The Pine Creek Rail-Trail travels for 62 miles along the railroad beds of several former Pine Creek Railroads. Eighteen miles of the trail follow the floor of the Pine Creek Gorge, also referred to as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. On smooth crushed stone, the mostly level trail runs from Stokesdale Junction, outside of Wellsboro, PA to Jersey Shore, PA, through the historically rich and timeless Pine Creek Valley.
The railroad along Pine Creek opened in 1883 as the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek, and Buffalo Railway. It was built to transport timber to sawmills in the lower part of the Gorge. The Fall Brook Railroad took over in 1884 and the railroad carried coal north into New York State. By 1896, the railroad was carrying seven million tons of freight …show more content…
There are few commercial intrusions, except for limited stores and restaurants in towns along the way.
The trail is host to comfortable restrooms and rest areas. There are also wayside exhibits that explain historical perspectives and define wildlife that may be seen along the way.
In 2001, the trail was named by USA Today one of the “10 great places to take a bike tour” in the world. The Pine Creek Gorge was also named a National Natural Landmark in 1968.
In 2015, the trail was named one of the ten best trails in Pennsylvania in a reader poll by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. The Pine Creek Rail-Trail was third only to the Great Allegheny Passage and the Allegheny River Trail.
Some people call this “an other world”, one that occurs in a parallel universe. Twenty first century luxuries co-exist alongside a rugged wilderness filled with wildlife and few modern interruptions. Areas of the rail-trail look virtually untouched from its early roots in the mid 1800’s.
Spend a few hours here and it’s easy to imagine the stories of bygone times. Come and join the ghosts of the past and me on a bike ride to
The railroad along Pine Creek opened in 1883 as the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek, and Buffalo Railway. It was built to transport timber to sawmills in the lower part of the Gorge. The Fall Brook Railroad took over in 1884 and the railroad carried coal north into New York State. By 1896, the railroad was carrying seven million tons of freight …show more content…
There are few commercial intrusions, except for limited stores and restaurants in towns along the way.
The trail is host to comfortable restrooms and rest areas. There are also wayside exhibits that explain historical perspectives and define wildlife that may be seen along the way.
In 2001, the trail was named by USA Today one of the “10 great places to take a bike tour” in the world. The Pine Creek Gorge was also named a National Natural Landmark in 1968.
In 2015, the trail was named one of the ten best trails in Pennsylvania in a reader poll by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. The Pine Creek Rail-Trail was third only to the Great Allegheny Passage and the Allegheny River Trail.
Some people call this “an other world”, one that occurs in a parallel universe. Twenty first century luxuries co-exist alongside a rugged wilderness filled with wildlife and few modern interruptions. Areas of the rail-trail look virtually untouched from its early roots in the mid 1800’s.
Spend a few hours here and it’s easy to imagine the stories of bygone times. Come and join the ghosts of the past and me on a bike ride to