Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Reading, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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June 3, 2024
HORSHAM POWERLINE TRAIL PREVIEW PART 1
Check out the Horsham Powerline Trail Preview Part 1. I started at the Jarrett Park parking lot, ran towards Norristown Rd, made a U-turn. I headed on the path back past Jarrett Park, up the hill, and made a right before the path gets to Babylon Rd on the section that heads towards the library. At the dead end, I made a right to head back up the alternative path from the library parking lot to Jarrett Park. Great time always while using the trail here. See my video of the run on youtube: https://youtu.be/yHqGfeiBuJo?si=9b0ayOoBU36DMM3q
We had heard good things about this trail, and were able to visit and ride circa 26 miles out and back yesterday, (June 4). This is a wonderful and very scenic trail with amazing views of the river and bucolic landscape. Much of the trail is shaded which helped during the heat but also adds to the allure of the trail. The Trail Welcoming Center is well maintained and the staff there very friendly and helpful. In addition, the rest room(s) were immaculate! I can't recommend this trail highly enough, and we will absolutely, (the Good Lord Willing), return to ride anytime we have the opportunity! Thanks for developing and maintaining such a marvelous and beautiful venue for relaxing and enjoying nature at its finest. We also stopped and had lunch at a wonderful tavern about 10 miles from the Welcome Center that is right along the trail. Very welcoming, great food, and very friendly clientele! Fantastic all around Great Experience!
Started our ride from the Freemansburg parking area and rode west to Bethlehem. The lack of maintenance was evident along this portion and remnants of the canal were deplorable with tons of trash and homeless camps. On our return trip to Easton we encountered the worse section of this trail between Freemansburg and the Rt. 33 boat ramp access. Multiple pot holes ,huge roots and where trees have been uprooted leaving the trail inches wide and 5 foot deep holes. Hope improvements are in the works.
Rode the approx. 33 mile loop the day after Memorial Day. We've had so much rain that the usual hard pack was a bit soft, especially on the PA return side. From Frenchtown to Lambertville, it is 90+ percent shade and is very smooth and easy until you get close to Lambertville. Had a nice lunch in New Hope at Triumph Brewery. Coming north back to Frenchtown posed some obstacles as we were forced off the tow path and had to ride the very narrow River Road twice because of small bridge repairs being done. Being a midweek day, the traffic wasn't so bad but I wouldn't try this on a weekend. The tow path side isn't as smooth and is much more open to the sun than the Jersey side and can be narrow and in various states of condition and surface material. Still was a beautiful day to be out and would do again. Short time on country road to get back to the Frenchtown bridge. Lots of parking in Frenchtown in the next to the bridge.
Wasn't a fan of multiple issues. Traffic unsafe at multiple locations. Gravel and tapered to shoulders and feels unsafe. Bridge missing above road intersection. This causes huge group down to road on both sides.
We made our annual pilgrimage to the Lehigh Gorge section of the D&L trail. As usual we had a wonderful ride. Rode 48 miles round trip from Jim Thorpe to White Haven and back. Waterfalls were flowing and rapids were high, providing for some of the best scenery PA has to offer.
To add to the excitement, we saw a large rattlesnake crossing the trail. It had to be at least two feet long. Quite an exciting afternoon.
On a practical side, the White Haven renovations are complete with some of the best bathroom facilities I have seen on a trail anywhere.
Dinner on the porch of Molly McGuire’s in Jim Thorpe capped off the day.
So glad we decided to keep of the tradition of an annual visit.
I knew about this trail in Royersford, but just discovered that it connected to the SRT. It would be even better if a restaurant or pub opened nearby. Most of the town is up the hill and is probably too steep for many. Plus, Main St has lots of traffic. Lots of walkers on some days so plan for a casual ride.
It is a nice little out and back from the SRT if you are looking to add a scenic detour.
I discovered this after I got my gravel bike last year. It is short however this is one of the few places you are right by the Schuylkill River for a significant amount of trail and can actually see the river. Most of the primary right of way for the SRT is either along the canal or you cannot see any scenery. There is a reason Schuylkill in Dutch I believe means "hidden river".
If you want to do a longer gravel ride under a treed canopy, park at the Longford Road Dog Park at the end of Longford Road and take the canal trail from there through Mont Clare. After crossing under PA Rt 29 you will come to the paved section of Lock 60. Go a short way and cross the little bridge on the right and that's where this trail officially begins. Worth the trip.
Note: the trail is often closed for a short duration after flooding events.
This is a local trail for me. I used it twice a week when working in West Goshen, Chester County. The trail is in very good shape and Chester County is to be commended for the trail. Today I use the trail to go deep into the hills of Chester County on my roadbike and get back to where I live not far from Valley Forge.
The good: It provides non-car connectivity! The surface is very good and provides the ability to get in and out of the area without cars. The canopy of trees as you get towards Montgomery County is great on hot days.
The not so good: There are a significant number of road crossings. The trail also parallels US 202 and is noisy in many spots.
I can't wait until the trail is extended further into beautiful Chester County. It is a shame it doesn't connect directly to Malvern, Paoli or Downingtown Boros.
This is, generally, an enjoyable ride, an unexpected green oasis in a congested urban landscape. However, at the southern end, between Torresdale Av. and State Rd., the trail is in pretty poor condition, especially in the amount of mud that has been allowed to accumulate on it. That stretch just projects an indifference on the part of the city to what was a really nice civic resource when it first opened.
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