My TrailLink

Allegheny River Trail
Great Ride!

We rode this on our hybrid bikes on July 6 when the temperatures were in the mid-90s. We started in Elmenton and rode about 13 miles to the point where the trail ends and the gravel portion began. Weren't interested in riding that uphill for a mile to get back to the trail. The trail is pretty flat and well shaded, so it was a pretty comfortable ride in spite of the temperatures. Asphalt is in GREAT shape; there are a lot of benches along the way to rest and look out at what's going on on the river--lots of river activity when we were riding, though not many people walking or biking on the trail. The very cool air of the tunnels provided welcome relief from the heat--got a blast of cold air 25 feet before we even reached the first tunnel! Lights of some kind are an absolute must. Rock on either side of the trail is really soft and sloped downward, so very easy to take a spill if you should accidentally go off the edge of the trail (the voice of experience). Someone had ridden horses through the tunnel, so we had to be careful to dodge the presents they left inside the tunnel--due to the lack of lighting it's hard to see them coming before you're right on 'em. Fortunately, a hiker coming out of the tunnel warned us about it before we went in. Only 'facilities' is a port a john at the beginning of the trail in Elmenton. Will definitely do this ride again sometime.

Samuel Justus Recreation Trail
Very nice ride

We stayed in Franklin, PA, at the Quality Inn so we could do a couple days of riding without having to shuttle or camp. The first morning we rode the Sandy Creek Trail starting in Belmar. In the afternoon, we were looking for something that was short just for 'something to do' and chose the Justus trail. Good map available at http://www.avta-trails.org/maps.html.We picked up the trail at its beginning in Franklin. Very nicely paved trail with benches placed along the way for nice views of the river. Lot of people out kayaking, canoeing, boating, and swimming. Previous reviewer did a great job of describing all there is to see along the way, so I won't repeat. Trail was pretty shady which made for a nice cool ride on a hot day. We were surprised that the trail wasn't at all crowded, considering we rode during the week of July 4th. Good ride for anybody--old people, young kids, experienced bikers--looking for a fairly short (15 miles out and back to where the trail ends and joins the bike path on the road).

Sandy Creek Trail
Nice Ride

We rode this trail on a really hot July day. The shady trail went a long way toward making this a very comfortable ride. Several bridges, a black snake, a multitude of chipmunks, a few ground hogs, and nice views of the creek made this a very enjoyable ride. The pavement is in good condition, with just a couple of spots where the pavement buckles a bit along the edge--but plenty of room on the trail to move onto the 'non-bumpy' part. A few benches along the route; but no other facilities at beginning/end/in between. All in all, a very nice 26 mile jaunt.

Erie Canalway Trail: Tonawanda to Newark (Erie Canal Heritage Trail)
Great ride

We rode this trail from Lockport to Medina and back (about 35 miles round trip) on our hybrid bikes and really enjoyed it. Spent the night before our ride at the Holiday Inn Lockport, which was very clean and comfortable and only about 2 miles from the trail. We got on the trail at its starting point at the locks in Lockport after watching a couple boats go through the locks. The trail is mostly crushed limestone packed but in very good condition...but very little shade! Nice picnic area in Gasport where we took a short break and watched the bridge rise to let a boat pass under. As the trail follows right along he canal, we saw numerous bridges, but only saw one actually in operation. Restrooms are scarce along the trail...you have to go into one of the towns and find a store or cafe that has one they might let you use. My husband developed a problem with his chain that, thankfully, wasn't anything major, because bike shops are very hard to come by! We did find a place in Medina..the Candle Nook...that rents bikes and the owner, Mark, has a repair shop in the basement of the building. He helped us out with repair of the bike, then sat and talked to us while we ate some ice cream and got a bottle of water (both of those are also available at Candle Nook)--and used his restroom. We turned around in Medina and headed back. Tomorrow we'll go round trip from Medina to a little past Albion before heading back home.

Muhlenberg Rail Trail
Great Little Trail

We ride this trail pretty regularly as a means of cutting across the Township without having to use the busier 5th street or Kutztown Road. The trail is wonderfully paved; kept clear of debris; benches in several places along the way. A woman was out one day planting some flowers along the trail. As another reviewer stated, there's not a whole lot to see, but it does provide easy access to a lot of different places along the way. And Oliver's or Monte Lauro are both great places to stop and get a bike to eat at the beginning or end of your trip.

