This was my first trip on this beautiful trail, but by far NOT my last. What a beautiful trail. We started out from Jersey shore at 9:00am in about 48 degree temps so it was cool, but by the time we rode a bit we were nicely warmed up. We managed to get as far as the Jersey Mills post office and then decided to head back. My friends were a bit less experienced riders and began feeling the ride. On the way out and back we stopped at several lovely locations that afforded us spectacular views. This trail is absolutely worth riding.

I'm fortunate enough to live just a few miles from this gem of a trail, and I enjoy biking it regularly. The trail is very clean, well maintained, and extremely beautiful. I've traveled to many rail trails all over the US, and I still haven't found one better than this.

The trail is maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The northern end is about 3 miles from Wellsboro. From there, it runs generally southward through the Pine Creek Valley (better known locally as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania). The section from Ansonia to Tiadaghton is open to horses. In the winter, the trail is open for cross-country skiing.

The northern end of the trail (Wellsboro Junction to Ansonia) has marshes, fields, and farmhouses. From Ansonia to Blackwell, the trail runs through the deep, forested canyon; other than a few cabins, this area is totally uninhabited. From Blackwell to Jersey Shore, the trail roughly parallels PA Route 414 and PA Route 44. It passes through several small hamlets and has trailheads at regular intervals.

Conditions:
Packed gravel. Occasionally, some washouts after heavy rain, but it should be manageable on any standard bicycle.

Scenery:
Very beautiful views of Pine Creek and the rugged canyon. The 16.5-mile section between Ansonia and Blackwell is the most beautiful part in my opinion. The state has recently erected signs explaining the history of the area and some of the plants and animals there.

Wildlife:
Deer, hawks, geese, and ducks are seen regularly along the trail. Bald eagles live in the area and are a rare treat to see. Bears and rattlesnakes are occasionally seen along the trail but do not seem to bother people.

Access/facilities:
Trailheads are spaced at regular intervals. Most offer ample parking, outhouses, and water pumps. Camping is restricted to limited areas and requires a DCNR permit in advance.

Recommendations:
Trail slopes gently downhill from north to south (i.e. Wellsboro is at the high end / Jersey Shore is at the low end). If you want to do a one-way ride, ride south and get picked up. Pine Creek Outfitters near Wellsboro offers shuttle services.

Bring enough water for the duration of your trip. Although most of the trailheads have pumps, I find the water tastes very metallic (due to the old metal pumps).

There is a small store near the Wellsboro Junction trailhead. South of there, there are no stores or vending machines until you reach Blackwell. From Blackwell southward, most of the tiny towns have a general store or restaurant where basic necessities can be purchased.

Cell phones do not work along most of the trail due to the deep canyon and rural area. Some (but not all) of the trailheads have phones.

This was my first bike ride on this trail. The family and I walked a couple miles of the trail up on the north end by Ansonia last year. It is a great trail if you are looking for an easy ride with low traffic, hardly any grade to speak of and wonderful views. I can't wait to explore more of it. I was combining a nice cardio workout and a trail ride into one so I did push pretty good up and back. I stopped at Waterville and ate my lunch that I had packed along while watching a helicopter drop the geo-boxes for gas exploration. That helicopter pilot was border-line crazy the way he/she was flying it. Made for good entertainment while eating. The next time I'll try to bring someone else along to go in the Waterville Inn for a sandwich and a cold one. On the way back I saw a nice big black snake crossing the trail. I had a squirrel playing chicken with me; I think I just touched his tail with my front tire. I've been spreading the word about this awesome trail to friends and coworkers. It is a wonderful trail for a nice leisurely ride. It sure is nice not having to worry about traffic. I only wish I had a trail like this a little closer to home. Maybe some day.

Its the best.

