Pine Creek Rail Trail
#1
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Pine Creek Rail Trail
I was off work for Columbus Day yesterday, so I went for another rail trail ride. This time on a stretch of the Pine Creek Rail Trail in north-central Pennsylvania. I started at Blackwell and rode up to Darling Run and back -- round trip around 32 miles. It was by far the best rail trail I've been on. I had ridden a portion of it further south back in the summer, but this section was much better. The fall foliage certainly helped, but it was also nice to be out in remote nature rather than just riding a trail next to a highway (like the southern part of the trail does). If you're interested, I put some photos of the ride on my photo website.
#3
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Looks great. When riding a rail trail, it's necessary that the scenery be outstanding because the riding itself can get tedious. This trail looks fantastic. How long does it go? Is it all paved?
#4
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Before living in Pennsylvania, I lived up in your neck of the woods in southern NH. This is the time of year I miss New England the most. And I was thinking yesterday while riding that it was the closest I've found around here to the New England autumn colors. You're definitely right about the need for good scenery on a rail trail, and this one checked that box nicely.
#5
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I never ride in flat before. I like hills and my reward for climb is downhill at 50 mph. Luv it.
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Great pics, thanks for sharing. I just may have to find that part of the world to ride on. My Significant other loves horses, and so it looks like we could do both there. Her with the horses, and me with a 60 mile bike ride. :-) We tried to do this last month in the Redwoods in northern California, but could get the horse part worked out, plus we got a call from home that we had to manage, and didn't get to do either of them. I also have a friend that lives in Meadeville, in the NW corner of Pa.
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Thx for sharing your ride & photos. The foliage is stunning there.
It also brings back memories of [motorcycle] camping near Wellsboro,
and checking Colton Point
It also brings back memories of [motorcycle] camping near Wellsboro,
and checking Colton Point
#8
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Wow! What a beautiful trail! I never realized that trail was there. And I graduated from Lock Haven University, which appears to be right next to it.
When I'm up at my parents next, I may just have to swing up and take a look at that!
When I'm up at my parents next, I may just have to swing up and take a look at that!
#9
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Great pics, thanks for sharing. I just may have to find that part of the world to ride on. My Significant other loves horses, and so it looks like we could do both there. Her with the horses, and me with a 60 mile bike ride. :-) We tried to do this last month in the Redwoods in northern California, but could get the horse part worked out, plus we got a call from home that we had to manage, and didn't get to do either of them. I also have a friend that lives in Meadeville, in the NW corner of Pa.
If you want to ride the whole thing, you can pick up the trail at its southern point in Jersey Shore which is right up the road from Lock Haven. That part of the trail hugs Rt. 287, though, with a few crossings. Not that big of a deal, but the northern section is definitely a step up in quality.
#10
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I love the Pine Creek trail too. I have ridden sections of it twice, and the whole thing once.
If you ever journey eastward, you would probably also like the Lehigh Gorge section of rail trail. It goes between White Haven and Jim Thorpe (the Glen Onoko trail head is best, because the ride between there and Jim Thorpe is nothing special, unless you want to spend time in the town, which is nice). The trail only crosses one road between the two trail heads, plus one parking lot at the midway trail head. Most of the ride is right beside the Lehigh River. The southern 6 miles are OK, but are right next to railroad tracks on one side, the trail is best in the middle section, where there are a couple of nice water falls.
If you ever journey eastward, you would probably also like the Lehigh Gorge section of rail trail. It goes between White Haven and Jim Thorpe (the Glen Onoko trail head is best, because the ride between there and Jim Thorpe is nothing special, unless you want to spend time in the town, which is nice). The trail only crosses one road between the two trail heads, plus one parking lot at the midway trail head. Most of the ride is right beside the Lehigh River. The southern 6 miles are OK, but are right next to railroad tracks on one side, the trail is best in the middle section, where there are a couple of nice water falls.
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#11
aka Phil Jungels
And,,,,,,, rail trails can go steadily uphill for miles and miles and miles.................. and miles
#12
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Yea....I found that out with the past 3 rail trails I've ridden. This last one this past Monday, 26 miles of it was uphill and I think it was a 2% grade. Coming back down was a blast though!
#13
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Pine Creek does go uphill for 60 miles, I've rode the full length and back once. I know people that don't like rail trails because they are boring, I liked it a lot. The surface is slow, going 12 mph was no problem, but 14 was a real strain. I nearly lost my voice telling people I was passing. The trail is as wide as a road in most areas, but the pedestrians and cyclists are all over the trail. A lot of the cyclists in this area actually prefer the road. There is almost no traffic on it now that the fracking in the area is done.
#14
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So I see this grade thing on this bike app I use on my Android phone. Now I also strap a HRM on my chest for the heart rate zone.
The only thing I dont have is cadence which I think its not important. I can see my pace and avg mph.
All is good I think.
#15
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If you ever journey eastward, you would probably also like the Lehigh Gorge section of rail trail. It goes between White Haven and Jim Thorpe (the Glen Onoko trail head is best, because the ride between there and Jim Thorpe is nothing special, unless you want to spend time in the town, which is nice). The trail only crosses one road between the two trail heads, plus one parking lot at the midway trail head. Most of the ride is right beside the Lehigh River. The southern 6 miles are OK, but are right next to railroad tracks on one side, the trail is best in the middle section, where there are a couple of nice water falls.
#16
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This will be a shot-in-the-dark question, but for those of you familiar with backroads in PA -
any idea where the road in this pic is located?
18% down grade ahead
any idea where the road in this pic is located?
18% down grade ahead
#17
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This will be a shot-in-the-dark question, but for those of you familiar with backroads in PA -
any idea where the road in this pic is located?
18% down grade ahead
any idea where the road in this pic is located?
18% down grade ahead
#18
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I agree. It looks a lot like the top of that hill. Definitely looks like a challenge going up or back on a bike. I know I wouldn't try it, but I know others that have ridden it.
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People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
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#19
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There is NO WAY I'd try that hill on a bike. I have enough trouble tackling it in my car. And that's in both directions -- uphill is tough on the engine, and downhill is tough on the brakes. I'd think if someone were planning to ride down it on a bike, you'd want disc brakes.
#20
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I traveled UP that hill on the motorcycle, then noticed that sign for the folks that would be heading down it.
Lots of cool stuff in Pa.
#21
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I was all psyched up Friday about doing this ride at Pine Creek on Saturday. But ended up talking myself out of it to have time to see the inlaws in PA instead. Glad I did, it's COLD up there and it snowed! Maybe next weekend.
#22
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You're right about that -- it was cold Saturday! But it's already warmer today, and I think it's supposed to get a little better later in the week.