Finally got another one of those Pennsylvania Railroad tower name origins here... "BELL", for, not only BELLWOOD, but for the BELLS GAP RAILROAD junction here, which was right at the PRR station! Great photos in that "BellwoodAntis" website! You get two miles of STEEP, I mean the STEEPEST trail I have ridden in my 730 miles of rail-trail outings! That stated 3.5% is compounded by large washout gullies which have been filled with inches-thick layers of crushed limestone, which make the grade tougher going up, and downright dangerous coming down! (Hug those brakes the whole way back!) The improved trail ends at 2.0 miles from the lower trail head, and I ventured only a few tenths of a mile farther on the 1938-abandoned high grass right-of-way, with protruding rocks, old ballast, and cinders, especially after I almost ran over a black with yellow bands snake on the trail, near the site of the once largest viaduct of seven (which I believe I've identified as a TIMBER RATTLER!) It might be wise to do the upper end of this trail, MP2 to Lloydsville, after the frost and cold weather sends these creatures back into hibernation! Watch that high grass and single-lane bike path right now! There are no railroad artifacts visible on this trail, but the Boy Scouts did, very intelligently, place several significant, and very informative markers at spots, And as most of the markers I've seen get vandalized, these paper markers are locked, behind glass, in cases facing AWAY from the damaging sunlight! Good job, guys! Great information on the railroad and its history, so much lacking on so many of the rail-trails I have scoured! Again, forestation is a scenic killer right now. Without leaves, this would be a pretty dramatic setting! PA-965 climbs the Allegheny Range right paralleling you, but falls off hundreds of feet below as you ascend to Milepost 2. Sadly, pre-trail encroachment never allowed the trail to get down into Bellwood proper, but do check out the junction site at the Station Street pedestrian overpass. BELL Tower was located west of town, and its interlocking spanned the once four-track (now three) PRR main lines, and spun off the Bells Gap Railroad (later the 65-mile long Pennsylvania Northwestern Railroad), as it was, in 1887, extended to Punxsatawney, PA. You can ride the OTHER end of this railroad WEST of Punxsy, on the 15.5 mile MAHONING SHADOW TRAIL. I highly recommend that ride.

Rode the trail for the first time today on horseback - very enjoyable, nice grassy footing along the sides, with interesting historical markers. Gamelands part has gorgeous vistas of Allegheny Front, and even has some curves.
Directions to parking could be improved. There is no sign for Igou Rd., only Grandview Rd., which says "no outlet" and that's the road you want. I passed it by the first time and went all the way to Lloydsville before I could turn the trailer around. Not complaining, just saying maybe the directions could better.

This is a very nice trail, with a 3.5% grade going uphill traveling north. I rode my mountain bike on it this afternoon and really enjoyed the scenery and the beautiful woods. The first two miles are a very smooth cinder trail, the next 3 miles were a grassy with ballast gravel, but a good surface. I did not cover the last mile or so. The ride back (south) was wonderful, all downhill. There are several signs along the trail giving the history of the railroad and industry in the area.