Pine Creek This marshy area lies 5.8 miles south of Rattlesnake Rock. The surface of this trail is the very best that I have ever been on, it is crushed limestone and is in great shape from end to end, the night between my round trip we had a number of thunder strom's come though over night and my ride back did not see any standing water. The one exception is an ice cream shop about half way but I didn't stop so I don't know the days or hours of operation. There is also an old pump for water along the trail from the Jersey Shore trail head at one of the Comfort Stations but I don't remember how far along it is. Calling ahead for a reservation is a must. The rail trail runs from Jersey Shore to Stokesdale which is a length of approximately 62 miles. I would definitely do it again, but with Big Apple tires. From there we saw it was just a short distance to Slate Run and we hoped we would be able to find some food at Slate Run, as it was just past noon. The grade by itself wasn't that big a deal but on May 1 there was a 10-17 MPH wind in the face the entire way. Gorgeous rhododendron, day lilies, and other blooms along the trail. Stayed at Pettecote Jct. His proper name isCrotalus Horridus, but this one prefers to be called Doug. Pine Creek Rail Trail 5 204 #1 of 11 things to do in Wellsboro Biking Trails Hiking Trails Visit website Write a review About Suggested duration More than 3 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. There is a slight 2% downhill grade from Ansonia to Rattlesnake Rock which made the trip a little easier for us. Wish therewere more like it in this area, especially Bradford County.A nice rest, picnic area is in Tiadaughton.". I'm pretty sure this is Slate Run, 8.8 miles from Rattlesnake Rock. It is a great trail, especially for kids. I did spot a large black snake sprawled across the trail and a black bear in the distance in the area of the comfort station just south of Waterville. It was drizzling when we left Cedar Run but at times was a downpour. The hard packed stone makes for a fairly easy ride or hike, and the trail has a small grade, around 2%. The following day we headed south for about 12 miles and took in the scenery along the Pine Creek. Pack something in advance and take in one of many rest stops along the way for lunch. If you are looking to get a Pine Creek Rail Trail shuttle, youll want to get in touch with Pine Creek Outfitters. The surface is very hard with cinders the entire length. I rode the full trail up and back on two seperate days on my cyclocross bike. We stayed at The Cedar Run Inn (with second and third floor rooms only) It is just what the web states, and the owner and help were just wonderful, but the dinner was very dissapointing. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world. The trail is perfectly maintained, hard packed, no litter at all, in fact there are no trash cans either because of the heavy black bear population! Give it a shotyou won't be disappointed! 62 miles of peace! ", "My wife and I decided to spend our spring break in Blackwell, PA in order to explore the Pine Creek Trailwhat a wonderful asset hidden in this beautiful part of PA! Wish I had known you were hereI would have given you a tour Last summer, 2016 my husband and I rode each part approx 12-17 miles in one direction and then back to our parking spot making many nice 25-35 mile rides . This was my first visit, and certainly won't be my last. This site uses affiliate links and cookies. I've supported the RTT Conservancy since 1990 and have never seen such a well-kept trail with such beautiful, peaceful surroundings. In addition to traditional shuttles, one service that Pine Creek Outfitters offers is to shuttle your own vehicle to your pickup point. It begins north of Wellsboro and ends in Jersey Shore. Pine Creek Rail Trail 206 Reviews #1 of 11 things to do in Wellsboro Nature & Parks, Outdoor Activities, More Us Hwy 6, Wellsboro, PA Save RKleinPA Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania 26 22 Rattlesnake Trailhead Going South Review of Pine Creek Rail Trail Reviewed June 9, 2018 This was our second time on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Seen many deer along trail. People friendly along the way. Its got lots of nice rocks and flat, level gravel that we can sun ourselves on. Rural, peaceful, away from it all. Get to know this 16.8-mile loop trail near Dauphin, Pennsylvania. This trail section is 8 miles long and now completes the 62 mile Pine Creek Trail. We started out at the Ansonia trailhead, where we left our car. We rested here for about 10 minutes and then began the most grueling part of the trip. There is a lake at the end of the trail (Lake Isabel). Glad it was helpful. We rode to just above Ansonia, where the trail comes out onto the flat and seemed to be the newer gravelly surface. In addition to parking at the Jersey Shore trailhead lot off of Railroad Street, there is parking in town in the YMCA parking lot where the trail ends. My wife and I rode the southern end of this beautiful trail today. Food was great and priced appropiately. The far end of this bridge on the Cowboy Trail near Neligh was washed away in the 2019 "bomb cyclone" flooding. Water in the creek was low due to lack of rainfall during the summer but views of creek with early fog in the mtns and later blue skies was fantastic. Even though I biked it on a fairly cool day in May, I still saw three snakes on the trail, including a rattlesnake. We generally ride the section from Ansonia to Blackwell in spring and in the fall. The finely crushed limestone surface is best suited for hybrid bikes; a service road next to the trail from Ansonia to Tiadaghton Campground (just northwest of where the trail intersects T357/Tiadaghton Road) is open to equestrians as well. They have a caboose there from the old railroad, which is good for pictures. About 15 years ago we took a day and rode the Grand Canyon of PA Trail 20 miles south and 20 miles back