Find the top rated birding trails in Franklin Park, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Brand new trail with a lot to see! Only 1.5 miles, this trail is perfect for a stroll along the stream on a nice day. It has plenty of benches in ideal spots and signage about the history of the railroad. The bridge and long tunnel are fascinating trail features that break up the forested areas. Lots of birds and wildlife. It starts at a decently sized parking lot and ends next to a road. Definitely recommend for anyone close by!
Great trail..been riding it for years, from various trailhead sites. Disappointed to see a roofing company has placed several advertising placards along the trail in Ebensburg near the West Street crossing/entrance. This ruins the scenic beauty of the trail. Please remove before “others “ show up.
Started in Lisbon and rode north to the northern end of the trail. A good portion is shaded. Entire trail is in great shape. Trail signs in Leetonia are missing. When riding north through Leetonia, stay on Main St., which turns into Cherry Valley Rd, then right onto East High Street, which connects with the last few miles of the trail.
Four of us rode this trail on Memorial Day. Not many people were out riding. We only rode from Saltsburg to the Conemaugh dam. At age 78, hauling a bike up and down stairs at Bow Ridge is not for us. I love this trail! The first 4+ miles was typical tree covered rail trail along the river. Then it turns interesting as the trail goes cross-country with many changes in elevation. The hill just past Elder run is very steep with some loose gravel that can be a challenge. Then there is a long downhill run thru the woods. But these are the type of things that made the trail interesting. More trails should offer some natural diversity, even if it requires a parallel route to the main trail.
We started in Emlenton and headed North. Emlenton to Kennerdell. 12ish miles one way. Rockland tunnel and Emlenton tunnel, need lights...they are dark and long tunnels. Allegheny River water level high due to recent heavy rains. Trail surface is paved. Always an enjoyable ride on this section of the trail.
A buddy and I rode the Metroparks Bikeway and the Niles Greenway on Friday. My overall impression of the trail was very good. The pavement is nice and the Kirk Rd. trailhead where we started was very nice also. The downsides of the trail are actually quite minor. There are cracks in the pavement on the section north of Kirk Rd but unlike some other reviewers who saw them as awful I found them just a bit of a distraction. If you've ever ridden paved trails with root or frost heaves these are nothing. I'm not sure how you could wreck on them as I believe someone suggested. The other downside is the number of road crossings. By our count I believe we had 13 crossings. Double that for a round trip of course. The route south from Kirk Rd. was my favorite though, fewer crossings, no cracks and a bit more wooded of farmland feeling. I have no regrets riding this trail.
While in the area we stopped at this trail. Parked at the only parking lot, on Wexford Bayne Road, and headed South. Surface was crushed stone and about 8 feet wide. Very nice for walking or small children bicycling. We walked this trails entire length and back. Just beyond where the limestone ends is a culvert and large deep creek so you can't go any farther and there isn't anything ahead anyhow. This trail is surrounded by private property on each side, some business on the one side and residential homes on the other side. About 1/4 of a mile into the trail is the Rachel Carson hiking trail. It goes up the the chamber of commerce building.
PA-Cumberland 5/2023. Loved this trail with lots of places to camp, a winding and entertaining trail, views of the river, tunnels, small towns along the way. I particularly liked Frostburg and camped two nights. The switchbacks up to town aren't as miserable as some describe and the view is rewarding. The Toasted Goat in Hotel Gunter is an old hotel worth a walk around and a meal. Check out the basement holding cell and speakeasy.
Having ridden from Rosston to East Brady in 2021, a buddy and I decided to ride the newly opened southern end of the Armstrong. In a nutshell, It is not as nice. Starting again from the Rosston boat marina we headed south. Right away the surface is not as smooth as going north. Instead of a fine limestone sand, the surface appears to be a sort of fairly small gravel, close to what is known as crusher run but not quite. It is still quite rideable however. This section of the trail has little to see for quite a ways. Eventually, you come upon some riverside cottages. These are not as nice as the ones up towards East Brady but they’re okay. That’s it till you hit Schenley where you come upon abandoned or near abandoned factories - signs of the industrial decay in the area. At the end is the highlight of the trip, the newly opened bridge over the Kiskiminetas River. They did a very nice job on this and it’s pretty long. After the bridge we headed up the Kiski on the trail (also called the Leechburg Towpath). This section was less appealing. Right away there is some kind of rental campground for campers right along the river with campers packed in and there is a dirt road immediately to the left of the trail. It takes a while but you get past these. The ride in the woods is punctuated by acid mine drainage several places and then you come upon the large, abandoned Allegheny Ludlum steel plant. After riding past this for a ways the trail just pops out onto what was obviously an access road to the factory at one point. We weren’t sure if the trail continued but kept riding up the road. No one we saw knew either, there were no signs. After a ways we came to a gate across the road with a bike bypass and there was an Armstrong Trails sign there. This may be the end of the trail but we rode on a bit and saw the familiar green and white bike route signs and followed on. They led us on some bike paths and low traffic streets in Leechburg to the Leechburg Riverfront Park. If you ride this way be sure to stop here. They have picnic tables and a gazebo and it’s a very nice rest and lunch spot. After lunch we continued on as the signs took us on more side streets to the Hyde Park Foot Bridge - a suspension type bridge across the Kiski. Definitely worth the short ride. That was the end of the trail and we headed back. Note that there is less shade on this trail and we were cooked by the sun on the way back. While I gave the north end of the Armstrong four stars this section barely rates three. Stick to the north section if you’re riding for the first time.
Up and back will get you close to 15 miles. The trail is well maintained and looks like they are expanding it. The old line has been cleared to the rail bridge. I am looking forward to that.
The trail is mostly paved except for the Wv part and the end in pa Multiple parking areas. The trail is remote on the Wv side and a 16 mile up hill climb. Then down hill. The trail is not shaded
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