Find the top rated hike trails in Marienville, whether you're looking for an easy short hike trail or a long hike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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A nice short break off of the armstrong trail
Started in Schenley where the bridge crosses the Kiski River. This is at mile 0. Begin at the newly refurbished bridge in 2024. The bridge doesn't connect to anything at this time. There is a "flyover" planned for future development. We biked North to Ford City. Crushed limestone in very good condition and grass mowed along side. We passed an environmental clean-up site from and old well between miles 4 & 5. There are mileage signs. Two miles South of Ford City you will cross the bridge over Rosston at Crooked Creek. This looks to be relatively new I couldn't find any info on when it opened. Approaching Ford City the trail becomes paved and there are plenty of picnic tables and benches along the trail. In Ford City there are flower gardens along the trail and restrooms. Also the former PPG site which closed in the early 1990's. Ford City offers plenty of places to eat and the place we chose was very trail friendly filling our water bottles for asking. There isn't much shade along this 13 mile section of the trail and no benches along the trail to stop and rest. (Until we got to Ford City). We also took the few mile trail from Schenley down to Leechburg. It follows the Kiski River and comes out behind the old steel mill.
Group ride. We parked in Franklin and biked South to Sunnyslope for 12.5 miles and back. This is the best section of the trail since everything from Kennerdell tunnel and South is like a washboard. 3.25 miles South of Franklin there is a hillside erosion and caution tape, since April 2026. Follow along the trail and go through the grass.
We tried all three trail heads. Tally Ho was washed out and impassable. Traveled up the road to the Red Bridge. Crossed the bridge and turned around and loaded our bikes back up. It was a single dirt lane with overgrown grass and wash out divets up and down the path. Didn’t even seem hikable let alone bikable. We ended at Westline. Road the trail for 3.2 miles and a large tree was across the trail and again, impassable. We turned around. The trail itself was “ok”. Some spots were pretty rough and we had to creep through to not be knocked off.
Nice smooth, basically flat trail. Many benches to take a break if needed.
We went on a pleasant, mostly cloudy day in August. Went from mile 58 to 46 and back. This section is a very nice, mostly rural/woods trail. The surface (crushed limestone) is generally good; the trail is sometimes as wide as a car lane, sometimes narrows down considerably (mostly due to the edges are not in as good shape as the middle). It does cross roads in spots, but most are not busy. I'd say 70% of it is in the shade, with some sections in the sun (but most sun sections are not long, so this would be a good trail for a hot day). Kane has a surprisingly large downtown, with quite a few restaurants (the Table 105 restaurant is quite good). The scenery is not spectacular (no dramatic waterfalls or cliffs) but beautiful woods with lots of large trees and pleasant fields. It was not very crowded when we went.
This trail is one of the nicest in the area! Really awesome when a train comes through!
On a hot sunny Summer day you will appreciate all the shade this trail has to offer! A good percentage of the trail is well shaded by the foliage. Trail crosses over Sandy Creek numerous times on wooden bridges. Be careful though, these bridges are showing their age as boards seem to be warped and popping up along with nails/screws. Still this isn't a deal breaker! Water level in Sandy Creek is low this time of year. One short tunnel you can get away without a light. Great view from the Belmar Bridge (circa 1907) of the Allegheny River. River level low this time of year. Lowest elevation on the trail is at Fisherman's Cove, highest is at Van. If you plan it out correctly, a slight uphill gradual incline on the first part of your ride, then enjoy the coast back on the return trip. Parking off Fisherman's Cove Road, Belmar, Rockland and Van. Trail surface is asphalt paved, good condition, some bumps due to roots and mossy areas. While in the area check out Allegheny River Trail which can be accessed by steps and a ramp, under the Belmar Bridge.
Canadian smoke was not bad. Trail could use some TLC on the surface. Many times of ruts. Downhill going to the Clarion. Up a bit to Ridgeway. Had to exit the trail 3 miles from Ridgeway and go on Route 949 for a few hundred yards. 18 miles. Recommend Joey’s for breakfast/lunch. All in all, a nice day!
We started in Franklin and used the Samuel Justus and Sandy Creek Trails to reach the western terminous of the Clarion Highlands Trail. The segment between 322 and Kline Rd is essentially a vehicle access road, but is quiet and heavily wooded. I would recommend the northern detour from Kline to Camp Hoffman Roads going east and the southern detour going west. Kline has a 185-ft elevation change up to 322, best traveled downhill to the trail! The trail between Fern Rd and Walt Kahle Rd is in a sunken, poorly-drained cut that is badly flooded, and the access from Fern Rd is a muddy mess. We did a short detour on 322. The eastern segment of the trail is mostly double-track with crushed stone, some puddles, mud, and sections of exposed railroad sub-base, that consist of transversely places slabs of rock. On our visit the grassy segment east of Station Rd was overgrown. If you like varied gravel surfaces, you will enjoy this trail (if not the detours). Wider tires with lower pressures are advised. We continued to the Rail 66 Trail using the shoulders on US-322, but there were some big hills and fast traffic involved.
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