RIDING THE PINE CREEK TRAIL IN THE GRAND CANYON OF PA

BY PAT CODISPOTI

I can’t remember the exact year that my husband and I began riding mountain bikes. I do know that we were close to 50 and are much older now. We have taken many day trips on bike trails throughout New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, DC, and PA but the most exciting are those off road trails that require a couple days or more to complete.
Our first “overnight trip” was on the Erie Canal Trail beginning in Lockport. We rode to Rochester and picked up the Greenway trail heading south to Mt Morris where we ended this trip. Our second trip was on the Ohio Erie Canal trail from Bolivar, Ohio north to Cleveland, a three day 100 mile trip. The 184 Mile Chesapeake & Ohio Canal trail was our third adventure. We started in Cumberland, Maryland and finished our 4-day trip in Georgetown. The fourth overnight trip was the Allegheny Highlands Trail from Cumberland to just south of Pittsburg, PA (121 miles). This trail now connects to the C&O Trail but was not open the year before. We also rode the Old Erie Canal Trail from Dewitt to Rome and back, (a 72 mile round trip) and last year (2009) we rode the Greenway from Genesee Valley Park in Rochester to Cuba, approximately 90 miles on and off the uncompleted trail.
The Pine Creek Trail is our 7th multi-day biking endeavor. About 15 years ago we took a day and rode the Grand Canyon of PA Trail 20 miles south and 20 miles back beginning and ending in Darling Run. To my knowledge this was the only portion of the Pine Creek Rail Trail completed at this time. I remember the trail being incredibly scenic and cringing at the many rattlesnake warning signs along the trail! 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”! I also remember being very tired after riding the 40 miles in one day…. Seems like a short trip since we just finished riding 62 miles the first day and 58 the second day on the now completed Pine Creek Rail Trail.
Our recent adventure on the now 62 mile long Pine Creek Rail Trail began in the middle at Slate Run Village. 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.
Since we would be riding back to our car, we were lightly packed with rain gear, lunch, bike necessities, and our camelbacks loaded with water. Generally we carry overnight necessities, adding weight and making the trip a little more difficult.
Although we were actually riding uphill, the grade is only about 2% and barely noticeable. The surface, hard packed crushed gravel made for easy peddling. The morning was reasonably cool. We were enjoying the scenery and stopping to read the few signs along the trail. Our first stop was at the Rattlesnake Rock Access Area and Comfort Station. There are apparently a lot of rattlesnakes in this area and it was only a little further along the trail that we saw our one! We actually rode right past a 3 footer resting along the side of the trail. We would not have seen one at all but for the fortune of meeting up with a DCNR worker who had spotted another rattlesnake up in the rocks. That snake was up too high to see well but we did get a good look at the skin he had just shed. The DCNR worker told us that we had just passed another snake along the trail and walked us back about 50 feet. And there he was… a black timber rattler. If I can believe the warnings along the trail, the timber rattler is rather docile and will not attack unless provoked. Although I did get a picture, I did not venture too close!
Once you get to Blackwell, this portion of the trail is called the Grand Canyon of PA. This is the portion that USA Today rated as one of the top 10 bike trips in the world. It must be breathtaking in the Fall. You are riding along Pine Creek with Mountains on both sides. There is NOTHING along this segment of the trail except remote campgrounds, hiking trails, and a few cabins along the side of the creek. On the way back, we did discover a bike rental in Blackwell where you could buy Gatorade and snacks but that was it!
We must have met 40 or more groups along the trail. Most were on bikes. We did see a few kayaks but in August the water level in the creek was low. We were pleased to see so many people enjoying the trail. This trail is the best constructed and maintained off-road trail that we have experienced.
The northern most terminus is at Wellsboro Junction. After Darling Run, however, the trail leaves Pine Creek and follows Marsh Creek. 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. By then we had ridden 31 miles and the temperature was in the low 80’s.
We stopped at Darling Run for a late lunch and rest. Darling Run is one of the better access areas with clean comfort stations, an information hut and plenty of parking. If you were just riding for the day, I would suggest that you begin here. Between Darling Run and Blackwell there are several comfort stations but no access areas. As I stated previously, this area is isolated. There are no “real” roads coming in or out.
Cedar Run was one of several quick stops on the way back to Slate Run. The Cedar Run Inn was charming and would have also been a good option for our overnight stay. In Cedar Run, there are cabins along the creek, a beach area, a county store and the Inn. After Cedar Run it was only about 5 more miles to the Manor Hotel in Slate Run where we stayed the night. Hotel Manor is in the middle of nowhere but we had a comfortable room, a hot shower and a good meal on the deck of the restaurant overlooking Pine Creek….. All the essentials after 62 miles on a bike!
The next morning after breakfast at the Hotel Manor, we headed south to Jesery Shore. The southern portion of the trail took us through more little villages but it is still quite remote. The trail continues along Pine Creek and runs adjacent to Route 414 and 44. There are a lot of seasonal homes and cabins along the creek. Some are surprisingly high-end with tennis courts in the back yard and beach areas along the creek. Once again we met a lot of people (and dogs) enjoying the trail either on foot or bike. There are more access areas and comfort stations along the southern route but not a lot of opportunities to purchase food or water. Although we continued to search for rattlesnakes, we never saw one after the first day!
Our first major stop was at Waterville, the most populated village along the trail. We took a “coffee break” at the Waterville Inn. The Inn is actually a restaurant and bar but the innkeeper was kind enough to offer us coffee. We agreed to stop there on the way back for lunch. He indicated that they stay busy in the winter with snowmobilers and in the spring with fishermen as well as bikers and campers in the summer.
Once you are within about 5 miles of Jersey Shore, the trail once again leaves Pine Creek and is much less scenic but when you reach Jersey Shore, you are greeted with a state-of-the-art comfort station and other historical information on the development of Pine Creek Valley. We rested here for about 10 minutes and then began the most grueling part of the trip. By then, your seat is NOT comfortable (not that is ever is) and your legs are beginning to feel heavy.
We did stop for lunch in Waterville. We split a sandwich but honestly, neither of us was hungry. It was hot and we were getting tired! The iced tea was refreshing!
By the time we left Waterville, we were counting down the miles between comfort stations. The last 20 miles was by far the most difficult…. We were saddle sore! But we were not wet (no rain) and no breakdowns!
When we arrived at Slate Run, we went into the Hotel Manor to say good bye and hopped in the car to head for home…. Never has a car seat been as welcomed! We rode 118 miles in 2 days. We were on our bikes for over 12 hours averaging a little less than 10 miles per hour! And I would do it again! Next on our list of is a trail in West Virginia and 200 mile one in Missouri.



