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Brings back a lot of childhood memories, I was always riding my bike on this trial, started the trial in West Newton, PA!!!
Parked in Franklin at the Saltbox visitor center and biked to just South of Brandon and back which is 12.5 miles each way. Nice asphalt pavement the entire way.
At the 12.5 mile marker the asphalt ends. To continue on the trail you have to take a bumpy gravel dirt road for a few miles then the trail does pick up again at the Kennerdell tunnel for more miles of asphalt.
Basically flat trail follows the Allegheny River.
From Franklin the Belmar Bridge is approx 5 miles and go another 3.5 miles for Indian God Rock, on the National Register of Historic places.
There are no services along the trail so take plenty of water and / or snacks.
A nice 25 mile round trip is from Franklin to where the asphalt ends, and back. Franklin PA is mile 0.
Normally trails from rails are great for our disabled son, who walks with some difficulty. Not this one. It was eroded and rutted, making for a very uneven and difficult walk. There is abundant poison ivy on at least one side of the trail for much of its length. And everywhere the trail is overgrown with invasive plant species, honeysuckle and bush honeysuckle, English ivy, Japanese knotweed, etc. The electric company had massacred the trees along the side where the electric lines run. All in all, it was a mess, narrow, pitted, and not pretty. Honestly, the walk down from the top of the trail along the adjacent street was far more enjoyable. We'll never go back to this trail again.
I love walking on the Panhandle Trail and have been doing so for well over a decade. I usually start where the trail intersects with Scotch Hill Road and walk to Sturgeon and beyond. Unfortunately, the rains this year have washed away much, and in some places all, of the crushed stone between Scotch Hill Road and Sturgeon, so now I start at Sturgeon and walk to McDonald and beyond. It would be great if the aforementioned section could be fixed.
This has to be one of my favorite trails around, since they finished the lower, repaved it by Leetonia is is wonderful, I also rode the Washingtonville part today which I had never done before, that was a hidden gem!
Road 8 miles from the trail head in Freeport. Level at first then after about 4 miles slightly uphill. Several washouts that were hard to negotiate and came up with little warning. Nice trail; not busy; everybody i met was friendly. It does need attention in the area i rode
I road the whole trail yesterday out and back, where the slide was they have made a new trail to go around the sinkholeit drops down to the creek then back up to the trail. Road up the spur trail for 5 miles but it was very soft after the rain and up hill so we turned around and headed back down to main trail which is in great condition, and the two tunnels are very cool, need a light or you have to walk thru them
Rode from Cumberland to Frostburg and back. Uphill climb to Frostburg but reasonable, not strenuous. Easy downhill return to Cumberland. Excellent trail conditions. Beautiful scenery. One tunnel.
Took a short AM run on the trail starting at the Export Trailhead. Lots of cyclists - very nice to see the trail being used. I grew up in the area about 30 years ago and never thought someone would make a multi-use trail around here. Glad to see I was wrong!!
I walk regularly on this trail from the Emlenton trailhead for mild exercise. I'll walk for a mile or perhaps a bit more before returning. I've also been on the Parker-Foxburg trail section but only once in a while.
As long and as far as I've walked it, it has been maintained in good shape; flat, paved and, except for maybe a fallen tree, free of obstructions. Winter, of course, you'll be in snow; it isn't plowed. Once in a while you might encounter the tractor mowing the grass along the side. The Emlenton trailhead has a portable toilet this year (2019); its been clean when I've used it. A trash can is also at the trailhead.
Emlenton has an IGA grocery store should you want snacks, and there is a pizza shop in town on the main road.
This is NOT a gravel trail. It is an asphalt trail (poorly constructed with a very uneven surface) with some areas covered with a thin layer of crushed gravel. The remaining asphalt is deteriorating and creating a less than ideal cycling surface. Loose gravel on asphalt sets up the potential for accidents. I suggest repairing the asphalt or covering all if it with a thick layer of groomed, crushed gravel.
On the positive side, the are some very beautiful sections along the ride, almost making up for the inadequacies of the construction of the trail.
It is obvious the tail was rerouted in several areas. Two steep inclines were created near Blacklick. Not only are these not typical of rail trails, but could have been avoided with better planning. Novice bikers/ hikers might find these a bit challenging.
Some trail markers seem to be missing in Homer City, leaving users wondering where to connect.
I happened to be in the area and took a ride on this trail out of curiosity. Had I known it was asphalt, I would have skipped it.
I make these observations as a seasoned mountain biker.
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