Absolute gem! Easiest 19 miles ever and nice. I wish I didn't live in Michigan. Dog Lovers will happy to know that our furry friends are allowed on the trail. Having said that, the ride goes alongside Pine Creek for much of the route until one nears Wellsboro Junction. Beautiful weather a little chilly. The river claims more native fish species 128 than any other river of its size in North America, according to the Cahaba River Society. The ride down the trail back to Jersey Shore on day 2 was much easier. Theres a store at Slate Run and services at Cammal and Jersey Mills. We biked in with our fishing rods and stopped in the Grand Canyon area (just at the foot of the Turkey Path Trail). The last time I biked on the Pine Creek Rail Trail it was mid-July of 2019 to celebrate my 55th birthday. Guys were smoothing and steamrolling the trail to be hardpack. Overnight parking is in designated areas and is limited to those with a valid camping permit. Pine Creek Rail Trail Pennsylvania's Pine Creek Trail | Photo by Linda Stager. Would definately recommend this trail and will be coming back to it in my future biking. The views in the gorge are breathtaking and you are never more than a few feet from the creek. Become a member and wear your FREE T-Shirt with pride. Without a doubt, the upper third of the Pine Creek Rail Trail passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Pennsylvania. I encourage all trail supporters to spend some time in the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania for a truly memorable trip. There are streams, springs and puddles that pets like to drink from, but I always bring fresh water and a small bowl. My wife and I love this trail because of the scenery, wildlife and the trail condition. The trail goes along Pine Creek through Pennsylvania mountains and cornfields - a very pleasant, scenic experience. $88 avg/night. There are places just off the trail for food on this half. The Pine Creek Rail Trail is groomed for xc skiing during the winter months. Named when the region was swarming with snakes, it is now largely free of these vipers. This site uses affiliate links and cookies. In addition to parking at the Jersey Shore trailhead lot off of Railroad Street, there is parking in town in the YMCA parking lot where the trail ends. (Courtesy of Jason Buss) LINCOLN Jason Buss and his family like to vacation on Nebraska's Cowboy Trail, biking in the Neligh area, camping at a city park and taking in a movie at one of the state's few drive-in movie theaters. Parked at the rail head in Jersey Shore and set out about 1030. With an overnight camp along the trail someplace. It is an unfortunate annoyance. I set up a base camp at the northern end of the trail at Leonard Harrison State Park. Biked this trail in three days, with round trip rides, in late June. The trail condition was perfect and the weather was beautiful. Unless the weather has been bad, almost any bicycle tire would work. On the way out and back we stopped at several lovely locations that afforded us spectacular views. However, if you have time, its much easier to drive to this handicapped-accessible overlook. Trail Surface: Crushed stone, gravel, ballast Trail Difficulty: Easy Caution: Shared use with hikers. The scenery was perfect, and we saw wildlife all along the way. Cell service is sporadic at best so plan on not having any until you get to the last 5 miles of the trail near Wellsboro or Jersey Shore. 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 have seen comments that hybrid bikes are recommended. Premier Host. I've ridden it numerous times. 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. We came across scores of people riding or walking. dougel29@yahoo.com. We rode 44 miles of this trail (Ansonia to Waterville). We drove to Slate Run in the morning (an adventure in itself since Slate Run is off the beaten path) and began our ride at about 9:00 AM north towards Wellsboro. They were working on extending the trail beyond Ansonia at the time. Another 2.7 miles south and you will find yourself at the quaint village of Cedar Run, a small settlement along pine creek, and plan ahead for fantastic fare at the cedar run inn. I was surprised at the number of bird species on the trail. This is a very pleasant place to stop and have a picnic snack, and a look at the beauty. If someone gets hurt there, it is a long time being rescued. The owners of the campground are very nice and campsites along the creek are perfect for tents or small trailers if you don't need electricity. I'll read the comments and approve them to post as soon as I can! If we can do this trail with a toddler, nearly anyone in reasonable shape can complete this amazing journey. "Hotel Manor" is an excellent Pub/restaurant in Slate Run. I enjoyed the ice cream at Cedar Run Gen Store and the gift shop. I had one flat and two couples riding by stopped to help. 10/15/17 Watch out for the biting flies along the Pine Creek bike trail. I tried this trail last year, on the way home from the Great Allegheny Passage, in a heavy rain wearing a poncho. If you want an even more detailed guide to biking the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, check out The Pine Creek Rail-Trail Guidebook by Linda Stager on Amazon. It is on Railroad Street. All the other people we passed were very pleasant and followed good bike etiquette. There are also several privately run campgrounds along the trail. The state has recently erected signs explaining the history of the area and some of the plants and animals there. The last 10 or so miles from Waterville to Jersey Shore offers a few bathrooms and a nice finish to a long ride but no supply stops. My only issue was lack of water availability on the trail. Occasionally, some washouts after heavy rain, but it should be manageable on any standard bicycle. We started early at the norther terminus just outside Wellsboro. At 2.8 miles the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail turns south toward Balsam Mountain. 