BIKE TRIP SYNOPSIS
Day 1
¿ Arrived at Slate Run after a 2 ½ car ride from NYS
¿ Readied our bikes and began our trip at 9:15
¿ 1st stop was at Rattlesnake Rock Access Area
57 minutes of riding time
10:20 AM – ave. speed 9.6 mph
¿ Arrived at Darling Run Access Area at approximately 12:50
¿ Ave. speed 9.4 mph- riding time 2hr 57 min- 27.8 miles
¿ Continued North and turned around at the Village of Asap
¿ Returned to Darling Run for rest and lunch at 1:45 PM
¿ Ave. speed 9.3 mph-3hrs 40 min on bikes-34.24 miles
¿ 1st rest stop on return trip was a Tiadaghton. 42.25 miles
4 hrs 23 minutes riding time – 3:00 PM
¿ Stopped at Blackwell for rest and a snack at the bike shop
5 hrs 13 min on bikes- 51 miles – 4 PM
¿ Arrived at Manor Hotel to end our 1st day
Ave. 9.8 mph-6 hrs 22 min on bikes-5:20 pm- 62.18 miles
Day 2
¿ Started ride South to Jersey Shore at 9:00 AM
¿ 1st stop at Cammal (7.1miles) 69.2 miles-10AM-7hrs 9 min on bikes
¿ Rest stop at Waterville-11:00 AM -8hrs 7 min on bikes-78.5 miles-(16.3 miles today)
¿ Restarted ride at 11:30 arrived at Jersey Shore the Southern terminus at 12:45- 90.26 miles-ave. speed 9.8 mph – 9 hrs 14 minutes on bikes – 28.8 miles today – 3 hrs 45 minutes to reach Jersey Shore.
¿ Started our return trip to Slate Run at 1:05 PM
¿ Took a rest Stop at the Venture Inn just outside Jersey Shore – and continued on at 1:45 PM
¿ Rest stop at Bonnell Flats comfort station-2:20 PM-on bikes for 10 hrs 3 minutes – 98.15 miles
¿ Arrived back to Waterville for lunch at 2:50 Pm for a 35 min break-101.9 miles- 10 hrs 27 min on bikes-back on the trail at approx. 3:30
¿ At 4:25 PM stopped at Cammal Comfort station- 11 hrs 22 min on bikes-110.78 total miles – ave 9.8 mph – 7.1 miles to go!!
¿ Arrived at Slate Run at 5:22 Pm – over the entire trip we averaged 9.8 mph – rode a total 118.29 miles and were on our bikes for 12 hours 11 min. during a two day trip that took a little over 16 hours to complete.

My wife and I started at Jersey Shore and intended to ride upsteam to Cammal. The trail was so great and the weather absolutely beautiful that we continued past Cammal to Black Walnut Bottom. From there we saw it was just a short distance to Slate Run and we hoped we would be able to find some food at Slate Run, as it was just past noon. We are so glad we made the extra effort to get to Slate Run and the Wolfe General Store. We had scrumptious panina sandwiches and hand dipped ice cream and the service was beyond belief. The combination of a great trail and hospitality of the Wolfe General Store made this a ride we will never forget - and we will return! Next time we'll start at Slate Run and ride to Ansonia.

