Pymatuning State Park Spillway Trail

Located on the abandoned Erie and Pittsburgh branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, this short but intriguing trail runs through Pymatuning State Park, a large and popular two-state recreation area encompassing a 2,500-acre wildlife refuge around Pymatuning Reservoir. (The word Pymatuning is derived from an Iroquois term, probably from the Seneca tribe, that means "crooked-mouthed man's dwelling place.")

Pymatuning State Park Spillway Trail, a beautiful 3-mile route adjacent to Linesville Road, crosses the Pymatuning Spillway, which was built in 1930. The Pymatuning Spillway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area; it is estimated that more than 300,000 visitors come to view the local beauty and feed bread to the numerous carp that gather around the spillway.

The Pymatuning Spillway is known as the place where "ducks walk on fishes' backs." The area has plenty of attractions, including campgrounds, a fish hatchery and the Game Commission Wildlife Learning Center in the middle of the spillway.

Parking and Trail Access

To reach the spillway trailhead from Interstate 79 North, take Exit 147B for US 322 West and US 6 West toward Conneaut Lake. Merge onto Conneaut Lake Road and US 19/322/6. Follow US 6 for a little more than 7 miles. Continue on PA 6 (Water Street) for another 6 miles and then turn left to stay on PA 6, as it turns left, for 0.5 mile to Linesville. Turn left on South Mercer Street, which turns into Hartstown Road and takes you directly onto the spillway after about 1 mile. Parking is available on spillway on your left and at other locations in the park.

One mile is newly paved

September 2021 vicki1960

Brand new asphalt pavement, September 2021. They were finishing up the work the day we were there. Trail is gravel coming out of Linesville. At the spillway parking lot, the trail starts asphalt pavement and runs smooth to Fries Road. All in all, about one mile is asphalt paved.
Plans are in the future to pave more of the trail and even extend it.
In the meantime, enjoy the fresh new asphalt.
Great for a short bike ride, wheelchair accessible, roller blading, walking, jogging and strollers!

Short but sweet

September 2020 bpatch

Trail could certainly use some help. Mostly grass with some sections where there is a little gravel. Very bumpy. We started at the Spillway which for the most part is dead center of the trail. Nothing is marked as to beginning or end; just kind of stops at both ends. If you're looking for short and flat, but rough, this is the trail for you.

July update

July 2020 chadley109_tl

No recent reviews so I thought it was time. Yes the trail could use some tlc, but it’s not that bad. Rode the whole length, yes lots of grass but very level and no traffic. Lots of shade few bugs and found two side trails that you can walk and explore. First time to see the fish very unusual.

Needs work!

August 2015 vicki1960

Trail is dirt and grass. Very difficult riding on it. Park at the Spillway (will get to that later) and it goes about one mile to Fries Road. Can't go any farther. It goes along the lake and you can partially see the lake. Heading the other direction, trail goes into Linesville. You are better off riding along the side of the road. Rough trail. The trail goes 1 mile in one direction, guessing 1.9 in the other.
At the Spillway you can feed the ducks and fish. Bread was available for sale that day. Restrooms and snack bar at the Spillway.
Pymatuning Lake offers fishing & boating, Camping and Cabins, picnic areas and beaches.