Heritage Trail (aka Orange Heritage Trail)
Good Ride

We enjoyed our ride on this trail on September 8, 20011. Weather was gorgeous and the trail was in really good shape. We tried to follow the traillinks directions to the trail head in Goshen, but that was pretty worthless. Ended up parking in Chester, which had ample parking (at least on a Saturday). Traillink directions were pretty good to that spot. Wish I'd reading the post from previous reviewer, Lionel, a little closer to find the trailhead in Goshen (reposting just in case my review knocks him off the bottom of the reviewers list: "If you are new to this trail and parking on the Goshen side, simply go to the center of town where the Presbeterian church is and look for the Berkshire bank. The parking lot for the trail is along the side of it and the trail is right there. A sign is now posted indicating that this is where the trail terminates." Fall colors were nearing full bloom. Not a lot to see on this trail other than the trees, though we did find an old Packard in someone's yard and a cemetery from the mid-1800s right along the trail. Nice benches for resting on the northern part of the trail. Portajohns are placed often enough along the trail. Previous reviewer said the trail continues beyond the 'end of the trail' sign in Goshen, but we didn't find it, so our ride was only 20 miles RT instead of the 23 we thought we'd get. Still, it was a great, ride with just enough variation in grade to make it interesting for a couple old folks on hybrids.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail
Beautiful Ride

We (two seniors) rode this on September 7. The trail is in excellent shape and there's a lot to see. Fall colors were just beginning to come out. Deer getting a bit to eat in the corn fields along the trail. Streams were all running and gurgling. Geese were stopping in the ponds along the way as they were starting to head south. A conservation area along the trail had alpaca and swans (and maybe more animals that we didn't get to see). Lots of benches for resting. Had a nice lunch at a tea shop in the end of the trail across from the train depot. We thought the trail was 14+ miles, based on the traillink info, but the main section is only about 21...a little disappointing. But a great ride, nonetheless.

Columbia Trail
Awesome Scenery and Great Trail

We (a 70-yr-old and 60-yr old on hybrid and cruiser bikes, respectively) rode this trail on September 26, 2011. The trail is mostly crushed limestone and ballast. A few short portions are asphalt and the bridges are generally concrete. The trail was in really good shape, especially considering the hurricane, tropical storm, and several days of rain that have hit this trail recently. All the downed trees have been removed from the trail, the deepest 'potholes' have been filled with stone or dirt. A few small dips remain and we experienced several areas that were a little muddy. The only real 'hazard' we encountered was the walnuts falling from the trees onto the trail (we initially thought someone was throwing things at us :-) We started our ride in High Bridge after stopping for a quick lunch at the cafe connected to Casa Maya less than a half mile from the trailhead (also serves breakfast). The trail was an easy ride out with a slight uphill grade (we didn't really notice that grade until we were coming back and realized we were rolling quite a bit faster on the return than we had on the way out). Lots to see on this trail: wildlife (squirrels, rabbits, muskrat, ground hog, deer [4]); rural areas with old barns, cows, and fields; a nursery; wildflowers; trees changing color; water running along either side of the trail; canopy of trees over the trail in several places. Benches are placed every so often along the trail. Rest rooms are located only at the High Bridge trail head. We passed through one small town and ended the ride in another small town. Looked like there were places to stop and eat in those towns, tho we didn't explore. All in all, this was a beautiful, easy ride on a gorgeous day!

Western Maryland Rail Trail
Nice Trail

We rode this trail on 9/6/10. We started at the Hancock Station and rode to the northern end of the WMRT, then came back on the C&O canal trail up to Fort Frederick, returning to Hancock on the WMRT. WMRT was nice smooth asphalt and there were a lot of people on it (maybe because it was Labor Day). Not a real scenic ride. C&O Canal was crushed limestone/hard packed dirt, but pretty big stones in some places. Not much traffic on the C&O compared to the WMRT. Very scenic ride--snakes, turtles, deer, river, big and little ponds--and much more shade than the WMRT. Lots of places to camp along the C&O for people wanting to do a longer trip. We opted to spend the night in Hancock. Stayed at the Super 8. Nothing fancy and a pretty old hotel, but very biker friendly. Decent breakfast. Inexpensive. Weaver's Restaurant has a variety of really good food and awesome baked goods! C&O Bike Shop was very accommodating and friendly (even open until 6 on Labor Day!).