With the original intent to canoe the canyon we changed our plans when the water level was too low. So we brought our bikes and decided to try out the rail-trail. I've supported the RTT Conservancy since 1990 and have never seen such a well-kept trail with such beautiful, peaceful surroundings. We had a wonderful dinner and breakfast at the Cedar Run Inn, joining friends who stay there annually for a canoe weekend. I encourage all trail supporters to spend some time in the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania for a truly memorable trip.

Having been on many trails in the mid-atlantic area, I can say that the Pine Creek Trail is by far the best I have ever been on. The trail itself is small, packed gravel and is very well kept. The 2% grade is not really noticeable. 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. The trail goes along Pine Creek through Pennsylvania mountains and cornfields - a very pleasant, scenic experience. I started from the Jershey Shore entrance and went to Black Walnut Bottom and back, which is roughly 56 miles round trip according to the map; however, it did not seem that long. The only con about starting from the southernmost entrance is there are some roads to crossover, so be very careful when doing so. Most of these roads are driveways and backroads.

About 7 miles North on the right there is a Citgo store if you need to get a snack or drink, and they also have Pine Creek Trail shirts and other miscellaneous stuff there. Roughly 15 miles up and on the right there is a pipe that is connected to a mountain stream and has fresh Pennsylvania mountain water coming out of it. There are plenty of rest rooms and benches along the way to stop when you need to.

The trail is for all levels of bikers. Any type of bike can be used on the trail with no problem; however, if I had to recommend a specific bike it would be a hybrid/trail bike.

One thing I would like to point out: the southernmost trail entrance at Jersey Shore is NOT on route 220. It is on Railroad Street. To get there you need to do the following:
Going North on Route 220, take a right onto Route 44 Main Street into town. Take a right on Alleghany Street and then a right on Bridge Street. Then take a left at the next light onto Railroad Street. The trail entrance is on the left. When you get to the parking lot there is a surprise waiting for you: a New York Central caboose!

No one can over-emphasize how great this trail is, so check it out if you can.

All 63 miles of this wonderful trail are open and were biked in 2 days and an afternoon with wife driving shuttle allowing one way biking downhill. Driving up from Washington, DC took 5 hours and I was able to do the 8 miles from the start at Wellsboro Junction (corner of Rt 287 and Rt 6) to the Darling Run parking lot the first afternoon. There is a store and farmers market at the start. There are motels on Rt 6 just west of there. The next day was 26 miles from Darling Run to Slate Run thru the canyon. It is then another 28 miles to the end parking lot in Jersey Shore. The Trail Link Web site has great maps available for downloading. Saw a Blue Bird, two Baltimore Orioles and 3 great big rattlesnakes. Bob

This magnificant 62+ mile trail is one that should not be missed. Flora & fauna, rock laden river with men and women fly fishing. kyacks & canoes floating down stream, abundent shade, and a trail that hugs the river most of its path makes for perfection. I am an avid rail to trail biker, and have biked on trails from Cape Cod to California. My Travel Nurse Proffesion allows me to ride on trails while on assignment across the U.S. 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. We rode 25 miles the first day in the rain and loved it. We rode about 30 miles on subseqient days. We averaged 6 to 10 minutes a mile depending on stops. The condition is so perfect at times it felt more like it was paved. The grade is slightly down hill from Ansonia to Jersey Shore so choose your start and finish accordingly. We stayed at The Cedar Run Inn (with second and third floor rooms only) It is just what the web states, and the owner and help were just wonderful, but the dinner was very dissapointing. My daughter and I were not able to eat the dinner. We had trail bars in our room. There is a Lodge just 5 to 7 miles further on the trail that I would reccomend for lunch. Food was great and priced appropiately. There are multiple areas to restock on fluids along the trail after Cedar Run south, but none North so also plan accordingly. As of this date the Pine Creek Trail is tied for first place with The Iron Horse Trail in Washington. L. L. C. Naples, Fl.

