Explore the best rated trails in Bethlehem, PA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Palmer Township Recreation Trail (Towpath Bike Trail) and Schuylkill Valley Heritage Trail. With more than 132 trails covering 877 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
A little less than a mile long, the Barrel Run Trail is part of Milford Township's growing system of multi-use trails. The paved, asphalt trail begins at Woodview Drive, immediately west of...
The Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail runs nearly the length of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River across from New Jersey. The protected...
Since it opened as a railroad spur in the 1800s, this pretty trail has always been about connections. In 1834 the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad launched the spur to carry goods from Bristol,...
The Palmer Township Recreation Trail (a.k.a. the Towpath Bike Trail) is a terrific community asset for Palmer and Bethlehem township residents and a great destination for visitors as well. Three modes...
Freedom Trail Bikeway will eventually be a 10-mile route linking parks and open spaces throughout South Brunswick Township in northern New Jersey. The trail follows a former rail line through...
The Little Lehigh Parkway Path is a jewel in Allentown's park system. The greenway consists of soft-surface trails tracking either bank of Little Lehigh Creek for three miles. Trees line nearly the...
The Randolph Trail system covers 16 miles of pathways through five parks, the Clyde Potts Reservoir watershed and 2,000 acres of pristine open space. The trails link schools and neighborhoods and also...
When complete the Green Brook Multi-Use Trail will meander for 7 miles through the communities of Plainfield and North Plainfield, New Jersey. The trail will connect major regional trails and parks as...
The Columbia Trail has the distinction of being named for a natural gas pipeline that runs beneath it for 15 miles in rural northern New Jersey. The crushed-stone trail rolls along the South Branch of...
The Manayunk Bridge Trail opened in late 2015 to great fanfare, and for good reason: the trail, which crosses the Schuylkill River, Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76), and active train tracks,...
The historical Ben Franklin Bridge, opened in 1926, offers expansive city skyline views and is itself a stunning structure. The iconic suspension bridge once included two streetcar tracks in addition...
The Pennsy Trail is a short, but sweet rail-trail located in Haverford Township, to the west of Philadelphia. The trail's southern and northern ends are currently broken up by Manoa Road, with the...
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous; please refer to the interactive maps on the websites in the Related Content section. The D&L Trail runs for more than 140 miles through...
The Cynwyd Heritage Trail connects the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA’s) Cyn-wyd Station to Bala Cynwyd Park, the historic West Laurel Hill Cemetery, and Westminster...
Named after Dr. Ulysses Simpson Wiggins, a prominent doctor in Camden in the early 1900s, the Ulysses Wiggins Waterfront Park Promenade extends for 1.2 miles from the Ben Franklin Bridge to the...
The Angelica Creek Trail, in Reading's suburbs, begins at a scenic stretch of the Schuylkill River Trail, then goes south along the river a short distance before heading northwest toward Angelica...
The Frankford Creek Greenway, which opened in 2018, offers a 1.2-mile paved pathway, running from Aramingo Avenue and Wheatsheaf Lane to Delaware Avenue and Lewis Street. At its southern end, it...
The Lake Galena Park Hike & Bike Trail (alternatively the Peace Valley Park Hike & Bike Trail) offers 6 miles of blacktop along the shores of Lake Galena, just north of Doylestown in eastern...
The Hunters Crossing and Brayton Garden trails form a paved, multi-use greenway that extends 2.7 miles from the Country Square Shopping Center in Quakertown to Dovecote Drive immediately south of...
The Gurney Street Trail currently extends for just one block in the Fairhill Neighborhood of Philadelphia. However, the trail, which will continue to North American Street, is the culmination of a...
The Darby Creek Trail winds along a wooded creek through the western neighborhoods of Haverford Township, just outside of Philadelphia. The trail's southern end is anchored by Merry Place, a...
The paved Power Line Trail carries users between residential neighborhoods, parks, schools, and other destinations in Horsham Township. The 5.5-mile utility--easement trail also heads north to green...
The Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail runs nearly the length of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River across from New Jersey. The protected...
The Parkside Trail is one segment of the larger Camden Greenways network, a proposed system of trails currently under construction. When complete, the greenway will follow portions of the Delaware...
This trail is located in the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation which is a unit of the Morris County Park Commission. The trail follows an abandoned railroad bed through hardwood forests, past ponds, swamps...
The Trolley Line Trail is a 2.5 mile paved pathway between Rabbit Hill Road and Penn Lyle Road in West Windsor. The trail is on the right of way of the former Fast Line electric trolley that connected...
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...
Over 5 miles in length when all branch paths are counted, the Sellersville/Perkasie & East Rockland Twp. Bicycle & Walking Path System is a ribbon of asphalt that links several parks, open space...
Although relatively short at 1.8 miles, the Muhlenberg Rail Trail extends the ability of residents to exercise or visit local parks, schools, and businesses under their own power. The asphalt trail...
Not to be confused with the well-known Frick Park across the state in Pittsburgh, the 1.5-mile Frick's Trail is among the newest link in a system of multi-use trails being developed in the suburbs...
The Perkiomen Trail provides so many interesting historical and natural sites along its 20.6-mile length that visitors may have to ignore some of the trailside distractions to reach the other...
The Great Valley Trail, built on the former Lehigh & New England Railroad, offers an unpaved, natural experience through quiet woodlands between the townships of Hampton and Frankford. Although...
The Tacony Creek Trail offers a winding paved path along its namesake creek from Juniata Park to the East Oak Lane, Olney, and Lawncrest neighborhoods of Northeast Philadelphia. Situated entirely...
In the mid 1800s Chester, New Jersey, was the home of the iron ore industry; railroads shipped the ore all over the county. With the end of the industry, however, the rail lines were abandoned, turned...
The Manayunk Bridge Trail opened in late 2015 to great fanfare, and for good reason: the trail, which crosses the Schuylkill River, Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76), and active train tracks,...
The Kingston Branch Loop Trail is a trip up one side and down the other of the scenic tree-lined Delaware and Raritan Canal. The eastern half of the loop follows the bed of the Rocky Hill Railroad and...
The Doylestown Bike and Hike Trails system provides a convenient car-free network of paved pathways to get around this eastern Pennsylvania community, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. With more...
Named after Dr. Ulysses Simpson Wiggins, a prominent doctor in Camden in the early 1900s, the Ulysses Wiggins Waterfront Park Promenade extends for 1.2 miles from the Ben Franklin Bridge to the...
The Landsdown Trail runs 1.8 miles between Lower Landsdown Road and W. Main in Clinton. The trail passes among open fields, woodlands and wetlands and provides access to the South Branch of the...
Philadelphia’s Rail Park is an exciting project developing across Center City, which will connect several neighborhoods and provide access to Fairmount Park and other cultural attractions. The 3-mile...
The JFK Walking Trail is a hidden gem created to be part of the Pottsville Community flagship recreation complex. The paved trail is located behind the tennis courts and pool. A stylish sign complete...
This trail goes through the Black River Wildlife Management area along streambeds and forest. Equestrians must have a NJ Wildlife Permit, which is available from NJ DEP for a fee. The trail follows...
The Joseph Plumb Martin Trail offers a pleasant, paved loop through Pennsylvania's Valley Forge National Historical Park. Nestled against the wooded Schuylkill River, the park provides a wealth of...
The system of trails in Loantaka Brook Reservation are open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians, although the trails are marked as to which uses are permitted on each segment. Loantaka Brook...
Tyler State Park, located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, covers over 1,700 acres on the grounds of an old farm in a charming woodland setting. The park features a network of interconnected trails,...
The Doylestown Bike and Hike Trails system provides a convenient car-free network of paved pathways to get around this eastern Pennsylvania community, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. With more...