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail
Nature Lover's Dream!

We Rode this trail on 7/22/10 on our hybrid bikes. We started the trail at Bulls Island State Park (plenty of parking) and rode to Washington's Crossing State Park, about 13 miles each way. The crushed stone trail was in excellent condition, in spite of heavy rains the night before. Path was nicely shaded, so it was relatively cool even though the outside temps were in the low 90s. The path goes between the Delaware River and the Canal. People were trout fishing, canoeing, tubing, etc in the water. We spotted one deer having lunch in a field off to the side; one turtle floating in the canal; 2 very large swans floating and eating in the canal; and multiple butterflies, squirrels, geese, birds and ducks. Variety of trees, ferns, plants and flowers on both sides of the trail (but mostly on the river side). Trail is interesting as you near Lambertville--seems to almost go down an alley (tho one in good shape) and you can easily view the backyards of houses and businesses that border the canal. One of the best, most enjoyable rail trails we've done in the last year or two. Did notice, though, that the trail looks to be a bit rougher beyond Washington's Crossing SP.

Baltimore and Annapolis Trail
Really Nice Ride

We (2 60-year-olds) rode this trail on 7/17/10 starting at the northern end of the trail. Tried to find the trailhead using the google directions from the traillink website, but no success--find another way to get your directions! We parked in the courthouse parking lot and hit the trail. Trail is asphalt and in really good condition all the way. As others have reported, there's a very slight grade up on the return, but nothing we couldn't easily do in moderate gear on our hybrids. Lots of folks out using this trail today, in spite of the 94 degree weather--bikers (both leisure and more serious), roller bladers, families, walkers and joggers--but it was never a problem to keep moving on the trail. People were really good about keeping to the right and passing on the left. About a mile from the end, we found Naval Bagels in a small shopping center just off the trail. Had a couple bagel sandwiches and enjoyed their a/c for a bit on our return. (A Subway is in the same center if you don't like bagels). We started our ride about 11 am, and there wasn't much shade; but, in spite of that and the heat, it was a really great ride! The only negative is that there is really only one restroom on the entire trail--at the rangers station.

Perkiomen Trail
Nice Ride

We started the ride north to south, starting near Green Lane and ending at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park. Trail is in good condition, tho there are some spots of very loose sand/gravel that are a little tricky. One of those spots is the start of a hill that has a posted 12% grade. We did avoid those hills on the return ride, thanks to the directions previously posted here by twowheelertom! Several times we ended up out on the roadway; and there wasn't a very good shoulder--particularly tricky in afternoon rush hour traffic. Lots to see along the path, and there are several nice benches for taking a break. We stopped at the Collegeville Diner for a light supper on the return trip...great place to stop. Also has a lot of places along the way for joining in and doing a shorter version of the trail if you don't feel like doing 38 miles out & back.

Great River Trail
Not so fun

We started the trail at Savanna, IL, and were very impressed for the first 2 miles. At that point a sign told us "Trail Ends Temporarily"--and nothing more. We moved out onto Hwy 84 for a few miles--lots of traffic and not much shoulder. No more signs to tell us where to go. We encountered another biker who had come up from Port Byron. We told him how to find the next leg of the trail north; he told us to follow the country (but paved) roads toward Port Byron. Roads were nice and paved with very little traffic. Lots of cornfields and houses for scenery--plenty of green. We turned around at the State Prison, because, again, there were no signs telling us which way to go and, being from out of state, were weren't sure what we might be getting in to and it was getting late.

All in all, this could have been a very enjoyable ride if we'd really had a good feeling that we knew where we were going or were on the 'trail'.

Conewago Recreation Trail
Nice Easy Ride

Trailhead was easy to find (always a plus) and the trail was in terrific condition. Nice, easy ride on a warm day.

Schuylkill River Trail - Bartram Trail Section
Very nice, easy trail

Easy access to the trailhead. Path is pretty flat, very well maintained and easy to navigate. Not too crowded, even on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Can only do about half of this trail before reaching a trestle that hasn't yet been converted. Nice signs along the way that tell a lot about the railroad, development of the trail, and towns surrounding the trail. Nice family trail.