My best friend Dave & I schedule a two day ride each year. The Pine Creek trail is our best to date. Everything came together: the weekend of 19 October was perfect weather wise and the fall colors were spectacular. The overnight at the Cedar Run Inn was an unexpected treat! The trail is superb in layout and there are geocaches on the lower half.
Logistic wise, we dropped off a vehicle at the Jersey Shore trail end (41° 12.111'N 77° 16.748'W) and drove to the start just off route 6 outside Wellsboro (41° 47.320'N 77° 18.551'W). The first half this direction doesn't have any food stops --stock up at the store near the trailhead. In this direction the average 4% grade is all downhill. Although the pedaling was easy, there was never a time where we could just coast. This is a very peaceful ride through the narrowest part of the canyon.
The Cedar Run Inn (41° 31.350'N 77° 26.822'W) is just about half way and just off the trail. It is a jewel well known as a base for visiting fisherman and hunters. The room rate includes dinner and breakfast. The dinner is outstanding, definitely fine dining (sorbet to clean the palate) and prepared fresh. Breakfast was equally a great way to start the last half. The staff is friendly and there is 150 years of history (and antiques) plus a purportedly haunted room (14). Calling ahead for a reservation is a must.
The lower half of the trail has 3 geocaches (GCPDDM, GC14DDM, GC17DVF) easily accessible from the trail. Two are near old graveyards with graves of veterans of the revolutionary war. There are places just off the trail for food on this half. The old railway bridges offered spectacular views of the canyon, creek and wildlife. Spotted deer, bluejays and redtail hawk along the way. Our moving average over 63 mile was 10 mph and overall was 6.5 with the geocaching stops and photographs. We don't as a rule repeat a ride, this one will be an exception! Rich O';-)

My wife and i visited to Wellsoboro area in August, 2007. We rode the trail every other day for about a week. We parked at the Blackwell parking area, which had an eagles nest above and wre able to catch sight of the eagle on several occasions. We also saw a bobcat, a rattlesnake, several deer, turkey and bear tracks all over the trail. We would hike around the Grand Canyon on our off riding days, with one day taking a day trip to the wine region of New York. We normally ride the Lower Trail in Central Pa., which is much shorter so this was a real blast to be able to ride on a trail as long as this. Highly recommend this trip to any rails to trails riders. We stayed at the Falling Farms B&B just outside of Wellsboro. This was one of the most beautiful B&B's we have ever stayed in. Make sure you visit the Wellsboro diner for a piece of pie.

"Update
Several weeks ago the Pine Creek rails to trail was officially opened from Ansonia north to near Wellsboro Junction. It is a nice section with several bridges and straight sections along marsh lands. There is lots of wildlife along this section of trail. This trail section is 8 miles long and now completes the 62 mile Pine Creek Trail. A study is being done at this time to consider extending the trail into the borough of Wellsboro."

"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. Upon reading the previous reviews I felt it was one we would enjoy. I booked us for a two day stay at the Blackwell Hotel. Location being the key. Monday we rode from Blackwell to Ansonia and back 34.4 miles. We came across scores of people riding or walking. They were working on extending the trail beyond Ansonia at the time. Trail was in excellent condition as it was smooth and the hard packed crushed stone made for easy pedaling. No towns along the way to resupply so you need to carry food. Water was available at Tiadaughton and Darling Run access areas. Kept looking for the town of Ansonia but never found it? Monday night we ate at the Blackwell Hotel as the closest town is Wellsboro about a 30 minute drive away. Tuesday we drove down to Slate Run and found a wonderful General Store (Wolfe's) with great coffee and pastries. We had them make us some sandwiches to eat along the trail. We rode a figure eight loop today which would allow my wife to cut the ride short if she decided. First we rode from Slate Run to Cammal Station and back. We ate lunch at the Slate Run access area on the grass along the Pine Creek. Then while Lucy did some bird watching I rode from Slate Run to Blackwell and back. Beautiful scenery, met people on the trail so that made for a fun ride. Drove into Wellsboro for dinner that night. Hoped to eat at the Wellsboro Diner but it had just closed so we settled for The Steak Houseon Main St.
Wednesday before we began our ride we stopped for coffee, pastries and sandwiches again at Wolfe's General Store. We drove down to Waterville and used the General Store there as our staging area for the day. On the first leg we rode from Waterville to Cammal Station and back. After lunch I rode from waterville to the White Tail access area. Skipped the last part into Jersey Shore as I had read it was not interesting. This trail was the best Rail Trail we have been on in terms of trail condition, scenery, trail facilities, access areas and towns with trail services. When we come again we'll look into lodging at Slate Run or Cedar Run too. "

I rode this trail in the October of 2005. Great trail for the cyclocross bike. I rode the full trail up and back on two seperate days on my cyclocross bike. There were bear tracks on the trail. It was nice and I had planned ahead but it rained both days. Rode it anyway and found it to be very scenic. Stayed at the PennWellsHotel in Wellsboro. Great nitelife there too. A great place to visit in the fall. Also the trout fishing on Pine Creek is supposed to be very good.

