O&W Trail - PA:
Pennsylvania
Trail Map
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Description:
There are two trails named the O&W, one in NY State and this one in Pennsylvania. Built in the 1880s to transport coal mined from the Lackawana Valley's rich anthracite deposits, the New York, Ontario & Western's Scranton Division was just one part of a network of rails and canals connecting the Wyoming Valley to the East Coast. As the demand for coal declined, the corridor was abandoned by the railroad in 1957, at time it was the longest railroad abandonment in the United States.
The Northeast Pennsylvania Rail Trail Council has an agreement to manage the first 8 miles of trail for bicycle and pedestrian use (from Simpson to Stillwater). The remaining section of trail is managed by others privately and open to ATVs.
Follow the map carefully, as portions of the O&W may not be marked and gaps necessitate riding along the road for some segment before rejoining the trail.
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach Simpson, take I-81 to Exit 191A, and then Route 6 to Carbondale. After the town of Carbondale, turn left onto Route 171. Continue about one mile, park on right side of the viaduct in Simpson (look for the tank). Enter the O& W along Homestead Street.
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The club that manages a section of the trail
By mikeexplorer in August, 2011
The Stillwater to Orson section of the O&W is open to ATV usage and is managed by the Northern Wayne Outdoor Recreation Club. Membership is required for motorized usage of the trail. Non motorized use is permitted without membership. The clubs web address is:

http://www.nworc.org

O&W Trail
By mikeexplorer in July, 2010
You have to realize that two sections of this trail are now township roads so vehicles do use it.
Directions to trailhead across the Delaware River from Hancock, N.Y.
By acefilmco in May, 2010
Take New York State Route 17 to Hancock, NY. Cross the bridge into Pennsylvania. (There are two bridges in town, the other crosses the Delaware River but stays in New York - becomes N.Y. Route 97 - that's the wrong bridge!).

After crossing the bridge into Pennsylvania, the road forks at the big 'Welcome to Pennsylvania' sign. The left fork is PA Route 191, the other is a short local road. Stay to the right (on the local road) at the big sign.

Go straight about one block, until that short local road ends, then make a right. You will pass an industrial yard to your right with a chain link fence. The trail is hidden up on top of the incline, in the woods, to your left.

Explore around, there are several steep dirt paths and roads up to the trail, one is big enough for a 4WD vehicle. Find the trail. Then go back and find safe parking.

Once on the trail, you will be surrounded by overhanging trees and beautiful, secluded forest. Further along, there are impressive cliffs 20 to 30 feet high to your right. The roadway is smooth, with occasional rocks and lumps of coal. The color of the roadway (coal dirt gray) is the only unattractive feature of the trail. Otherwise it was a lovely walk.

The only problem is the (infrequent) sharing of the trail with motorized vehicles. In four hours on the trail on Memorial Day Weekend 2010, we passed by one family on ATVs, and one 4WD truck.

Bring enough water, do not expect your dog to drink from streams, as there are none that are convenient from the trail.

The trail is very nice to the Starlight Station (now a town shed), more to come as we explore.
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