Perkiomen Trail:
Pennsylvania
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Description:
The history of Perkiomen Trail railroad corridor extends more than 140 years. Founded shortly after the Civil War, the Perkiomen Railway Company started running from Oaks to Pennsburg in 1868. New transportation spurred development along the line, which then extended to Emmaus and the Lehigh Valley. In the 1920s the Perkiomen Valley was a favored vacation spot, and people used the railroad for access to recreation areas. The Reading Company bought the line in 1944, but a decline in recreational interests, suburban development on natural lands and the advent of the automobile as the favored form of transportation caused passenger trains on this route to cease operations by 1955.

Much of the old railroad right-of-way has been preserved as the Perkiomen Trail, a 19.5-mile multiuse trail extending from its connection with the Schuylkill River Trail in Oaks to Green Lane Park in Green Lane. The trail passes through a rich and varied landscape, including town centers, parks and rural areas, and parallels scenic Perkiomen Creek for much of its route. Most of the trail is surfaced with cinder and packed gravel, with some paved segments. The trail is a regional access between Green Lane Park in Green Lane, Central Perkiomen Valley Park in Schwenksville and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Oaks, as well as two significant sites, the Mill Grove Landmark in Audubon and Pennypacker Mills Site in Schwenksville.

The trail travels through serene wooded areas and rural and suburban neighborhoods, providing an everyday escape and also a versatile community transportation route. Small businesses along the trail demonstrate its immense popularity. One highlight comes near the southern end right where the trail meets up with Schuylkill River Trail. Here you can experience Valley Forge National Historic Park. In addition to enjoying a wonderful visitor center, explore the grounds to where George Washington and the Continental Army famously retreated in the winter of 1777 – 1778.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Oaks trailhead, from the Pottstown Expressway (State Route 422), take the Oaks Exit (which takes you to Egypt Road) near Valley Forge National Historic Park. After exiting, head east on Egypt Road for a few hundred feet and take your first right onto New Mill Road. Continue into the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, where there is parking and trail access.

To reach the Green Lane trailhead, follow State Route 29 North past Schwenksville and bear right in Zieglerville to follow SR 29 North to Perkiomenville. Go left on Dead Creek Road and continue 0.5 mile to the trailhead in the county's Green Lane Park.

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Reviews: [5 trail ratings]
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osborn2ride
By osborn2ride in June, 2011
I rode this trail on Sunday June 26th and had a great ride. This is a very good trail but not a great one. I saw every thing from full suspension Mt bikes to road bikes on the trail. About 80% of the trail is under a tree canape and on a hot summer sunny day that is a blessing. There were mile markers every half mile and by in large the trail is well marked. This is another family friendly trail that is very near a large population. Just below Spring Mt there is a 12% grade for about a 1/4 of a mile, not fun going up but a great ride down. There are a lot of bench's from one end of the trail to the other. The south end was much busier then the north end. The high light of the trip for me was the Pennsylvania Live Steam Railroad at mile marker 8, I am a kid at hart.
Perkiomen Trail Collegeville area
By krmac in November, 2010
Was in town for a wedding and ,per the recommendation of a local running store, ran this trail. I ran a 9 mile section (4.5 out and back)starting at the parking area at the intersection of RTs 113 and 29 going south. I wanted a place that I could run early in the morning while still dark . After getting multiple opinions that it was safe to run in the dark I found the parking area to be tidy, porta-john reasonably clean, overpasses free of graffiti etc. The trail is mostly crushed gravel with small portions that are paved. In Collegeville, the trail is a little tricky to follow if it is both dark and not familiar, in the light while not geat signage the path is easy enough to find. It follows through wooded areas, residential, and in-town business district. There is no traffic in the very early morning. The path becomes pleasantly busy but not congested in the early morning. In this section of the trail there was a porta-john at the trail head and business district to stop if needed. The trail was relatively well maintained. A great run, and big bonus to get to run this trail while in town!
good trail .... but be aware of current closures
By jrutch in October, 2010
we rode this about 2 years ago (not all of it) from valley forge and liked it alike, so we went back and started from green lane......this is a very lovely trail once you get rolling....leaving from green lane is very disjointed and on the road for part of the 1st mile...afterwards it becomes the nice easy to follow trail we remembered....unfortunately the spring mount section is still under construction (as of 10/23...several weeks late as to scheduled completion) and we had to turn around, so our planned 35 mile ride turned to a mere ten.....we tooled around green lane park for some more riding....but if you're looking for a long ride, check to see if construction is completed before choosing your start point
Fall on Spring Mountain
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Hill Rd. at Lumber St. (Green Lane) to Station Avenue (Oaks)
Counties: Montgomery
Trail Length: 19.5 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Trail Activities: Bike, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6032312

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