"Yesterday, July 20, The Secretary of DCNR was in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, for an official dedication of the parking lot for the southern end of the Pine Creek rails-to-trails completing 56 miles from Ansonia to Jersey Shore. USA Today called the Pine Creek Rails-to-trails one of the top ten bicycle paths in the nation several years ago. The project has taken 19 years to construct so far. Currently under construction is 6 miles from Ansonia north to Wellsboro Junction which is expected to be completed by next spring. An official congratulations of all the people and government agencies involved and a ribbon cutting was held. Jersey Shore is one of the gateway communities into the ""Pennsylvania Wilds."" Plans are in the works to continue the bicycle path from Jersey Shore south to Harrisburg as part of the Greenways project extending from Buffalo, New York, to the Chesapeake Bay.

Kerry Aucker
570-398-1676"

Just finished riding this trail in 3 sections. The Ansonia to Blackwell is the most beautiful rail-to-trail I've ever ridden. The rest of the trail is also spectacular. Good parking and bathroom facilities. Saw lots of wildlife including a bear and a rattlesnake.

" If you have never been to the Pine Creek Gorge and traveled on the Pine Creek Trail in Lycoming and Tioga Counties in north central Pennsylvania, then you must add it to your to-do list. I was very fortunate to get the chance to go there by myself in September 2005, thanx to my lovely wife who was willing to watch the kids back home and enable me to do something I always wanted to do, bike camping. The Pine Creek Trail runs along the beautiful Pine Creek at the bottom of the gorge for approximately 62 miles from Ansonia, right off of scenic Route 6 down to Jersey Shore on Route 220. I set up a base camp at the northern end of the trail at Leonard Harrison State Park. I used this as a place to return to every couple of days to get refreshed and stock up on food and clean clothes. The trail is perfectly maintained, hard packed, no litter at all, in fact there are no trash cans either because of the heavy black bear population! (tie your food and trash up in a tree at night!) The Park Service does ask you to get a camping permit, but it is free. Because of the wilderness, they just want to make sure they can find you in case something happens. The views in the gorge are breathtaking and you are never more than a few feet from the creek. The wildlife is unreal, bald eagles, osprey diving down to grab trout out of the creek, deer, black bear, river otters, large variety of birds and plenty of timber rattlers. There is something for everyone in the Pine Creek Gorge, you can bike, hike,walk,jog,horseback riding,fish and go camping. In Ansonia, there is a place called Pine Creek Outfitters that has everything from kayak and whitewater rafting trips to providing a shuttle back to the beginning of the trail if you are too tired to make it back. At Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Park, there are incredible views of the gorge. Leonard Harrison is on the eastern side of the canyon rim and Colton Point is on the western side. Both are really nice state parks with incredible camping and hiking trails. The best hiking trail is the Turkey Path Trail. Bring your hiking legs! This trail is 2 miles straight down to the creek, and then you can cross the creek like I did if it is shallow enough at the time and then 2 miles back up the other side of the canyon! Then you still have to get back! Take lots of food and water and an extra pair of old sneakers to cross the very rocky swift moving creek, and a hiking stick helps too. This trail is fairly challenging but worth it. In the eight days I was in the gorge, I hiked over 50 miles, biked just under 300 miles, caught lots of smallmouth bass and saw way more wildlife than people. In fact, midweek, or whenever it was, I ran into a Park Ranger and had to ask him what day it was, I had lost all track of time and reality. The trail is so perfectly maintained, you can't believe that you are riding on and old rail line. You can stop and get off your bike at any point and just start fishing or just set up your tent and eat the fresh fish you just caught. There are water pumps along the Pine Creek Trail to refill your water bottles and comfort stations(pit toilets) every few miles, but were very clean. 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. This town is like a trip back in time, very friendly people, nobody in a hurry, little shops, and beautiful gas street lamps lining the entire main street. If you are looking for some good food, try The Native Bagel, they did things to their freshly baked bagels I didn't even know you could! On my last day I treated myself to a trip into Wellsboro to get some food that had taste( I was a little burned out on trail mix and peanut butter) and get gas( which was promptly pumped by the attendant and washed my truck windows too!) So if you are looking to get away from it all, telephones included( cell phones do not work in the gorge, leave em' at home!), then the Pine Creek Rail Trail is where you need to head to. This is a real gem in Pennsylvania and is a heck of a product turned out by the Rails to Trails program. It was truly the best 8 days of my life."

"Rode the trail on Sept 21, 2005 with a SAG from Pine Creek Outfitters in Ansonia. Stayed in Wellsboro at the Sherwood Motel. What a great town with lots of places to eat, we recommend the diner and the steak house. The Sherwood Motel was reasonabel and had very nice personnel. The trail had many great views of the mountains. I highly recommend this trail and wish we had time to do more than Ansonia to Slate Run. The service station in Slate Run has great sandwiches and staff. We bet it is beautiful in the fall."