beginning and ending in Darling Run. Be sure to bring extra water as there are no places to stop to refill until and limited restrooms along this section. A hidden gem. Any type of bike can be used on the trail with no problem; however, if I had to recommend a specific bike it would be a hybrid/trail bike. How many hours did it take to ride the entire trail in a day? I spent 3 days riding this trail in October, logging 95 miles. The rail trail leads through open, sunny fields for about 8 miles along the southern terminus. There is an old train station near the trail head where visitor excursions are run. Also the trout fishing on Pine Creek is supposed to be very good. Beautiful weather a little chilly. This time I did not, and my memory is not that great! We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Mansfield. If you are there in the spring or fall where we have could nights but warmer days be prepared for the snakes who like to warm themselves on the trail. I had 2 close calls today though. Scenery: Very beautiful views of Pine Creek and the rugged canyon. My wife and i visited to Wellsoboro area in August, 2007. Jersey Shore PA trailhead is a great starting point, Waterville and Blackrock are also good parking areas. A good swimming hole lies at Rattlesnake Rock, 1.8 miles past Blackwell, and in another 4 miles, Cedar Run has a popular caf. From the width, grade and surface of the trail to the access points, vistas and wildlife, this trail is the premier example of a rail trail ride. My wife and I spent two days on the Pine Creek Trail. Roughly 15 miles up and on the right there is a pipe that is connected to a mountain stream and has fresh Pennsylvania mountain water coming out of it. I've ridden some parts of it on the sections around Waterville and south. The gloves were a precaution, we never actually used them. There is very little of it on the PCT. View with Google Maps. Cedar Run is 5 miles away and offers a general store and a small hotel/B&B, another 5 - 5 1/2 miles and your at Slate Run, with another general store for food and refreshments along with a hotel/B&B/Restaurant. The open meadow views, with deer and wildflowers everywhere, were spectacular. Thanks for your help!! Just an absolute scenic route, i've been north to the canyon and ansonia, lovely either way. The river claims more native fish species 128 than any other river of its size in North America, according to the Cahaba River Society. In fact the second time we stayed at the camp ground I had to walk up to the bathroom at night so I had the flashlight pointed on the road so I would not trip when I got close enough for the bathroom lights I lifted my head up and looked around and saw a buck on the trail and then realized I was surrounded by 6 doe. The first 26 miles from Wellsboro Junction to Blackwell includes the entire PA Grand Canyon. Pine Creek Outfitters offers bike rentals and shuttles on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. And.very friendly people. The 62-mile well-maintained trailwhich slopes imperceptibly downhill alongside Pine Creek, from Wellsboro Junction in the north to Jersey Shore in the southruns at the bottom of berscenic Pine Creek Gorge, commonly . The only downside, its 2 hrs from my house, but I will Explorer every inch of it on weekends! Most new travelers to the area will want to experience the section of the trail between Blackwell, Tiadaghton and Darling Run, but if you are making this a quick trip, from say Harrisburg, or Philly, etc., you may want to Very well maintained trail, people are friendly and know trail etiquette! We rode to Rochester and picked up the Greenway trail heading south to Mt Morris where we ended this trip. This is my favorite rail trail and I love it so much I wrote a guidebook to it. I didn't learn any of the details but saw a GN diesel, Pullman passenger cars and other rolling stock at the station. To reach the northern trailhead at Wellsboro Junction from I-180 W, take Exit 29 to merge onto US 15 N. Go 27.6 miles, and turn left onto SR 414. Maybe it needs to be rolled or something. I also enjoyed the ducks (Mergansers?) My wife and I just spent four days on this trail. Bears and rattlesnakes are occasionally seen along the trail but do not seem to bother people. Make sure you visit the Wellsboro diner for a piece of pie. The endpoint is about 0.9 mile east along the trail at Seminary St. (facing the railroad tracks, turn left along the Pine Creek Rail Trail). It was truly the best 8 days of my life. The Cedar Run Inn (41 31.350'N 77 26.822'W) is just about half way and just off the trail. We saw lots of wild life, the deer are use to people as we would pass by them on the trail they would just continue eating paying us no mind. The only trouble we encountered was just south of Blackwell street traffic is directed onto the trail due to a road construction project. Take a right on Alleghany Street and then a right on Bridge Street. Great trail. ", "I have the advantage of living five miles from this trail so I make frequent trips to the Pine Creek Trail. Some (but not all) of the trailheads have phones. I tried this trail last year, on the way home from the Great Allegheny Passage, in a heavy rain wearing a poncho. That's trip 2 for us. Named by USA Today as one of the best places in the world to . Comparing with the D&L Trails (my every weekend stress relief ride)Pine Creek is cleaner, very convenient comfort stations at every 8 to 10 milesnot sure if it is the same north of Blackwell (I'll find out next time), well maintained trail. More on that service can be found at the end of this article. Great trail for the cyclocross bike. South of there, there are no stores or vending machines until you reach Blackwell. Along the way, there are several communities with places to stay or to grab a bite to eat. And 4 wheel drive and really good brakes and tires and health insurance are highly recommended and travel at your own risk, etc. My wife and I