Rail-Trails Pennsylvania. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

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       Be aware of other trail users, particularly around corners and blind spots, and be especially careful when entering a trail, changing direction, or passing so that you don’t collide with traffic.

       Respect wildlife and public and private property; leave no trace and take out litter.

       Control your speed, especially near pedestrians, playgrounds, and heavily congested areas.

       Travel single file. Cyclists and pedestrians should ride or walk single file in congested areas or areas with reduced visibility.

       Cross carefully at intersections; always look both ways and yield to through traffic. Pedestrians have the right-of-way.

       Keep one ear open and volume low on portable listening devices to increase your awareness of your surroundings.

       Wear a helmet and other safety gear if you’re cycling or in-line skating.

       Consider visibility. Wear reflective clothing, use bicycle lights, or bring flashlights or helmet-mounted lights for tunnel passages or twilight excursions.

       Keep moving, and don’t block the trail. When taking a rest, turn off the trail to the right. Groups should avoid congregating on or blocking the trails. If you have an accident on the trail, move to the right as soon as possible.

       Bicyclists yield to all other trail users. Pedestrians yield to horses. If in doubt, yield to all other trail users.

       Check the trail’s pet policy. Dogs are permitted on most trails, but some trails through parks, wildlife refuges, or other sensitive areas may not allow pets; it’s best to check the trail website before your visit. If pets are permitted, keep your dog on a short leash and under your control at all times. Discard dog waste in a designated trash receptacle.

       Teach your children these trail essentials, and be especially diligent to keep them out of faster-moving trail traffic.

       Be prepared, especially on long-distance rural trails. Bring water, snacks, maps, a light source, matches, and other equipment you may need. Because some areas may not have good reception for mobile phones, know where you’re going, and tell someone else your plan.

      Key to Trail Use

      Learn More

      To learn about additional multiuse trails in your area or to plan a trip to an area beyond the scope of this book, visit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s trail-finder website TrailLink.com, a free resource with more than 36,000 miles of mapped rail-trails and multiuse trails nationwide.

      Pennsylvania

      Trail users appreciate the shade along this section of the Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail.

      1 Allegheny River Trail

      

      Counties

      Clarion, Venango

      Endpoints

      Samuel Justus Recreation Trail at US 322/Lakes to the Sea Hwy. and Bredinsburg Road (Franklin) to Main St. at River Ave. (Emlenton); Main St. at River Road (Foxburg) to Perryville Road at PA 368 (Parker)

      Mileage

      30.0

      Type

      Rail-Trail

      Roughness Index

      1

      Surface

      Asphalt

      Keep your eyes open for wildlife when you visit the Allegheny River Trail. This segment of the Allegheny River—once a canoe route for local tribes and French trappers—was designated a national wild and scenic river, and the forests teem with animals. Everything from chipmunks to wild turkeys to deer are frequently spotted along the trail, while eagles rule the sky overhead.

      The trail follows the route used by the Allegheny Valley Railroad, later the Allegheny Division of Pennsylvania Railroad, to haul oil. The Scrubgrass Generating Company subsequently acquired it in 1984 and donated it to the nonprofit Allegheny Valley Trails Association.

      A white split rail fence adds to the trail’s bucolic setting.

      The trail runs on asphalt between Franklin and Emlenton for 27.5 miles and on an isolated section between Foxburg and Parker for 2.5 miles. It meets the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail in Franklin, crosses beneath the Sandy Creek Trail in East Sandy, and passes through two old railroad tunnels. It is part of the 270-mile Erie to Pittsburgh Trail that one day will link Presque Isle on Lake Erie with Pittsburgh, where it will join the Great Allegheny Passage; it’s also part of the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition’s developing 1,500-mile trail network through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and New York.

      Starting just south of the US 322 bridge into downtown Franklin—also the western endpoint for the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail—you’ll pass a couple of riverfront camping sites in the first 4 miles. At 5.2 miles, you’ll cross East Sandy Creek and then catch sight of the picturesque Belmar Bridge that carries the Sandy Creek Trail across the Allegheny River. You’ll pass beneath the bridge that soars 80 feet overhead, or you can ascend using a stairway.