Rode from Rattlesnake access area to Jersey Shore. Saw deer crossing the creek and a eagle on a rock looking for fish. Water in the creek was low due to lack of rainfall during the summer but views of creek with early fog in the mtns and later blue skies was fantastic. This trail is a must for the rail trail biker to visit. Stopped at slate run for breakfast at Wolfes store and later for a snack and some gifts at McConnells store in Waterville. Both stores are very friendly to bikers. Also various camping facilities are located along the trail which are clean and are located right on the creek. I am definitely coming back again to bike and visit the area.

"I rode this trail end-to-end in mid-April, before the leaves were on the trees and most of the stores along the way were open. Actually, it was before ANYTHING was open -- almost.

As it turned out, though, it was a great time for observing the eagles that live along the PCT. I saw four; I could see them perched in the sycamore trees catching the early morning sun as they watched the PC for fish.

I also enjoyed the ducks (Mergansers?) as they flew like starfighters inches above the creek in close formation.

It is probably better later in the season, but if you ride early or late in the year like I did, be sure to bring your own water. There is very little of it on the PCT.

The trail surface was good on the northern end, with very little rolling resistance. Not so on the southern end,though. I got off and rode the parallel road to make better time in some places on that end. Maybe it needs to be rolled or something.
At Slate Run I heartily recommend Wolfe's General Store (see link on this web site) as a great place to stop for lunch. The Finkbiner's do a great job of making a sandwich to suit anyone, and their selection of drinks is great for cyclists and other active customers.

In all, the PCT was worth the trip from near Philadelphia."

"My wife and I decided to spend our spring break in Blackwell, PA in order to explore the Pine Creek Trail...what a wonderful asset hidden in this beautiful part of PA! My assessment is the trail was extremely well designed and thought out...there seemed to be more than adequate facilities, parking areas, with well marked signage...we used the trail mainly for several runs...from Blackwell to Rattle Snake Rock parking area, and from Blackwell north for roughly 15:00 minutes at an average pace.

This path is a runners delight! There was sure footing, excellent drainage without any accumulated slop, and adequate room to truely accomodate a multi use purpose...We came at a time of year (end of March-early April) were there was light use...we saw more DCNR workers than recreational trail users."

"The trail is now open from Jersey Shore on Tt. 44, which I rode about 10 miles north to the town of Waterville. As I passed the Waterville parking lot, about 200 yards in, I saw a bear on the trail. He looked at me but just stayed where he was. I turned my bike around and rode north on Rt. 44 and picked up the trail 4 miles up ahead. Then I returned back on the trail. There was no no bear this time."

The state of PA is repaving portions of this beautiful trail with crushed limestone and clay pack. Guys were smoothing and steamrolling the trail to be hardpack. Excellent trail. New portions were close to pavement style. Horseback riding is allowed next to the trail but signs are posted for biking and horseback riding to keep horses off bike trail.

It's a nice ride. I should see this at least once. There is a one to two percent grade on entire trail. Start from the northern end and it will be an easier ride. The trail is approximately 60 miles but can be broken into shorter day trips.

"I rode Pine Creek this weekend with a friend. We rode from the Ansonia access to Turkey run. We intended to camp overnight, but it rained the whole day. The access point at Anconia needs to be marked on Rt. 6. Turn next to the church!

My other problem is my female companion found restrooms to be a little far apart. The trail is well maintained and a joy to ride even in the rain. The people at Pine Creek outfitters were very helpful. They allowed us to use their paqrking lot and changing room to get out of our wet clothes.

Ride Pine Creek!!"

"I had the opportunity to ride this trail from Ramsey to Jersey Mills and it was awesome! The scenery is terrific.

This trail is uniquely situated with long quiet stretches through beatiful country. It's not overcrowded -- I saw about six people in 1-1/2 hours! Anyone interested in riding with someone else, e-mail me."

"We have ridden the whole thing and it is a very nice ride, especially when you stop at Cedar Run for a treat. I wish I lived closer so to it so I could ride it everyday."

We biked in with our fishing rods and stopped in the Grand Canyon area (just at the foot of the Turkey Path Trail). We had a great time fishing and wading in the Pine Creek. It's a great place for fishing.

"We did a ride on the trail on the frightfully hot Monday after Labor Day. We started after 10 am and, happily, the steep walls and trees along the trail provide a lot of shade, except on a notorious stretch north of Cedar Run that was sunny on the way up and on the way back. The surface was finely-crushed slate of some sort and was well drained and in about as good of condition as any unpaved rail trail I have ever seen. There were no golf ball sized rocks like one sees on the Katy or the Youghiogheny Trails. We started at a parking lot North of Cammal and rode to Blackwell and back.

