Pine Creek Trail, aka Pennsylvania Grand Canyon
#1
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Pine Creek Trail, aka Pennsylvania Grand Canyon
Not an epic journey this week, but a real workout for me, given the heat and the rain. My Mule carried me 110 miles over two days and one night camping in the beautiful PA woods. More info at The Mule does it again. NOTE: you MUST carry a water filter. All the hydrants provide murky water that is questionable.
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I rode it from Ansonia, where US 6 crosses it, to the southern terminus in Jersey Shore in 2017 during a cross-PA tour. Saw a bear the first day. Camped off the trail a bit north of Waterville. Hope you stopped for a sandwich at Wolfe’s in Slate Run. They are to die for.
BTW...It’s pronounced tee-uh-dot-un. My employer donated that abandoned line for the trail, but that was before my employ. There’s actually an interesting story behind the abandonment. A story about infighting among two railroad executives, but I won’t bore you all with it.
BTW...It’s pronounced tee-uh-dot-un. My employer donated that abandoned line for the trail, but that was before my employ. There’s actually an interesting story behind the abandonment. A story about infighting among two railroad executives, but I won’t bore you all with it.
Last edited by indyfabz; 07-31-20 at 09:33 AM.
#3
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I had been wanting to ride the Pine Creek Trail for a long time, and I finally rode it last September. Lovely trail with excellent scenery and a nice surface. I know that the area is often referred to as "Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon" but I would describe the landscape as densely wooded rounded hills as opposed to a canyon. There were lots of signs warning of rattlesnakes in the north-central trail area between Blackwell Access Area & Tiadaghton. I don't know if it's more likely to see rattlers there in September, but I did indeed see Timber rattlesnakes in that area. Just south of Blackwell is a spot called "Rattlesnake Rock". The sign explaining the history of the name is interesting. I also saw a black bear near Blackwell.
The PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources produces a very nice map and brochure of the trail. Most trailheads had free hard-copies available.
https://192.34.61.137/wp-content/uplo...rail_trail.pdf
(this link only shows the northern half of the trail)
Southern half of trail:
https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocum...rail-South.pdf
Real Taste Taqueria in Jersey Shore near the southern terminus of the trail has extremely good Mexican food.
The PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources produces a very nice map and brochure of the trail. Most trailheads had free hard-copies available.
https://192.34.61.137/wp-content/uplo...rail_trail.pdf
(this link only shows the northern half of the trail)
Southern half of trail:
https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocum...rail-South.pdf
Real Taste Taqueria in Jersey Shore near the southern terminus of the trail has extremely good Mexican food.
Last edited by axolotl; 07-31-20 at 11:54 AM. Reason: added link for southern half of trail
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Railroads, interesting story, WFH... Do tell!
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I had been wanting to ride the Pine Creek Trail for a long time, and I finally rode it last September. Lovely trail with excellent scenery and a nice surface. I know that the area is often referred to as "Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon" but I would describe the landscape as densely wooded rounded hills as opposed to a canyon. There were lots of signs warning of rattlesnakes in the north-central trail area between Blackwell Access Area & Tiadaghton. I don't know if it's more likely to see rattlers there in September, but I did indeed see Timber rattlesnakes in that area. Just south of Blackwell is a spot called "Rattlesnake Rock".
As for rattlers, there is at least one yearly catch and release roundup in the area.
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I did a loop starting on the norther end tode to jersey shore then cut west and back north on gravel roads through state forest. Love this area for biking and hiking alike.
#8
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A few years ago my wife and did "hub and spoke" touring of that trail, staying in Wellsboro. Really enjoyed the riding and hiking the Turkey Path up to the stunning view point.