decided to do a short get-away to Gaines Pa. and ride the Pine Creek Trail. Our SIX YEAR OLD rode her own bike and made the 20 some mile trip with no trouble at all. We rode a figure eight loop today which would allow my wife to cut the ride short if she decided. Went back this year, and with the exception of a two hour rain (this time i hid under a kiosk), the ride was perfect. There are lots of restrooms the first 20 or so miles out of Waterville and after that it gets a little rustic up through the Pa grand canyon which is unbelievably beautiful. This park occupies the eastern rim of the canyon with Colton Point State Park occupying the western side. Animals /. We need to get them outlawed. Best regards. There are apparently a lot of rattlesnakes in this area and it was only a little further along the trail that we saw our one! Ready to do it again! Also various camping facilities are located along the trail which are clean and are located right on the creek. They have probably the best food in the area. The Inn is actually a restaurant and bar but the innkeeper was kind enough to offer us coffee. If you want to bike a bit further, as we did, you can travel an additional 1.8 miles to the Rattlesnake Rock Access Area. The trail is used primarily for bicycling, walking, and cross-country skiing. Nice trail with a beautiful setting along the Pine Creek. So if you are looking to get away from it all, telephones included( cell phones do not work in the gorge, leave em' at home! I do know that we were close to 50 and are much older now. This roadway gives access to the western banks of the creek for some beautiful cabins, fishermen, and those wanting to visit the seasonal Chimney Hollow Falls. This parking area is also the starting point for the Bohen Falls Trail on . This is a must do trail for anyone who loves nature. Hey Jim, thanks for the shoutout of the Pine Creek Rail Trail Guidebook. I have seen comments that hybrid bikes are recommended. He indicated that they stay busy in the winter with snowmobilers and in the spring with fishermen as well as bikers and campers in the summer. In fact, midweek, or whenever it was, I ran into a Park Ranger and had to ask him what day it was, I had lost all track of time and reality. The Turkey Path trail there is a great 1.5 mile hike straight up the canyon for great views. If you want an even more detailed guide to biking the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, check out The Pine Creek Rail-Trail Guidebook by Linda Stager on Amazon. The scenery is amazing. Parked at the rail head in Jersey Shore and set out about 1030. There are a lot of seasonal homes and cabins along the creek. Ice Cream trail access to the restaurant and Country Store Country Store Age range is 59-76 years young! On the opposite bank, Owassee Road parallels the trail for the next two miles. You may want to bring a filter. A map of the entire trail can be found here: My public google map with the stops marked. Maybe a few too many clueless tourists who don't know about trail etiquette, but a bell helps with that. Even if you arent camping at Tiadaghton Campground, this is still a great place to stop. A scenic wonderland filled with cliff walls and water falls, and a gorgeous waterway with a terrific trailside terrace that travels through miles and miles of majestic natural beauty; trees and mountains, deer and bear and fresh air, otters and eagles, and an ancient canyon trail that awaits your arrivalthe Pine Creek Rail Trail. What a beautiful ride! 2 Main St, Wellsboro, PA 16901-1619 2.6 miles from Pine Creek Rail Trail #3 Best Value of 310 places to stay in Wellsboro "We usually camp but it was winter so we stayed here. There are 4 different routes to Death Valley from Las Vegas that travelers can take. This trail is a must for the rail trail biker to visit. I set out for an 82 mile R/T from the Waterville parking access area heading north on the gentle but steady uphill climb through the Grand Canyon of PA back. love this trail! This trail now connects to the C&O Trail but was not open the year before. For 55 of its 62 miles it hugs Pine Creek, providing great views of dramatic rock outcrops and numerous waterfalls. ", "Rode the trail on Sept 21, 2005 with a SAG from Pine Creek Outfitters in Ansonia. We intended to camp overnight, but it rained the whole day. It was chilly when we started out - but an hour in we had removed our sweater/sweatshirt and then later we put them back on. Not only is it home to some of the cleanest state forest bathrooms youll find, but it also features picnic tables, making this a great place to stop for lunch or just a quick break. The trail is so perfectly maintained, you can't believe that you are riding on and old rail line. The Trail Link Web site has great maps available for downloading. The only downside of the ride was the cold and wind. I got off and rode the parallel road to make better time in some places on that end. The Pine Creek Rail Trail is groomed for xc skiing during the winter months. The room was very clean and the food was good. Because of the wilderness, they just want to make sure they can find you in case something happens. Pine Creek below Rattlesnake Rock is generally considered a Class II river, with fairly frequent rapids of medium difficulty, having . So we brought our bikes and decided to try out the rail-trail. As previously stated Water Tank Run Falls is located just a few hundred yards above the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Scenic forest vistas can have spectacular views, but they are particularly attractive to basking reptiles. I had to break the news to them that the trail goes to Ansonia and not the much larger town of Wellsboro. From north to south, the Pine Creek Rail Trail extends from the Wellsboro Pa area to the Jersey Shore Pa area. They had some really cute t-shirts, but it was really too small and busy for us to look too much. 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