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. Pine Creek below Rattlesnake Rock is generally considered a Class II river, with fairly frequent rapids of medium difficulty, having . I used this as a place to return to every couple of days to get refreshed and stock up on food and clean clothes. If you want to do some hiking, you can also check out the waterfalls along Jerry Run and Bohen Run from here. This time it was the very beginning of May, the 1st and it was a beautiful mild temperature day to do a short ride. They had some really cute t-shirts, but it was really too small and busy for us to look too much. Recommendations: Trail slopes gently downhill from north to south (i.e. I'll add in my defense that I now know I shouldn't have disturbed the reptile, and next time I'll leave it alone. Even with it being a holiday weekend I didn't find the trail too busy and most riders were friendly and considerate. It was not only within walking distance of many of the restaurants and shops in downtown Wellsboro, but their indoor pool and hot tub are perfect for relaxing tired muscles. There is also a 1" PVC pipe with water sticking out of the hillside along the way but since I didn't know what it was, I just passed it up. Great trail. To get there you need to do the following: Going North on Route 220, take a right onto Route 44 Main Street into town. There is ample parking at the Jersey Shore Railroad Street trail head with nice clean restrooms. The Cedar Run Inn was charming and would have also been a good option for our overnight stay. After Cedar Run it was only about 5 more miles to the Manor Hotel in Slate Run where we stayed the night. In some very minor sections of the trail before or after intersections is the gravel a little deeper that you could even see my tread marks (it was very dry). I hope to do other sections of this RT in the future. The first half of the trail is a series of stairs and boardwalks that passes by three beautiful waterfalls. Bald Eagle State Forest Snowmobile Trails, Little McCloskey Trail - Jack Paulhamus Garby Trail, Susquehanna River Water Trail - West Branch, Susquehannock State Forest Snowmobile Trails, Tiadaghton State Forest Snowmobile Trails. Stayed in Wellsboro and cant wait for trailhead to connect to town. Could not have had better weather conditions!! This is one trail that lives up to it's billing. Pets of course do best if they are good natured and are able to respect people, horses, critters and other dogs. And the sandwiches in Waterville are good too! My First Rattlesnake, Pine Creek Rail Trail, August 2009. The sites are grassy, level, have shade, picnic tables and fire rings. Somebody has got to get out there with an odometer and note the mileages of the various stops and someone has to put up some sort of highway signs telling where to turn off to find the trail access points in the southern towns. The Cedar Run Inn is a nice B&B, clean and comfortable. From here the Pine Creek Rail Trail parallels rt. Our first time on crushed limestone! Although I did get a picture, I did not venture too close! We don't as a rule repeat a ride, this one will be an exception! very well maintained 12 to 20 feet wide hard packed cinder. The only downside of the ride was the cold and wind. 44 and 414, traveling along side of the southern portion of the Pine Creek Rail Trail. "I rode the entire length down and back on a beautiful October Day on my mountain bike. Mile-by-Mile Guide to the PA Grand Canyon Biking, Hiking, Skiing and Horseback Riding Trail Were traveling from Central Pa and were not sure if we should start at Jersey Shore or Wellsboro. Biking pickup times are either Blackwell at 2pm & 5pm or Slate Run at 4:45 pm). There is a one to two percent grade on entire trail. Next on our list of is a trail in West Virginia and 200 mile one in Missouri. The project has taken 19 years to construct so far. 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. Not only is the upper half the more scenic, in my opinion, but traveling south will give you a slight downhill the whole way. Visitors can use bike rental and shuttle services, as well as canoe and kayak liveries, and horse-drawn wagon rides are available on some sections. Im local and I ride the trail a lot. As has been noted this is a remote area, gods country so to speak, so come prepared. They work very well on the crushed limestone trail. ", 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). ", "What a beautiful ride! From Route 6 to Rattlesnake Rock/Blackwell. On Route 6 at Ansonia just west of the trail is the Twin Pine Hotel with a pub and next door is Ansonia Gulf with subs, sandwiches and good ice cream. The whole area is pretty. Rode south the first day to Waterville and back on hybrid and road bike. From 1883 to 1988, rail lines carried timber, coal, and passengers through this canyon. While its not enough to coast, the slope does help to make things a bit easier traveling downstream, than if you were to start in the south and head north. Unfortunately we failed to spot any wildlife, but the streams feeding into Pine Creek were quite picturesque. The first 35 mile, from Jersey Shore to Blackwell have about 4 or 5 villages with general stores that offer you a place to stop and grab cold drink or something to eat. Trail was in excellent condition as it was smooth and the hard packed crushed stone made for easy pedaling. and talking. A trail heads upstream from just past the bridge over the creek. Here are several choices for I just rode this trail on 8/28, rode the entire length to mile marker 63 in seven hours. There are numerous gates before and after intersections that slow your progress but do not require you to dismount. The trail extends 62 miles south from Wellsboro Junction to Jersey Shore in the adjoining Tiadaghton State Forest. Rattlesnakes are plentiful in the Tiadaghton State Forest, and if you should meet one, please act respectfully. There are clean restroom stops, picnic tables, benches, and state camping sites along the way. Pine Creek Rail Trail Map (see larger image). very good parking at both ends. We rode north to south and set out to ride the entire 61 mile length but only made 35. This is a very nicely maintained trail. 