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  Paulinskill Valley Trail

  Rail-Trail

  

  State: NJ
  Length: 27 miles
  Surface: Ballast, Cinder, Dirt, Grass

  For a dose of rural scenery, head to the northwest corner of New Jersey, where this 27-mile rail-trail cuts a nearly uninterrupted path along the banks of the Paulins Kill, a Delaware River tributary that gives the trail its name. (Kill is from the Dutch and refers to a creek; it is used in areas of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware).
  Farms line the corridor; you are likely to be in the company of equestrians, bicyclists and hikers. When the snow flies, skiers, snowshoers and even dog sled teams hit the route. There are occasional hints of the railroad that carried coal, produce and dairy products to points east on the corridor. Look for the original railroad mileage posts.
  From the trailhead in Knowlton Township, several miles east of the Delaware River, the trail travels east along the north side of the Paulins Kill. In about 1 mile you pass under the massive Paulinskill Viaduct, also know as the Hainsburg Viaduct, an impressive structure built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1910. With seven arches reaching 115 feet up and stretching 1,100 feet from end to end, the viaduct was the world's largest reinforced concrete structure in its time.
  At about Mile 5, the trail passes through the Blairstown Airport, known for its glider rides over the Kittatinny Mountain Ridge. A runway restaurant with picnic tables provides front-row viewing of the planes and gliders. Lake Susquehanna is just to the south of the trail.
  In Blairstown Township, Footbridge Park is a good spot for taking a break or exploring the town. A large parking area makes this an informal trailhead for the rail-trail. The trail crosses the Paulinskill several times over the next 4.5 miles. Upon reaching Stillwater Road, the stream and the trail diverge, and the trail enters a wooded wetland.
  Just before Paulinskill Lake the route is interrupted by a missing bridge. A side path descends from the corridor to the road below. After crossing Sussex County

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  D & L Trail - Delaware Canal Towpath

  

  State: PA
  Length: 60 miles
  Surface: Crushed Stone, Dirt

  ATTENTION: Because of flood damage to the canal towpath, the section between Easton and Wy-Hit-Tuk Park is closed until further notice. Repairs are scheduled to begin in fall 2012 and continue through fall 2013. For updates check the park website (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/delawarecanal/index.htm) under the "Advisories" tab.
  The Delaware Canal Towpath, which extends from Bristol to Easton, is the only continuous intact canal remaining from the historic canal-building era of the early and mid-1800s. Through its connection with the Lehigh Navigation Canal at Easton, the Delaware Canal helped to develop the anthracite coal industry in the Upper Lehigh Valley. In 1940 the canal system became a state park, and in 1988 Congress officially recognized the system's importance to the economic evolution of America by establishing the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
  Today the 60-mile Delaware Canal Towpath, once trod by teams of mules pulling cargo-laden boats, is one of four named trails that make up the 165-mile D&L Trail, the backbone of the National Heritage Corridor and the longest publicly owned trail remaining in the state. Other trails contained in the D&L are: the Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail, the Lehigh Canal North, and Lehigh Canal South. Flood damage in 2004 and 2006 closed entire sections of the trail while significant repairs were made. The trail reopened in July 2010. Most of the repair focused on the locks and canal itself. The trail surface remains bumpy from exposed tree roots; users should expect rough conditions.
  A variety of looping routes can be followed usi

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  Ironton Rail-Trail

  Rail-Trail

  

  State: PA
  Length: 9.2 miles
  Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

