Explore the best rated trails in Centralia, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Susquehanna Warrior Trail and Back Mountain Trail . With more than 65 trails covering 551 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.
Like the nearby Ironton Rail Trail, the Nor-Bath Trail follows the route of an old shortline RR that served the mining and concrete industries of the Lehigh Valley.
Nearly 6 miles in length, the trail is part of the LINK network of multi-use greenways that will eventually span the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton conurbation, connecting communities to each other as well as to more distant metro areas like Philadelphia and Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
From its beginning at Main Street in the suburb of Northampton (a signed route along 10th and Canal streets connects to the D&L Trail a quarter mile to the west), the trail heads east through a series of parks, the surrounding landscape transitioning from residential subdivisions to rural farmscapes. It currently ends at Jacksonville Park, just west of Bath. Plans are underway to extend it into the town itself in the near future.
The diversity of landscapes along the trail's route is its best asset. The first mile or so in Northampton is a rail with trail, paralleling a segment of RR that was kept in use to serve local industries. Rail fans will want to check out the array of train engines and cars in the yard across Clear Springs Drive, while interpretive signage gives the history of the demolished cement mills that once stood on sights since reclaimed by nature.
Heading east from Northampton, the trail passes through residential communities separated by parks, and the asphalt surface gives way to crushed stone. Traces of the RR that remain here include the straightness of the route, rock cuts lined with the layered, sedimentary outcroppings common in the Lehigh Valley and three old bridges that have been repurposed for trail use. Some of the homes along the route also have ornately decorated and landscaped lawns that can be admired from the trail.
The trail leaves suburbia behind and follows a tree-lined route through bucolic farmlands east of Bicentennial Park. This section is some of the most beautiful landscape I have seen in the Lehigh Valley and gives one the feeling of being far away from the bustling cities. I hope the owners of these properties keep the industrial development that has recently popped up near the intersection of Jacksonville and Airport roads from encroaching into them.
Boasting beautiful scenery, a straight route between suburban communities with few at-grade crossings and a smoot, well maintained surface, the Nor-Bath Trail is one of the best greenways in the Lehigh Valley.
We were looking for an afternoon on the bikes and found this great trail. The Parking lots are very well marked and plenty of spaces to leave the car. Entire trail is well groomed asphalt. Very small amount of plastic bags/bottles but otherwise very clean. Beautiful ride along the Susquehanna river! Yes it was along the highway also, but the river was a great distraction. some Canada geese, a Coramont but no ducks. Bridge crossings were a little challenging but short uphills and very well marked to get back to the trail. Only complaint was that there were no {marked} restrooms along the route. We took advice from another reviewer and did a small loop at the South end of the trail in a residential park of South Williamsport. Beautiful park with a very clean restroom facility. After completing the route, we doubled back from the south parking lot and took the Market street bridge back to the north parking lot to complete the ride. Really enjoyed this.
Great trail. Love the new bridges and smooth black top.
Constructed along the route of an old rail line that once served several slate quarries, the 3.3-mile Slate Heritage Trail celebrates one of the resources that once played a prominent role in the economy of the Lehigh Valley.
Much like the nearby Ironton Trail is an outdoor, linear museum devoted to the iron and cement industries, the Slate Heritage Trail treats users to ruins of the local quarries, most notably the NY Tunnel Quarry, so named because the tunnels mined into cliffside reminded the owner of the NY subway system. Slate heaps left from other quarrying operations can be seen off the trail further west and the towns that the trail connects, Slatington, Emerald and Slatedale, all attest to the role that the grey rock played in the development of the region.
The trail's route through a wooded greenbelt provides serenity and welcome shade in the warmer months of the year and people can often be seen fishing in the aptly named Trout Creek. The trail has a smooth, asphalt surface through Slatington, the largest and easternmost town, but turns to crushed stone at the quarry east of Emerald. Although the western segment of the trail has been repaired since the floods a couple years back, the surface is pretty loose, so cyclists should be careful. The section from Emerald to Slate Dale is also notable for the lush forests it passes through, giving the feeling of being in rural NE PA to the north rather than the suburban Lehigh Valley.
Other highlights mentioned in earlier reviews include the slate benches, several of which double as memorials devoted to the deceased, the covered bridge situated halfway between Slatington and Emerald and the remains of a demolished RR bridge in the latter town.
Although the trail itself is only a little over 3 miles in length, it links to the much longer D&L Trail on its eastern end and could possibly be extended west toward Jacksonville and Kempton in the future.
Love how the town added this bike trail so beautiful
It’s effectively a widened sidewalk along a suburban boulevard opposite from a commercial shopping center. I’m sure it’s functional in that way, but it’s not really a *trail.* I’ll still give it 3 stars though because it’s in perfect shape.
It’s very short, but a good ride while it lasts. The Oregon Pike crossing is daring. Other than that it’s just a simple high-quality short-trail.
Pretty straightforward; not much to say. Just watch the tight switchbacks north of the tunnel if you’re on a bike or something with wheels.
In all honesty, I rode this entirely too fast. The trail is quite narrow, enough so that I had to pull over to let another cyclist continue in the other direction. That said, I still had a lot of fun blazing the downhills. Lots of root-bumps as well. Some of the hills are pretty aggressive for bikes.
It’s really just a park pathway but longer. Nothing special. Smooth ride.
Very reminiscent of other longer rail-trails. A little rough in spots.
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