Find the top rated snowmobiling trails in Ephrata, whether you're looking for an easy short snowmobiling trail or a long snowmobiling trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a snowmobiling trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This is to update a previous post. We recently rode the section that connects to the SRT and it is in need of major repairs. There are areas that were washed out and filled in with much larger stones. There were also places where there were deep loose stones. As a long time mountain bike rider, I was able to handle these obstacles, but I don't recommend this section of trail, except for walkers.
Relatively easy access from our hotel (Philly Downtown Marriott). We rode our travel tandem that we packed along for this trip. Beautiful ending of the fall leaves turning. Lots of trail traffic in town but traffic and scenery improved a lot as we got farther out of town. Old homes in a section of Fairmont Park adjacent to the trail are worth stopping to see. Dams and cascading water also create a serene environment worth stopping to absorb for a while.
My wife and I parked at designated parking 3 miles east of Quarreyville and road to the end of the trail at Turkey Hill preserve. The trail is maintained and in excellent condition. I will note that when parking at this spot as of 11/01/2024 there are trail closed signs and there is still some paving work to be completed. However, the section being worked on is only 2 miles long and is easily rideable. If you want to park at the next location a bit west of this spot you will miss this. Note there are several areas to park along the trail and all have excellent parking and there are many benches, picnic tables, and port-a-johns along the length of the trail. There is no access to water, so, bring it with you. From where we parked to Turkey Hill preserve parking is 22 miles one way. This entire length of trail is in excellent condition and very enjoyable. Heading east from where we parked we were told (as we did not ride east) work is still being done on the trail and it is not in the same pristine condition. We have ridden many rail trails across the United States and highly recommend this one.
We have been biking the Bartram section for years and love it! First time we’ve taken this trail south from bridge near Carpenter entry gate. There were tents under the bridge with the trail getting more and more narrow. We passed a man picking through bags of spilled over garbage. Wonder if there are trail ambassadors or patrols because we weren’t comfortable going further south
I used to ride this trail often a couple decades ago on my hybrid bike - it wasn't too bad back then. I revisited the trail10/2024, entering from the Goldmine Rd end. First, I already knew where the parking was for this trail from years ago, but if I was a first-timer trying to find it, I did not see ANY signs or anything at the location of the Goldmine Rd entrance, saying this was the Stony Valley Rail Trail. Matter of fact, having ridden this trail (end-to-end) dozens of times about 20 yrs ago, even though I knew I was at the right place, I kept questioning myself whether I was. I unloaded my bike which has mountain bike width tires on it & started off on the trail. After about a quarter mile I turned around - NO WAY am I riding 35 miles on this rough surface. I am not an expert on grades of stone, but I think the stones making up the trail are what is known as 2B. That is, they were larger gray limestones about 1.5" or more in diameter. I was looking for a quiet, pleasurable ride to enjoy the changing foliage, not a BONE RATTLING ride that required me to hold on to prevent taking a tumble from every stone I was hitting. In addition to the larger/rough stone surface, the sides of the trail were sloped (I don't know the correct term but I think one reviewer referred to it as camber), to the point that I was afraid of sliding off the side of the trail into the water-filled ditch that made up the shoulder of the trial, if I hit a stone the wrong way. I used to love this trail years ago, now, unfortunately, this trail is off my biking list. As I think another reviewer titled their review - this trail is in the NEVER AGAIN category for me. I loaded up my bike & drove into Lebanon (having just a week earlier ridden the nearby Swatara Rail Trail), & rode the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail from Lebanon to Colebrook (a MUCH MORE pleasurable trail with paved surfaces and hard-packed crushed limestone. Geez, I can't help wondering, did someone (non-profit/volunteer or government organizations that are "hunter-friendly") intentionally RUIN the Stony Creek Trail, by surfacing it with larger stones to keep bikes off ???
Perfect first trail ride for our new bikes. We went a little further on the trail to do 2.9 miles both ways. The single hill is a nice touch for the exercise. View of the water was a nice touch as well for scenery.
Mostly gravel, some large gravel. North 1/3 is not maintained, large ruts. OK for gravel bikes, not OK for a road bikes. North end just ends in a field. Bear Hole trail or Tomstown Road in FIG is a much better choice
Little more income than what we like in such a short distance. Not much to see along the route did not see river until close to 422.
My husband and I use this trail a lot with our electric bikes. Well maintained but I do have concerns about some of the shallow rooted trees that must be trimmed and/or removed. Amy Marotta
Does anyone know if the trail is open between Jim Thorpe train station & Weissport is open? We are heading there this weekend of 9/13-15/2024. It’s been closed for most of the spring/summer season 2024 for construction. Just curious if we shout just head to the Weissport parking lot. Although the trail between JT & Weissport is a fun ride.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!