  The Ironton Rail-Trail is the quintessential example of how a former rail corridor can transform a community. This trail has it all for locals and visitors alike. If you are looking for beautiful scenery, safe venues for exercise and access to great parks and historical points of interest, you can't go wrong with this trail.
  This corridor was originally the home of the Ironton Railroad, which began operating in 1860 with the primary purpose of transporting iron ore from the Ironton mines to the Lehigh Valley Railroad. As the iron ore industry dried up, the railroad continued to serve the local cement mills until it fell into disuse in 1984.
  The trail consists of a 6-mile loop and 3-mile spur. You can pick up the loop at Hokendauqua Park, a community park featuring parking, restrooms, a playground, baseball fields and basketball courts. This flat, paved section passes through wooded terrain and runs adjacent to Coplay Creek for a short section before turning north toward the town of Coplay, where it runs past the Thomas Iron Works Property. Just after this property the trail is unfinished, and the surface changes to dirt before the paved surface picks up again at Saylor Park in Coplay.
  With its two rows of beautiful old cement kilns reaching toward the sky, the last ones standing in the U.S., Saylor Park is a must-see. Don't miss the historical markers off the trail on the back side of the kilns that explains their relevance in American history. This small scenic park has a nice playground, open space for picnicking or sunbathing and a parking lot.
  About 2 miles past Saylor Park the trail loop intersects with the 3-mile spur. If you continue on the loop, you will travel through wooded areas and past neighborhood back yards before reconnecting with Hokendauqua Park.
  The 3-mile spur has a crushed stone surface and offers a historical tour of the area's cement manufacturing heritage, passing through scenic Whitehall Parkway whose ruins of old buil

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  D & L Trail - Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail

  Rail-Trail

  

  State: PA
  Length: 25.7 miles
  Surface: Crushed Stone

  When coal was discovered in Summit Hill in the late 1700s, a rush of development ensued in the Lehigh Valley. Josiah White and the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company constructed a series of dams and canals in the early 1800s to move coal to the markets down south. The canal system was wiped out by flooding in the mid-1800s, and the railroads took their place serving a booming logging industry. Fire ripped through the area and wiped out the logging industry in the late 1800s. The area became a tourist attraction until fire again swept through the region in the early 1900s, after which the gorge was abandoned. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began reclaiming the land in the 1970s.
  Today, thanks to the state's efforts, you will find one of the finest rail-trails for a wilderness getaway. This 26-mile trail cuts through 4,500 acres of dramatic river gorge parkland along the Lehigh River on a former rail and canal route. Grab your bike and board a shuttle in Jim Thorpe to cycle from the northern point in White Haven to the southern point in Jim Thorpe, a gorgeous tree-line ride with excellent river views. Or, if you are looking for a shorter, 15-mile experience, pick up the trail in Rockport; however, you will only get 5 miles of gorgeous trail before the last 10 miles of more open trail.
  The entire route features river views on one side and about 15 miles' worth of scattered waterfalls on the steep rock face on the other side. Although there is a slight grade going South, cyclists do have to pedal the entire way. Although there is plenty of wildlife within the park, it isn't usually evident on the trail because the steep rock face makes the trail difficult to reach from inland. However, herons and beavers are commonly spotted on the river side, and you also might encounter an occasional snake or lizard. This 26-mile trail is certainly the highlight, but Lehigh Gorge State Park also offers opportunities to whitewater raft, fish, hunt and cross-country ski. The

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  Perkiomen Trail

  Rail-Trail

  

  State: PA
  Length: 19.5 miles
  Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone

  The history of Perkiomen Trail railroad corridor extends more than 140 years. Founded shortly after the Civil War, the Perkiomen Railway Company started running from Oaks to Pennsburg in 1868. New transportation spurred development along the line, which then extended to Emmaus and the Lehigh Valley. In the 1920s the Perkiomen Valley was a favored vacation spot, and people used the railroad for access to recreation areas. The Reading Company bought the line in 1944, but a decline in recreational interests, suburban development on natural lands and the advent of the automobile as the favored form of transportation caused passenger trains on this route to cease operations by 1955.
  Much of the old railroad right-of-way has been preserved as the Perkiomen Trail, a 19.5-mile multiuse trail extending from its connection with the Schuylkill River Trail in Oaks to Green Lane Park in Green Lane. The trail passes through a rich and varied landscape, including town centers, parks and rural areas, and parallels scenic Perkiomen Creek for much of its route. Most of the trail is surfaced with cinder and packed gravel, with some paved segments. The trail is a regional access between Green Lane Park in Green Lane, Central Perkiomen Valley Park in Schwenksville and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Oaks, as well as two significant sites, the Mill Grove Landmark in Audubon and Pennypacker Mills Site in Schwenksville.
  The trail travels through serene wooded areas and rural and suburban neighborhoods, providing an everyday escape and also a versatile community transportation route. Small businesses along the trail demonstrate its immense popularity. One highlight comes near the southern end right where the trail meets up with Schuylkill River Trail. Here you can experience Valley Forge National Historic Park. In addition to enjoying a wonderful visitor center, explore the groun

