This was a mostly well-maintained trail with great scenery along the Lehigh River and a great pit stop on Sand Island in Bethlehem (even found a Gatorade machine at the tennis club there). The trail is a little confusing at first (starting from Easton)...paved for about 3 1/2 miles then to a single track dirt trail (it's flat)along the river, but you have to find it at the bottom of the boat ramp. Once that section ends, you come out at the Bethlehem Boat Club and must head towards their gate to find the continuation of the trail, which becomes wider again. There was storm/flood damage near Freemansburg, but many alternative dirt bike trails have been formed. I would consider using Sand Island in Bethlehem as a starting point...ride one way, then turn around and go the other way.

Today my daughter & I biked the entire length of this trail/towpath from Canal Park in Allentown to the confluence of the Lehigh & Delaware Rivers. The leaves are a bit past their peak but the weather was unbeatable for this time of the year.

For the most part this trail is in excellent condition. The notable exceptions are some bad washouts between Lehigh Canal Park near Freemansburg and the point at which the trail passes under the Rt. 33 bridge.

Hi - I occasionally mountain bike between the Allentown canal park the start near where the river makes an eastward turn. I have been going to near the Rt. 378 area (where Musikfest takes place) and then back. Today, I went further eastward and decided to turn back around the Hope Rd. near the Bethlehem Boat Club, just short of Rt. 33.

First thing, if it has rained in the past week, forget about going on the trail, because it gets very wet and muddy. To go, the trail needs to be dry, but it is a nice trip. The medium is some parts stone, some dirt, occasional sand and some clay. The part between the Rt. 378 and a few miles east, you will go past a park with tennis courts and picnic tables, then the trail becomes a little narrow and a little rough. At points, passing other bikers coming the opposite way is very close. There are also some tree roots going across the path that make it bumpy in this area. Then the trail becomes rather smooth on stone or dirt and gets a bit wider. There is nice scenery at spots - the Lehigh River, can see the new Casino that used to be Bethlehem Steel and also the Bethlehem Steel ruins.

There is a rail yard and eventually a rail main line that goes across the river at Rt 378 for those interested in trains.

Wish there would be more mile markers though. I had to ask oncomers as to how much further until a major landmark. But overall recommend this trail. Next time will do the complete trail to Easton probably with a friend.

Had a nice Saturday. Parked in Easton at Hugh Moore Park (where the D&L meets the Delaware Tow Path). The trails starts out asphalt and apparently ends at Hill Rd (one lane bridge to your right, park straight on). Go over the bridge and turn left - go about 1/4 mile on Leigh Drive (sparely traveled). DO NOT GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PARK - that path dead ends (ask me how I know this). After the road dog-legs go to the left. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND - on the return you do NOT want to go straight across Leigh Dr as I did, and get lost, like I did!)

The trail is now a combo of D&L and Palmer Township. At one point I went right, following the Palmer trail by mistake. If you go through an arch and see a steep include, you are doing what I did! Continue on straight instead.

At one point there is a pedestrian bridge on the left to an island - you can take that now for a diversion or pick it up about a 1/2 mile further on when returning (I missed it). You can get food/drink in Bethlehem - perhaps in other small towns on the way.

Once out of Palmer township the trail becomes dirt and fine gravel - condition was very good. When in Bethlehem, the trail was marked as closed due to a music fair (other rider told me this happens every year, just go through the gate when no one is around. No apparent reason for the gate either.

During the last mile you pass a large railroad yard - it was interesting. You can also see what I assume is an old steel mill - sad reminder of our manufacturing past. There were some river views - but mostly brush obscures it - I imagine that early spring or late fall would provide better views.

Sadly there are virtually no markers or blazes - I got lost three times as mentioned above. My odometer was at 41 miles when I got back to my car - it should be about 19 miles each way.

I had a nice day, met a few people on the trail, and enjoyed my day. I'm sure others will enjoy this trail too!

