susquehanna Valley, including upcoming events, new store openings, nature notes, and mor We dressed in layers, and took along light gloves. I am often asked where to find food at the northern end of the trail. Horses allowed on 9 mile section from Ansonia south To Tiadaghton. Linda, Thanks so much for that information. The gates are well marked and very easy to navigate. I was very fortunate to get the chance to go there by myself in September 2005, thanx to my lovely wife who was willing to watch the kids back home and enable me to do something I always wanted to do, bike camping. The best place to stay before your trip is at a hotel in Wellsboro, PA. During my visit, I was invited to stay at the Canyon Motel. Gorgeous rhododendron, day lilies, and other blooms along the trail. Although the Pine Creek Rail Trail as we know it, was constructed between 1995 and 2007, it has been a pathway for many for centuries. Without a doubt, the upper third of the Pine Creek Rail Trail passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Pennsylvania. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a thirty-minute drive west of downtown Las Vegas and offers visitors their choice of dozens of spectacular hiking routes. We rode this trail on 3 different days. If you started in Jersey Shore, the entire trip would have a slight uphill grade, making it a bit more challenging and slower going. Very few road crossings. At the end or beginning of your trip if you want to experience some civilization like I did, you can visit the quaint little town of historic Wellsboro. Visitors come the world over to ride this amazing trail, which features towering cliffs, beautiful scenery, and hidden waterfalls. While some others commented on discourteous riders, we ran into none. love this trail! no potholes, no clumps of dirt to skid in. As per Wikipedia the Native American Pine Creek Path followed pine creek to Ansonia and beyond. It's a beautiful ride through one of the most scenic areas in the Northeast. The one exception is an ice cream shop about half way but I didn't stop so I don't know the days or hours of operation. Foggy Long Pine Pond in the distance. Have you ever biked the Pine Creek Rail Trail? My friends were a bit less experienced riders and began feeling the ride. Glad it was helpful. Take lots of food and water and an extra pair of old sneakers to cross the very rocky swift moving creek, and a hiking stick helps too. I point that out in the guidebook and I dont recommend anyone visit those falls during warm months. I've traveled to many rail trails all over the US, and I still haven't found one better than this. Stop and take a moment to enjoy the compelling structure and surroundings. This trail is pretty long. From 1883 to 1988, rail lines carried timber, coal, and passengers through this canyon. USA Today called the Pine Creek Rails-to-trails one of the top ten bicycle paths in the nation several years ago. This section is mostly shaded with numerous restrooms along the way and another spot for food and water. I got off and rode the parallel road to make better time in some places on that end. The 3rd day we parked at the southern area and rode the portion from Jersey Shore to Waterville access area. The only con about starting from the southernmost entrance is there are some roads to crossover, so be very careful when doing so. Pine Creek Outfitters would pick up our car here and have it waiting for us at the end of our journey. There are several roads leading north into the PA canyon area. The park calls them the Fastest Route, the Easiest Route, the Ghost Town Route, and the Most Scenic Route. The trail itself is small, packed gravel and is very well kept. The Park Service does ask you to get a camping permit, but it is free. There are lots of restrooms the first 20 or so miles out of Waterville and after that it gets a little rustic up through the Pa grand canyon which is unbelievably beautiful. I think the entire area is just fantastic and beautiful. My wife and I rode the trail on July 27 and July 28, doing about 30 miles each day. From Blackwell, south you'll begin to ride through small villages that offer opportunities for food and water. Great trail. Here there are signs educating people about Didymo also known as rock snot which is an invasive algae that spreads easily and causes fish decline. We didn't see any wildlife today really, but there were so many people, out, that was not too surprising. The northern 30 or so miles. [Click here for information on how to use the coordinates in this article to find your destination.]