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  D & L Trail - Lehigh Canal South

  Rail-Trail

  

  State: PA
  Length: 13 miles
  Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

  If you feel like a stroll down the lazy river, then this is the trail for you. This peaceful trail follows the canal and Delaware River for almost its entire length. This trail offers a variety of path surfaces—wide paved asphalt, wide crushed stone and single-track packed dirt. And its meandering route through the trees makes it delightful. You'll likely see lots of geese and ducks, along with some canoes and kayaks, in the canal.
  The 150-mile Delaware and Lehigh Canal Navigation System, built from 1817 to 1845, brought anthracite coal from the east central portion of Pennsylvania to various parts of the East Coast. With the building of the canal, several canal towns sprang up. There is interesting history along this trail: Easton hosted one of only three public readings of the Declaration of Independence, and during colonial times, the Liberty Bell rested secretly in Allentown. In the future, all 150 miles of the canal system, from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, will be converted to trail.
  

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  McDade Recreational Trail

  

  State: PA
  Length: 32 miles
  Surface: Crushed Stone

  The Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail is named after a former member of Congress from the area known for his dedication to public lands. The trail, located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, offers diverse views of the river and picturesque streams, open farm fields, forests and historic landmarks. The route is mostly complete with a few short missing sections. When complete, it will extend for 32 miles. Although mostly flat, the terrain varies in difficulty. The first section, along River Road from the Hialeah Trailhead to the Turn Farm Trailhead, is fairly level with a few gentle rises. Further north, between Owens Trailhead and Bushkill, the trail is more challenging with a steep hill and a section where you will have to travel on the roadway for a few tenths of a mile. With that exception, you can travel solely on the trail from the Hialeah Trailhead to the White Pines Trailhead, a distance of more than 24 miles. The 10-mile distance between the Eshback Trailhead and the White Pines Trailhead is flat and the best section for cross-country skiers. Note that north of the White Pines Trailhead, some sections are designated for hiking only. The most northern segment, between Pittman Orchard and Milford Beach, offers views of rural landscapes and a glimpse of the old Snyder Farm silo.

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  D & L Trail - Asher F. Boyer Trail (Slatington-Northampton)

  Rail-Trail

  

  State: PA
  Length: 11.3 miles
  Surface: Crushed Stone

  This 11.3-mile section of the Delaware and Lehigh (D & L) National Heritage Corridor connects Slatington to Northampton. It is dedicated to the memory of Asher F. Boyer, an Eagle Scout who worked on a project to help establish this section of trail.

  With this new section, 15 miles of trail now skirt the western side of the Lehigh River from the Cementon Trailhead near Route 329 in Whitehall Township to the State Fish and Boat Commission boat launch near Route 248 in East Penn Township.

  The trail follows the former Lehigh Valley Railroad and stacks of railroad timbers can still be seen in some areas. Your journey will entail a peaceful route through lush forests and towering rock cliffs with breathtaking views of the Lehigh River. The pathway is flat and coated with crushed limestone, a mineral native to the valley.

  At the trail's northern end, it intersects with the Slate Heritage Trail, which travelers can follow west along Trout Creek for 3 miles to Slatedale. Or, trail-goers can continue north along the river nearly 8 miles through Lehigh Gap to the East Penn Township on another segment of the D & L Trail. Those wishing to learn more about the area's natural habitats and wildlife should be sure to stop at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center (8844 Paint Mill Road) along this segment.