This is quite a nice trail. Lot's of variety of scenery and surfaces along the way keep it from being a dull grind. The listed mileage seems to be off a bit though. Had to turn around at 13 miles because of rain rolling in but was only to about a mile past the D&L Trail/Palmer Township Rail Trail intersection. The trip to Easton is probably more like between 15 and 16 miles - at least.

I live in Beth Twp and grew up walking this trail regularly. It has matured nicely into a great ride between Allentown and Easton. I have also been impressed with the friendliness of the people I meet there. Some trails feature the die hards who look down on the casual riders but I have never met anyone on this trail who was anything other than great.

My husband and I enjoyed a beautiful ride on 1/8/08 on that glorious spring like day from Allentown to 25th St near Easton. With the exception of the dirt parts of the trail being a bit "soft" due to the freezing and thaw of the season, it was a wonderful experience. It was a quiet trail for the most part and hard to believe at times that there were three cities so close by. Our favorite part was the section between Freemansburg and the Bethlehem Boat Club...it ran so quietly beside the river on a well drained, hard pack dirt/gravel surface. Truely a winter treat!

"This is an excellent trail that in some respects is better than the Delaware Canal. If you like variety, you'll like this one, as it varies from wide paved, to wide crushed stone, to hard-packed dirt singletrack.

It's also more woodsy, and meanders a bit to avoid the monotony of some straight-as-an-arrow trails. You'll also avoid paralleling the road with this one, which is nice.

The Delaware has a more consistent surface, and more readily available amenities. If you can live without those attributes, you'll get a more ""away from it all"" feeling on this trail.

Contrary to some other posts, I wouldn't characterize this as a ""mountain bike"" trail. It's easily done with a hybrid. However, because some of it is dirt, I'd avoid it for a couple of days after a rainstorm."

I've ridden this trail twice in the past week (12/20 miles). It's bettter than I expected. I'm planning to ride the whole loop this week.

Simply a great ride.

"I hiked the towpath from the Delaware at the junction with the Delaware Canal to a point just west of the end of Hugh Moore Park where the towpath seems to be crowded onto an active railroad ROW. The trail is in very good condition, varying from paved to hard pack to grassy. A mule drawn canal boat plies the inner section of the canal and rides are available. Most of the accoutrements of the canal are still in place. A fish passageway has been built where the Lehigh River meets the Delaware at a dam. Many active railroad lines parallel the canal and traffic is frequent, both long freights and sections to be assembled into larger trains. At the Delaware, there is a triple set of RR trestles (which out number the road crossings!)

There are numerous picnic areas within the park and water fountains and restrooms are available. Parking is plentiful. This is a very scenic, historic and peaceful area!

Rates a 9 out of 10!

Fred"

You can access this from Hamilton Blvd in Allentown (Rt 222). As you cross the bridge follow the signs for CANAL PARK and you're right there. From Allentown it is as wide and nice as the nicer parts of the Delaware canal towpaths near New Hope - It does get narrower later but it is still quite smooth. As you approach Hugh Moore canal Park (~ 12 miles from Allentown) it becomes paved.

The trail may seem to end here by a softball field but go towards the river and down the road about a 1/4 mile and take the bridge across the river and you are on the trail again - goes all the way to easton ( if you head down stream)(go upstream to barge rides and snack concession). In another 3-5 miles the trail hits the north end of the PA delaware canal tow path. This trail is less crowded and nicer than a lot of the Delaware canal towpath.

The trail does split and rejoin is some spots so remember which way you came if you are doing an out and back ride - its not too confusing though. pobably not that great for a road bike but just fine for any mountain bike - its all flat. Probably in the Top 3 of mellow Mt. bike rides to do in East PA.

"If you'd like to find this trail from Bethlehem, it runs right alongside the park on Sand Island. Just look on any Bethlehem map for New Street - the island stretches right under the New Street (Fahey sp?) Bridge. This section of the trail is beautiful. It has historic markers, and fairly substantial remains of the locks. Sand Island makes a nice rest stop too! Watch out for fishing in the canal. There's a mountain biking ""playground"" about a mile towards Easton, but please be careful - if you get hurt it may be awhile until you're found. The surface in general goes from smooth to rough quickly, so road bikes may want to slow down."