Struble Trail:
Pennsylvania
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
The Chester County Parks & Recreation Department opened this trail in 1979 on part of a former Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way. Today the 2.6-mile trail attracts more than 125,000 visitors each year.

Named for the late Robert G. Struble, a teacher, conservationist, county commissioner and Brandywine Valley Association executive director, the pretty trail parallels the East Branch of Brandywine Creek for a short distance. The trail's flat surface makes a perfect setting for amateur naturalists and a tranquil venue for joggers, bicyclists, inline skaters and cross-country skiers. Equestrians are welcome on the undeveloped sections of the trail.

The trail begins right near the downtown section of the pleasant borough of Downingtown right off Norwood Road. Traveling north, the trail cuts through pleasant wooded areas, a pristine setting in this rural section of southeastern Pennsylvania. You cross only one road during this journey: Dowlin Forge Road, which doesn't see much traffic. Currently, the trail connects to the 2-mile Uwchlan Trail on the right just beyond this road crossing, which links to residential and commercial sections throughout the township. Currently the trail ends south of Marsh Creek Park in Dorlan; however, there are loose plans to develop it farther to the north.

... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Norwood Road trailhead from US Highway 30 Bypass traveling west, exit at Route 282 near Downingtown. Turn left off the exit and proceed on Norwood Road under the US Highway 30 bridge. Turn at the second drive on the right, where you see the trailhead.

To reach the Norwood Road trailhead from US Highway 30 Bypass traveling east, exit at US 322. Turn right and go to Pennsylvania Avenue in Downingtown. Turn left on Pennsylvania Avenue and proceed to State Route 282. Turn left on State Route 282. Follow and turn right onto Norwood Road. The trailhead is the first left. There is a sign for the parking lot.

... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Marsh Creek is Right there too..
By mhowey in July, 2011
Nice to do a warm-up ride up the paved Struble trail to the end, turn right and climb up to the first bend in Dorlan Mills Rd. where on the left there is an entrance to Marsh Creek. There is also some limited parking at this point as well. Take the road on the right as the left branch just sort of ends up fizzling out, judging from the deer path we were on.

The right hand fork takes you to the bottom of the damn which has one big switchback across it to climb it. Descent little climb makes you feel like there might actually be some decent terrain here. When you get to the top of the damn, you have multiple choices of singletrack and jeep trail. There are two main areas - north east of the damn and north west of the damn.

So yeah, Struble trail is really nice heading up along the creek and a perfect jumping off spot for further exploration.
more information on Struble Trail
By ponybarn in June, 2010
The review below "more than just two miles" refers to offshoot Shamona Creek Trail although this is actually the Uwchlan Trail named in the TrailLink.com main description. This is a very worthwhile up and down 2+ miles of paved trail that mostly follows a creek and winds through woods. Moderately hilly although mostly downhill on the way back! The Uwchlan Trail's east end is just beyond a country club where an unnamed biking path picks up and weaves it's way through a quiet residential development and corporate park both under the name Eagleview. You could easily add another 2-3 miles safely riding around here. If you are looking for a place to stop and browse a bookstore/coffee shop, ride into the small commercial area visible from the trail. There is also a nice bar/restaurant here with outdoor seating and a place to park bikes.

For another way to extend the ride, continue from Struble Trail's south end to where it dead ends at Creek Road (Rt 282)/Norwood Road. Cross Norwood Road directly to this unnamed paved path that winds through a wooded area for about one-half mile and into a gravel parking lot. If you follow the lot to the sidewalk and take a right, you can ride comfortably along past sandwich shops, a big drug store and eventually a convenience store on the other side of the first traffic light. Just beyond the convenience store is Kerr Park where you can easily find a way to get in another relaxing mile or so. There's lots of shade and an excellent children's playground on the north end.

For the adventurous, take the trail south though Kerr Park to where it dead ends at Lancaster Avenue. Turn right and walk your bike about 50 yards to a marked crosswalk. On the other side of the avenue the trail continues alongside Brandywine Creek, ambling to a dead end after about a mile. It's not much but if you're looking to get everything out of your Struble Trail area experience, it's worth it.
Struble Trail
By myrubberduckie329 in June, 2009
I live locally to this trail and have many fond childhood memories here. I noticed that Under the activities section, it note "wheelchair" as an option. Not only do I feel that it is nice to note that it is handicapped accessable, I think it would be good to mention there is an "all Abilities" (and otherwise really nice) playground with picinic area down the road from here. I don't see many of the handicapped accessable parks around, so I figured it would be worth mentoining for those looking for anything like it. Hope this helps someone out.
For anyone interested:
When leaving Struble Trail, make a right out of the parking area. This almost immediately puts the rite aid on your right side. At the light you will make a right. There is a lane on the left that will go behind the buildings there and there is a prking area from which you shoutl see playground equipment. It isn't that hard to find, plus there are lots more paths on that side that will lead you to the basketball courts, pavillions, or over to the Creek.