. The trail surface was good on the northern end, with very little rolling resistance. Over all it was a great trip, even with the rain. You will not believe this trail and what the good people out there are doing for our recreational activities. There is an old train station near the trail head where visitor excursions are run. The family and I walked a couple miles of the trail up on the north end by Ansonia last year. Find the full privacy policy here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2016/11/privacy-policy.html, Coordinates for Rattlesnake Rock - N 41 32.440 W 077 24.324. With an overnight camp along the trail someplace. Otherwise, you can return the way you came. The trail condition was perfect and the weather was beautiful. Head west on Route 6 a few miles and there is the Coachstop Inn, Antlers Inn and the Log Cabin Inn. Based in the state capital of Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels around Pennsylvania and has visited, written about, and photographed all 67 counties in the state. I only found two places where I had a degree of cellphone service. "Yesterday, July 20, The Secretary of DCNR was in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, for an official dedication of the parking lot for the southern end of the Pine Creek rails-to-trails completing 56 miles from Ansonia to Jersey Shore. The scenery is beautiful and the trail is great. By the time we left Waterville, we were counting down the miles between comfort stations. I would definitely do it again, but with Big Apple tires. interesting informational boards to read at stops along the way. Great views of Pine Creek, mountainsa few bridges to cross. and talking. Also various camping facilities are located along the trail which are clean and are located right on the creek. I tried this trail last year, on the way home from the Great Allegheny Passage, in a heavy rain wearing a poncho. The trail is described as gravel, its pretty hard packed and great to ride you don't need a mountain bike to do it. It was truly the best 8 days of my life. Youll encounter numerous trailheads and towns along the final 33 miles to Jersey Shore (the name refers to an early family from New Jersey) on the West Branch Susquehanna River. Saw deer crossing the creek and a eagle on a rock looking for fish. The trail is very clean, well maintained, and extremely beautiful. The Golden Eagle Trail begins at the Clark Farm/Utceter Station Recreational Parking Area approximately 2.7 miles north of the village of Cammal, along PA Route 414 in the Pine Creek Valley, Lycoming County. If you go in summer, cool, clear Pine Creek may beckon you in for a dip. Had to bike on rt 44 to complete the trip. Comment below with your thoughts and suggestions. In Cedar Run, there are cabins along the creek, a beach area, a county store and the Inn. You may want to bring a filter. Great views, lots of wild flowers and animals. We had rain jackets with us, which helped. It is also where the Mid-State Trail, PAs longest hiking trail, meets the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council. Normally I take notes on a trip like this, so when I get home I can describe the trip photos a bit more accurately. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Campgrounds and access areas along the trail are similarly immaculate - they have a strict carry-in, carry-out policy. Between Darling Run and Blackwell there are several comfort stations but no access areas. About 3 am, a coyote made a howl in the campground adding a bit of excitement as it woke us both. Good swimming at rattlesnake rock and ice cream back up the road a bit. I wanted to ride pine creek last year and finely got there 6/10/16. this sounds like so much fun! This time it was the very beginning of May, the 1st and it was a beautiful mild temperature day to do a short ride. This place was PACKED. The one restaurant in Cedar Run was closed that day also. "I rode the entire length down and back on a beautiful October Day on my mountain bike. He indicated that they stay busy in the winter with snowmobilers and in the spring with fishermen as well as bikers and campers in the summer. The Finkbiner's do a great job of making a sandwich to suit anyone, and their selection of drinks is great for cyclists and other active customers. We love the Pine Creek Rail Trail! I recommend beginning your ride in Jersey Shore, as you'll go mostly up hill to start into Waterville. I was going for a endurance ride wanted to do my first ever 100 miler. Great write up.I always love your work. On the way back I saw a nice big black snake crossing the trail. This has to be one of the coolest setups that Ive ever seen for a cabin. The endpoint is about 0.9 mile east along the trail at Seminary St. (facing the railroad tracks, turn left along the Pine Creek Rail Trail). I am hoping to ride the entire length of the trail soon. The iced tea was refreshing! Crushed stone. This is an area that is worth exploring. While there is road access to this point, cars are not allowed to stay here overnight, making the campground only open to those traveling through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. 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