D & L Trail - Lehigh Canal South:
Pennsylvania
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Description:
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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Parking & Trail Access:
To access the trail in Allentown, take U.S. 22 East and exit at Airport Road. Follow Airport Road south for about 2 miles, until it becomes Irving Street. Follow Irving Street 1.25 miles to Hanover Avenue. Go right on Hanover, which becomes Hamilton Street. Turn right onto Albert Street. At the stop sign, turn right, cross the railroad tracks, bear left and follow the canal through a small railroad underpass. Turn right at the fork then immediately left on the other side of the canal. Follow to a small parking area and entrance to the trail.

To access the trail from Easton, take U.S. 22 to the 25th Street South exit to Lehigh Drive, turn right and go 0.5 mile to the stop sign. Turn right and cross the old green Glendon Bridge. Then go right and follow the signs to the trailhead and picnic area.

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Reviews: [3 trail ratings]
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Another great trail!
By wjlacey in June, 2011
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.
Nov. 14, 2010
By Douglas Bolasky in November, 2010
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.
Good ride and scenery. Good trail for the most part. Friendly people.
By dkuche in September, 2010
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.

The start of Hugh Moore Park bike path at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. This is where you can connect to the Delaware Canal.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: E. Walnut St. (Allentown) to Hugh Moore Park (Easton)
Counties: Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton
Trail Length: 13 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt
Trail Activities: Bike, Wheelchair Accessible, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6032318

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