Explore the best rated trails in Oil City, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Mahoning Shadow Trail and Redbank Valley Rail Trail . With more than 40 trails covering 502 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.
This trail is not scenic for most of the trail. The trail is hard to follow and I had to refer to maps several times. The trail is all paved but there is a considerable amount of debris on it from the adjacent highway. The trail should continue to Presqu Trail but falls short Severl busy intersections to cross and not the best area to travel in the afternoon as there were several unsavory person panhandling, moving scarp, and unchained dogs running.
I started in Ford City and rode all the way up to the Brady Tunnel.The tunnel has overhead lights but I would bring a headlight just in case. Pack drinks and snacks because there is nothing else till you get to Bradys Bend if you go that far .Make sure you have a spare inner tube just in case. The trail is very well maintained some paved sections in Kittanning have a lot of tree roots sticking up…. The Bike Lab in Kittanning 724 -919-0308 is a newer bicycle shop in town .There is a Foxes Pizza right along the trail in town plus a Dunkin Donuts.
Parked in Emlenton, 27 miles South of Franklin and headed North to just North of the Kennerdell Tunnel approx 13 miles South of Franklin. This section has two lengthy tunnels, need a light. Very well shaded with views of the Allegheny River. The trade off is that this section is super bumpy with uplifted asphalt pavement due to tree roots. You'll ride along and then all of a sudden hit a series of roots which catch you off guard as they are not marked and difficult to see. Some stretches it's uplifted asphalt one after another. We usually ride this section once per year and since last year it's gotten progressively worse. Other than the washboard areas, this is a good trail. Once a year is enough.
Participated in Mercer County Trails Associations annual Pedal the Lakes organized bike ride. The trail is super shaded and even thicker foliage than over the Summer. End of Summer ride showing slight signs of upcoming Autumn. It was a beautiful day at the park, Maurice K. Goddard State Park. The trail offers some great views of Lake Wilhelm as well as rolling Pennsylvania terrain.
Rode from the Franklin trailhead off of route 322 to the Kennerdell Tunnel and a bit beyond. The majority of the trail was paved and smooth. The gravel section just North of Kennerdell was challenging for my wife and the couple riding with us, (Skinny tires) Otherwise a scenic and fun adventure! (A 5 Beer Rating)🍺🍻🍻😎
We biked the entire length of the trail and it's various surfaces. Meadville end is paved and well shaded. On the western side of Route 19 it's gravel for a few miles, very rough. Traveling further West towards Conneaut Lake it's dirt and bumpy and seems to have gotten worse since we last rode on this section. Will stick to it on foot or snowshoeing in the Winter. Pretty scenery though and a good bit shaded. We ate at Silver Shores in Conneaut Lake across the street from the trail. At the Conneaut Lake trailhead, just behind Conneaut Wine Cellars, there is a new pavlion which is very nice.
After weeks and weeks of record breaking temperatures, finally a break and a cooler day to head to the Shenango Trail. Very well shaded but a bit buggy being along the river. Still a great day for a hike and to spend time in the woods. After June flooding, and now a draught almost, the water level very low and muddy.
We accessed this trail in Franklin where the Allegheny River Trail ends. Seamless connection offers an additional 7 miles from Franklin to Oil City. Flat rail trail, paved, follows the Allegheny River. Historic signs and sights along the way. A little bit of shaded areas.
We are camping at Lampe and can travel West or South on this trail along the Bayfront. Going WEST, the is currently a lot of construction, but when done should be a nice improvement. I like this western part as it travels along the bayfront and around Frontier park. Many good sights and watering holes. Sloppy Duck one of them. It also connects via a marked bike path to Presque Isle Drive to the beautiful 13 plus paved trail around the Peninsula.
Now, leaving the campground and heading south towards Behrend Campus is a different story. The first 2 or 3 miles is through the eastern part of the city. Traffic noise as you're right adjacent to the Bayfront highway. You will see a lot of decay from past industries. The trail itself is littered with trash and weed growth. Today, I was passed by two gas powered motorcycles, like dirt bikes going at a high rate of speed. There is little to no law enforcement. And no upkeep. I have encountered broken glass and drug paraphernalia in the past amongst the trash. About 3 miles out the trail leaves the jurisdiction of Erie and once into Millcreek becomes very nice and well maintained. Erie is a bike friendly town and does a great job with their bike trails other than this section going south from the bayfront to about 38th street. This section goes through an urban rundown area and is completely neglected.
The Ohio section of trail at this point is very rough, and not very scenic. The PA trailhead is well maintained, and more scenic.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
