Nuts everywhere - acorns, black walnuts and chestnuts. Go 9.8 miles; stay straight on SR 287 N. Go 11.7 miles, and turn right onto SR 287/Main St. Go 0.3 mile, and stay straight on US 6/SR287/-Roosevelt Hwy. Continuing up the trail for another minute or so will bring you to the three slides that make up Pine Island Run Falls. We intended to camp overnight, but it rained the whole day. I rode on the Pine Creek Trail for three days and found there is lots of scenery and picturesque places along the trail.The only problem is I was able to only find one snack / drink stop along the 40 trail miles that I covered in Blackwell PA next to the trail. Wellsboro offers additional lodging and food.. highly recommended to stay in Wellsboro. I got off and rode the parallel road to make better time in some places on that end. One of our favorite rides was a two-day trip along the entire length. I chose this trail as my Daughter(grown woman with a family of her own) was accompanying me and this would be her first experience on a rail trail bike trip. I read a review on someone on slicks, so I put a pair on. Trail traffic was minimal during my Friday afternoon ride sometimes going 5-6 or more miles without seeing another soul heading the opposite direction. The iced tea was refreshing! Located four miles south of Tiadaghton, this stream is home to three easy-to-reach waterfalls, though they cannot be seen from the trail. 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! One thing to note, do pay attention to wildlife. 94 views. At 2.4 miles a lean-to is located on the right of the trail. There is lots of wildlife along this section of trail. The stretches with new gravel were a bit difficult, as we are so spoiled by Allegheny Valley and Sandy Creek, but the majority of the trail was very rideable on either bike, if not the asphalt we are used to. I didn't see one pothole. 287 north to Morris and Wellsboro, or the most scenic drive, rt. The only town/village you pass through is Blackwell. From rt.220, at the Jersey Shore area, a more scenic drive is rt. The Darling Run Access Area offers bathrooms and an information station. ", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Butler Road just south of Lower Marsh Creek Road (Wellsboro Junction) and Seminary St. between McClintock Alley and Fountain St. (Jersey Shore). Those wanting to bike further can continue on the Pine Creek Rail Trail for another 35 miles until it meets the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Jersey Shore, PA. Pine Creek Outfitters offers bike rentals and shuttles on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. We rode the 62 mile trek in one day and what a wonderful ride it was. This 16 mile section is the most secluded and pristine, this is the national natural landmark known as the Pine Creek gorge or the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The rail trail leads through open, sunny fields for about 8 miles along the southern terminus. And the truth is, all of these falls dry up in the summer anyway, so visitors will be pretty disappointed once they make the effort to get there. I hope to do other sections of this RT in the future. So much so, that I wrote a guidebook about it so that others could know what I know about it. From the trail head at the north, it's about a 4 1/2 mile bike ride along the road into Wellsboro and construction has begun to extend the trail into town - I'm not sure when completion is expected. The trail is in great shape. Leonard Harrison is on the eastern side of the canyon rim and Colton Point is on the western side. The bridge can be found at the following coordinates: 41.588745, -77.385519. PA Grand Canyon and the Pine Creek Rail Trail - Read this Mile by Mile Guide. Many vistas have been cleared along the trail to provide hikers with views of the Pine Creek Valley. Lots of mountains, hills, streams.highly recommend this bike trail . The trail slopes imperceptibly downhill alongside Pine Creek, from Wellsboro Junction in the north to Jersey Shore in the south. An additional Appalachian Regional Commission Grant for $67,000 will help renovate the historic train station to include handicap-accessible bathrooms and an information center highlighting recreation activities and destinations available throughout the region. Popular with fishermen. We rode 35 miles first day and 40 miles 2nd day. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Actually, it was before ANYTHING was open -- almost. The scenery was perfect, and we saw wildlife all along the way. Trail is in excellent shape. Highly recommend this trip to any rails to trails riders. Water in the creek was low due to lack of rainfall during the summer but views of creek with early fog in the mtns and later blue skies was fantastic. Inns and ice cream shops are nearby. My only issue was lack of water availability on the trail. There is a lake at the end of the trail (Lake Isabel). Without a doubt, the upper third of the Pine Creek Rail Trail passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Pennsylvania. The Cedar Run General Store serves ice cream and in a great location. The route passes between Colton Point State Park on the right and Leonard Harrison State Park on the left. No services. during a two day trip that took a little over 16 hours to complete. For 55 of its 62 miles it hugs Pine Creek, providing great views of dramatic rock outcrops and numerous waterfalls. Check out the Great Allegheny Passage in southwestern PA or go mountain biking on the Allegrippis Trails in Huntindgon County. The only trouble we encountered was just south of Blackwell street traffic is directed onto the trail due to a road construction project. I started from the Jershey Shore entrance and went to Black Walnut Bottom and back, which is roughly 56 miles round trip according to the map; however, it did not seem that long. I got mine on the trail itself. Between 1820 and 1833, trees were floated down to sawmills in Jersey Shore and Williamsport. To get there you need to do the following: Going North on Route 220, take a right onto Route 44 Main Street into town. Nice scenery along the creek saw some nice size trout, couple deer with fawns. Make sure you pack enough water to get you through your entire trip. A. The Pine Creek Rail Trail Guidebook Photo by: merlinsolis Bridge Uploaded: 5/5/2018 The trail crosses the Pine Creek and many feeders along the way. Just beyond the swinging bridge, youll enter Leonard Harrison State Park. We averaged 6 to 10 minutes a mile depending on stops. This is a must-ride! Excellent trail. Big birds, rabbits, chipmunks, deer, ducks, snakes and one bear. Excellent! Have you ever biked the Pine Creek Rail Trail? My favorite trail! To stay at a campground in the state forest, like Tiadaghton Campground, contact the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. interesting informational boards to read at stops along the way. The Pine Creek Trail is located in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The trail itself is finely crushed limestone, well packed and in excellent shape. The trail walks through Little Pine State Park, continuing through various parcels of Tiadaghton State Forest and State Game Lands 75. The trail is flat and very well maintained. 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. There were bear tracks on the trail. Great views of Pine Creek, mountainsa few bridges to cross. My First Rattlesnake, Pine Creek Rail Trail, August 2009. The nice folks at Pine Creek Outfitters (in Ansonia) drove our car down to the Waterville parking area. Water was available at Tiadaughton and Darling Run access areas. I started in Jersey Shore to a point between Slate Run and Cedar Run. ", "Following a wedding in Erie,PA my wife and I decided to spend some time in the Central part of PA. We both enjoy Rail Trails so I had researched and found this trail. Did a round trip starting at Whitetail and rode to dry creek convenience stop, 23 miles total. Ask for an inside room or stay some where else. The last freight passed through in 1988, and the trail was born in 1996 and extended to its present length in 2012. One day we rode about 8 miles to the north end of the trail and then we found a really nice paved road just past a local produce store to put in some really pleasant miles on some paved road. I did a two day ride on May 1 and 2 riding from Jersey Shore to Wellsboro Junction on day 1 and back on day 2. This section is mostly shaded with numerous restrooms along the way and another spot for food and water. After a fantastic dinner at the B&B and a great breakfast the next morning, we rode north and felt as though we were on a different trail. The Trail follows the Pine Creek almost its entire length. There is sufficient room for horse trailers to maneuver and park. about 30 miles all together. . Every September there is a 100 mile ultramarathon that runs through the rail trail, and I've completed the challenge 5 times. It is an unfortunate annoyance. The ride is about as wild and adventuresome as they get in Pennsylvania, without being overly strenuous. From the Ansonia access area to Tiadaghton, horse riders can use the dirt road that travels along side of the rail trail. The Pine Creek trail is our best to date. SR 44 arrives at Waterville, 1,450 feet below the surrounding ridgetops. 