While on the trail, we met two other Ohio cyclists with panniers riding to Wellsboro and back on a two day adventure. I had to break the news to them that the trail goes to Ansonia and not the much larger town of Wellsboro. They had no specific plans and just hoped to find some hotel and food when they got there, wherever they were going. I told them that they could get a fine meal in an air conditioned restaurant at the Blackwell Hotel, and the whole bunch of us were disappointed that the owners had taken several days off and there was no food of any sort to be found in Blackwell. The one restaurant in Cedar Run was closed that day also. We found a hand operated pump and bid farewell to our friends as they headed up the seventeen mile stretch to Ansonia with one water bottle each and a few snack bars. From my hiking experience at Pine Creek Gorge, ""the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania"", I recall that there are no facilities, no businesses, and no water stops until Ansonia.

We saw plenty of wildlife, dozens of grebes, a wood duck, at least three species of hawks, including a brazen individual who lingered in a tree by the trail so we could have a good look. We think there must have been a kill there that the bird did not want to leave. I think I saw and an immature eagle, and we surely saw an adult bald eagle when we were finishing the trip at the parking lot just south of the Pettecote Junction Campground.

This trail needs some water stops, but I could understand that these are expensive to install and hard to maintain. 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. With all the stretches with clear views of the river, I would have to say that this trail rivals the Yough trail for scenery."

"My husband and I rode the trail from Ansonia to Blackwell several times, but over the weekend of July 20th we rode from Ansonia to Cammal. What a beautiful ride! I enjoyed the ice cream at Cedar Run Gen Store and the gift shop. Slate Run store had great deli sandwiches and also a nice gift shop. The trail is excellent! I wish we lived closer so we could get here more often. "

"I have the advantage of living five miles from this trail so I make frequent trips to the Pine Creek Trail. I am often asked where to find food at the northern end of the trail. 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. Head west on Route 6 a few miles and there is the Coachstop Inn, Antlers Inn and the Log Cabin Inn.

As has been noted this is a remote area, gods country so to speak, so come prepared. Pack something in advance and take in one of many rest stops along the way for lunch. The trail is an awesome ride through what is without doubt the most scenic part of north-central Pennsylvania. There has been a lot of time and effort invested in the trail and it is an accomplishment to be proud of and to enjoy. To experience this trail is worth the drive. "

"When the lower section is constructed this summer (2002), the south end of the trail will run to the Town of Jersey Shore in Pennsylvania."

"I rode the trail on Friday, May 10, and I was totally surprised at how well maintained the 44 plus miles are. The trail now runs from Waterville up to Ansonia; the only disappointment I had was that there was nowhere to grab something to eat at the trailhead at Ansonia. If you ride this trail you will think you are truly in God's country, which is one of the reasons why there isn't anywhere to eat at Ansonia. There are lots of restrooms the first 20 or so miles out of Waterville and after that it gets a little rustic up through the Pa grand canyon which is unbelievably beautiful. There is the Waterville Hotel to eat at after the ride; their salads are unchallenged in taste and size plus their soups are surely homemade. You will not believe this trail and what the good people out there are doing for our recreational activities. I only wish that I was 25 years old to enjoy what they will do in the future. Thank you for a super day that I will never forget."

"What a beautiful ride! Great views, lots of wild flowers and animals. The hard packed stone is easy to ride. The Cedar Run General Store serves ice cream and in a great location. I wish I didn't live in Michigan."

"A very scenic trail, easy to do from either direction. Great
for families who are biking or hiking together. Wish there
were more like it in this area, especially Bradford County.
A nice rest, picnic area is in Tiadaughton."

this trail is a lot like the Lehigh Gorge trail very high walls birds rivers great riding surface do the whole ride. very good parking at both ends.

"I rode the entire length down and back on a beautiful October Day on my mountain bike. The scenery was outstanding, as the trail passed through the 17 mile-long Pennslvania ""Grand Canyon"". Steep walls, fall foliage, water falls, nesting bald eagles and no crowds. This ""Rails-to-Trails"" trail is near perfect.
The surface is a hard-pack fine stone, easy to ride or walk on. Tiadaghton State Park is situated halfway through the canyon and makes a great turnaround, or a rest break for those going the whole way. It has both drinking water and rest rooms in season. If you go in summer, cool, clear Pine Creek may beckon you in for a dip. And, if you're real lucky, you may ride past a timber rattler sunning itself along the trail as some of my friends once did. The ride is about as wild and adventuresome as they get in Pennsylvania, without being overly strenuous. Give it a shot...you won't be disappointed!"