Located in Worcester Township, the Zacharias Creek Trail is a an easy walk or ride along water, through riparian woods and across green fields. The trail begins on Green Hill road (where there is a...
Linking the communities of Palmyra, New Jersey and Tacony (a historic neighborhood within Philadelphia) is the over 3,600-foot-long Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. Built between 1928 and 1929 for about $4...
A work in progress, the 2.5-mile Uwchlan Trail currently extends from the Struble Trail off the intersection of Dowlin Forge and Shelmire roads, north along the Shamona Creek and primarily following...
A little less than a mile long, the Barrel Run Trail is part of Milford Township's growing system of multi-use trails. The paved, asphalt trail begins at Woodview Drive, immediately west of...
A work in progress, the French Creek Trail is one of several trails being developed by East Pikeland Township. Although a small part of it follows the route of the former Pickering Creek Railroad,...
The Columbia Trail has the distinction of being named for a natural gas pipeline that runs beneath it for 15 miles in rural northern New Jersey. The crushed-stone trail rolls along the South Branch of...
The Lincoln Drive Trail bridges the gap between two of Philadelphia’s very popular trails. At its southern endpoint, the mouth of the Wissahickon Creek at Ridge Avenue, the trail meets the Schuylkill...
The Calhoun Street Bridge spans 1,274 feet across the Delaware River, connecting Trenton, New Jersey, on its east bank with Morrisville, Pennsylvania, on its west bank. Built in 1884, the intricate...
The Tacony Creek Trail offers a winding paved path along its namesake creek from Juniata Park to the East Oak Lane, Olney, and Lawncrest neighborhoods of Northeast Philadelphia. Situated entirely...
Although the Neshaminy Creek Greenway is only about a half mile long, big things are in its future. One day, the greenway could span as much as 33 miles, reaching the Delaware River. Currently, the...
The Patriots' Path covers roughly 35 miles of terrain and is open to mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and hiking. The multi-use trails links parks, open space, recreational...
The roughly half-mile long Frog Hollow Trail currently begins at Miller Road and follows a creek south between two subdivisions before dead ending at a point near French Creek. The crushed stone trail...
Over 5 miles in length when all branch paths are counted, the Sellersville/Perkasie & East Rockland Twp. Bicycle & Walking Path System is a ribbon of asphalt that links several parks, open space...
The Schuylkill Valley Heritage Trail passes through the rolling green hills of the Schuylkill River Valley, from just outside of Tamaqua to Middleport. The trail runs immediately adjacent to US...
Had a little trouble finding a good spot to park and the trailhead in the shopping center off 309 so we decided to start at Blue Heron park. Once we got there it was very obvious where to go. My 5 y/o and I road the meandering trail with little incline through housing developments but it was still nicely wooded and spotted with lovely little ponds. Overall, we felt the trails were well maintained for us. We liked riding over the bridge and on the boardwalk. You do have to cross a busy road at one point but I felt we were visible enough to safely cross. It took us about an hour, there and back. We both had a great time. Bonus, there is a great playground my son was able to play on afterwards. Highly recommend this fun little ride for anyone with kids.
I use a section of this trail when I travel to Lansdale by bike, it is a wonderful trail that offers a safe route away from cars for part of my ride. I am glad that Lansdale and Hatfield townships are working toward providing people with safe, protected trails for cycling, walking, running, and scooting. Please keep this up and bring more things like this to our Montgomery County communities!
Flat and paved is always a welcome reprieve from crushed stone or otherwise. The drawbacks (frequent road crossings and occasional visual proximity to rte 202) are easily outweighed by the quality of the trail. Signage makes the trail easy to follow, and the quarter mile markers are an improvement over the usual half mile markers. The crossings are well designed to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe.
Stretching nearly 7 miles from Bachman Street in Hellertown south through the picturesque Saucon Valley to East Station Ave. in Coopersburg, the Saucon Rail Trail could easily be considered the Jewel of Eastern PA when it comes to multi-use greenways.