6 for 7.7 miles to Ansonia then parallels rt. The trail is very tightly packed gravel, it almost seems like asphalt at times. I saw four; I could see them perched in the sycamore trees catching the early morning sun as they watched the PC for fish. We biked in with our fishing rods and stopped in the Grand Canyon area (just at the foot of the Turkey Path Trail). EN. A short story of my first encounter with an Eastern Timber Rattlesnake, told from the snakes point of view. We rode the trail every other day for about a week. His proper name isCrotalus Horridus, but this one prefers to be called Doug. The trail follows right next to the Pine Creek crossing nice bridges back and forth over the creek. 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. 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. We were saddle sore! Your one photo was Slate Run. Families, Friends and Couples will all enjoy The Pine Creek Rail Trail, one of Pennsylvanias most scenic treasures. Very few road crossings. Lodging Attractions Map Pictures. I love the canyon, if you enjoy wildlife, I.e. I constantly got slowed down by people riding side by side, instead of single file. I also enjoyed the ducks (Mergansers?) Book a room at any of the quaint motels in the area and wind your way through some of the best scenery the Grand Canyon of PA has to offer, especially in the fall. We have found only a few other trails that even come close to matching the overall quality and experience of biking along Pine Creek. Monday I rode back to Waterville. It was in the canyon itself. PA Grand Canyon Lodging Map. After the first few miles you will see few people, but the trail is perfect for miles! Trail was in excellent condition as it was smooth and the hard packed crushed stone made for easy pedaling. The Pine Creek Outfitters drove our car for us down to the Jersey Shore, so it was waiting for us when we got there on Sunday. You may want to bring a filter. We had rain jackets with us, which helped. Be sure to bring extra water as there are no places to stop to refill until and limited restrooms along this section. By then we had ridden 31 miles and the temperature was in the low 80s. 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. Beautiful scenery, met people on the trail so that made for a fun ride. There is a one to two percent grade on entire trail. I seriously wouldnt recommend using that Trailhead if you dont have an all wheel or four wheel drive vehicle! Rode from Rattlesnake access area to Jersey Shore. Hilborn Field Comfort Station Here we are a little more than halfway to our turn around point of Black Walnut Bottom. Also be advised that there was no cell service the entire 42 mile length one-way through the canyon that I rode out and back. Recommendations: Trail slopes gently downhill from north to south (i.e. Darling Run has a parking area, comfort facilities and posted information. I had a squirrel playing chicken with me; I think I just touched his tail with my front tire. The northern section is bound by state parks, and more food and lodging are available in the south. This is our Favorite trail even over the Katy and GAP. The trail does not go into Wellsboro but stops 5 miles out of town. Comparing with the D&L Trails (my every weekend stress relief ride)Pine Creek is cleaner, very convenient comfort stations at every 8 to 10 milesnot sure if it is the same north of Blackwell (I'll find out next time), well maintained trail. Premier Host. Saw a bald eagle. There are a lot of seasonal homes and cabins along the creek. Cedar Run also has ice cream on weekends. very good parking at both ends. The hard packed stone makes for a fairly easy ride or hike, and the trail has a small grade, around 2%. Great place with delicious meal. PINE CREEK RAIL TRAIL (Wellsboro) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go . A definite bucket list destination for hikers and bikers! Copyright 2013-2023 Uncovering Media, LLC - All Rights Reserved, the amazing vista at Leonard Harrison State Park, the waterfalls along Jerry Run and Bohen Run, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Pine Creek Rail-Trail Guidebook by Linda Stager on Amazon, Great Allegheny Passage in southwestern PA, the Allegrippis Trails in Huntindgon County, visit the sources of Pine Creek at the Triple Continental Divide, Pennsylvania Waterfalls: How to Get to Rapp Run Falls in Clarion, PA, Pennsylvania Waterfalls: How to Get to Hector Falls, Exploring the Abandoned Kunes Camp in the Quehanna Wild Area, Biking the Little Toby Creek Trail to an Amazing Swinging Bridge. Pine Creek Rail Trail Difficulty: Unknown Length: 62.72 Miles County: Lycoming, Tioga Trail Description One of the premier rail-trails in the Northeast, the Pine Creek Trail in Pine Creek Gorge offers travelers a spectacular, 62-mile journey through the area commonly referred to as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. 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