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. ", "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. The DCNR worker told us that we had just passed another snake along the trail and walked us back about 50 feet. Wind past dramatic rock outcrops and waterfalls along the trail. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 6 h 8 min to complete. The Pine Creek Rail Trail is one of Pennsylvanias destination trails, and for good reason. To reach the southern trailhead in Jersey Shore from I-180 W, stay on US 220 as I-180 ends in Williamsport (past mile marker 29). This 63 mile trail is best described by dividing it into 2 sections. One great way to enjoy this tranquility and to uncover the canyon's true beauty is to take a bike ride on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Would recommend going in spring when creeks are flowing or fall for the . There you will find a couple restaurant/bars for your dining pleasures and entertainment. Access/facilities: Trailheads are spaced at regular intervals. ", "We have ridden the whole thing and it is a very nice ride, especially when you stop at Cedar Run for a treat. That's trip 2 for us. I started early in the day in Wellsboro. There you will see the Tioga Central Railroad and Pag Omar farm market. There is a slight 2% downhill grade from Ansonia to Rattlesnake Rock which made the trip a little easier for us. WATERVILLE-conv located, cottage in the woods-close Rail Trail, PINE CREEK. A designated The scenery is amazing starting from the Tiadaghton Trail Head, but getting there is not for the faint of heart as there a small bumpy unpaved road that ends with a big downhill to the trail. Lots of scenic stopping points including a number of mini-waterfalls and 4 bridges. Next time I will come down from the north. Very few road crossings. We rested here for about 10 minutes and then began the most grueling part of the trip. If you want to ride at a good pace it's quite doable for training or leisure. Sitting 17.2 miles south of the Ansonia Access Area, the Blackwell Access Area is a great place to end your bike ride on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. As locals, we've explored all segments of this trail. no potholes, ruts or even sticks on the trail. If youve never seen this view, its well worth the challenging climb. The restroom was very clean. We stayed at the Cedar Run Inn, where we had dinner and breakfast, the next morning. 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. More on that service can be found at the end of this article. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world. This section will be closed effective now through October 30, 2020. The Pine Creek Rail Trail is a fun family day hike or bike ride, and good exercise for all ages. In 2001 this portion of the Pine Creek Trail was named as one of the top 10 bike trips in the WORLD by USA Today! There are several gates on the trail to ride around, but the trail itself is so impressive that the gates did not deter from a great scenic ride. Good parking and bathroom facilities. thanks for listing this!!! We stayed at a b n b at Cedar Run but there are very nice campgrounds on the river in the same vicinity. 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. This is the northern access to the PA Grand Canyon and one of the most popular areas to start a bike ride or walk/run. 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. I constantly got slowed down by people riding side by side, instead of single file. Have you ever biked the Pine Creek Rail Trail? In addition to not having to meet a shuttle at a specific time, freeing you to take your time and enjoy your journey, it also is an inexpensive way to more directly head to your next destination. We usually spot a bald eagle or two along the creek. This is a beautiful ride through a sweet spot on the Northern part of the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Some facilities may only be available seasonally. 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. This parking area is also the starting point for the Bohen Falls Trail on . There was a wind from the SW at 10-15 mph so on some of the zig zagging of the trail there was a very strong head wind at times but it wasn't all day as it was on day 1. The way home from the north for the Bohen Falls trail on 8/28 rode... Stop and have a picnic snack, and we saw wildlife all along the trail Ansonia! It should be manageable on any standard bicycle Branch trail turns south toward Balsam Mountain after Run... Level, have shade, picnic tables, benches, and for good reason side by side, instead single. Only downside of the scenery was perfect, and passengers through this Canyon the cold wind... We do n't as a rule repeat a ride, and a look at northern! An exception for the the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania for a truly memorable trip enjoyed the ice at! The hard packed crushed stone, gravel, ballast trail Difficulty: easy Caution: Shared use hikers... Medium Difficulty, having the adjoining Tiadaghton State Forest, and good exercise all. Free of these vipers south toward Balsam Mountain and after intersections that your! Meet one, please act respectfully entire trail rode the entire length to mile marker 63 in seven hours start! 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