The trail is built along the route of the former North Penn RR, which once hauled iron, steel and coal from the mines of Northeastern PA and mills of the Allentown-Bethlehem metropolitan area south to Philadelphia. The line also doubled as a SEPTA commuter line until abandonment in 1984. The RR itself may be long gone, but numerous vestiges, including old telegraph poles and signal towers, one of which has been refurbished, rock cuts and several bridges that have since been repurposed for trail use, attest to the line's original purpose. The fact that the crushed stone trail is wide enough to easily accommodate two or more cyclists or hikers passing each other simultaneously is made possible by the fact that the line was double tracked for most of its length.
Other highlights along the trail include historical stone buildings and homes that are visible along the northern segment of the trail in Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township, palatial mansions of more recent vintage in Upper Saucon Township, quaint barns north of Coopersburg and the Hellertown wetlands.
The trail also passes several parks on its route, including Water Street and Grist Mill parks in Hellertown, Upper Saucon Township Community Park, located just west of the campus of DeSales University and South Lehigh Living Memorial Park in Coopersburg. In addition to providing opportunities for the kids to play or families to eat picnic lunches, these parks also provide convenient points to access the trail and feature their own, internal trail networks.
In addition to being a great, stand alone trail, the Saucon Rail Trail is also envisioned to become a vital link in an intercity greenway that will eventually connect the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton-Phillipsburg conurbation with the Philly metropolitan area. The Upper Bucks Rail Trail now extends from the southern terminus in Coopersburg south to Veterans Park outside Quakertown, and there are also plans to extend the trail north to Saucon Park in Bethlehem, where it will link to the South Bethlehem Greenway.
Smooth trails all around. Mostly shaded area. Highly recommend any skaters to trail skate here.
We have been riding this trail for about the past 10 years. Our first time out, we started out at the Hialeah trailhead. Will not do that again. Only for the younger, more adventurous mountain biker, not older geezers like my buddy and myself. Now, we start at the trailhead near Bushkill. We bike out 12 to 15 miles and come back. Nice views of the Delaware. Trail is pretty well-maintained. No skinny tires recommended for this trail. Also not recommended for riders looking for a "smooth" ride.
Took my bike for 30 miles on this trail. What a relaxing, scenic experience. You want to get out there early if your biking, as the foot traffic increases around 11am. I enjoyed the different surfaces, the natural areas. A lot of deer and chipmunks. Definitely worth the experience. Whether you are on foot or wheels, pack plenty of water and a light snack. You will need it on this trail!
This is one of my favorite rides, which we do every year in the fall when the leaves are turning. Spectacular. Superb trail, gorgeous & varied scenery. We do an up & back ride from Betzwood to Green Lane Park over two separate days, with Central Perkiomen Valley Park as our mid-point. All three endpoints offer welcoming amenities - restrooms, water, picnic tables, beautiful surroundings. The trail is not for road bikes/tires - trail is rough in many places for extended stretches. There are several hills besides the infamous 12% grade going up Spring Mountain. They are currently doing some township work - a sewage pipe project I think - that is large & visible for about 1/2 mile along the trail, with a black barrier along the trail. Unsightly, but temporary until the project is over. Does not affect the trail except for aesthetics over that 1/2 mile stretch.
Many will access this from the Schuylkill River Trail in Manyunk, crossing the bridge over the river and the expressway. That way, it is a gentle uphill ride to the train station on a well maintained trail. Once one gets to the train station and turns around, give a few hard pedals, and one can coast almost all the way back. When I have been on it, a nice variety of users. One is unlikely to run into bike racers, as it is too short for them. From signs I have seen along the trail, there may be improvements (amenities) from local groups who may be adopting the trail. There are some benches and also signs pointing out spots of interest.
Great for a moderate bike ride, did and out and back in about 2.5 hours. Started in Easton where the North/South Trail meets the East/West Trail. Nice combination of different trail optionsz
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