McClintock Trail

Pennsylvania

12 Reviews

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McClintock Trail Facts

States: Pennsylvania
Counties: Venango
Length: 9.4 miles
Trail end points: Oil Creek State Park and Samuel Justus Trail
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
ID: 6345001

McClintock Trail Description

As it winds along Oil Creek, McClintock Trail connects Oil Creek State Park with Oil City. Note that much of the route is on-road.

Just south of the park, a 1.8-mile section on Waitz Road, a dirt road with a few steep slopes in Cornplanter Township, provides access to the historic McClintock Well #1.

The southern section of the McClintock Trail was completed in September 2013, moving bicyclists and other trail users off busy State Route 8. This segment is a smooth, flat asphalt trail that aligns with an active class three railroad; the train is slow moving at approximately 15 MPH. This segment of the trail takes users from McClintock Well #1 to Oil City, where users can pick up the trail route through Oil City to the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail.

McClintock Trail is part of the Erie-To-Pittsburgh Trail; please see the link in the Explore Related Content box for more information.

Parking and Trail Access

On the north end of the trail, there is a small trailhead at McClintock Well #1 on Waitz Road, as well as a large trailhead on Old Bankson Road, approximately 800 feet off State Route 8.  

If you are getting on the trail from the southern end, there is no designated parking area. 

McClintock Trail Reviews

This is a road and a trail

Much of this route is road, not trail. The only trail is the first mile at the south end (Oil City) and within Oil Creek State Park. Otherwise it's road - and some of that is dirt with medium-size gravel.
A friend and I planned to ride the trail in June 2024 using 35mm tires. We turned around when we hit the gravel (tires were not wide enough to ride safely). We drove to the state park, and rode its smooth asphalt trail with partial shade. The trail is slightly uphill to Titusville, and runs along Oil Creek. The trail is just wide enough to ride 2 abreast.
Trail signage is spotty south of the park, particularly where the trail becomes paved road then dirt road with gravel.

...but it gets you back to the trail. Caseys bar is at the end in oil city. Stop for water and/or food.

...but it gets you back to the trail. Caseys bar is at the end in oil city. Stop for water and/or food.

Nice trail in Oil City

Nice trail a few miles from the Samuel Justus trail and is connected by the Oil City trail. It follows an active railroad and is separate by a fence.

Back Road Riding

Fortunately I had ridden through Oil City before and knew where to look for the signs to navigate downtown. I had even made it a mile or two onto the McClintock Trail before and found the smooth paved surfaces fun to ride. It is in need of some maintenance however and tall weeds are severely encroaching on the outside lane .
The surprise and disappointment comes after that once the "trail" turns into riding back roads that aren't in great shape, have no real berm and get the occasional Jeep or pickup driving by kicking dust into the air. Next time I remember to read these reviews BEFORE I decide where to ride.

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