rattlesnakes on pine creek rail trail

USA Today called the Pine Creek Rails-to-trails one of the top ten bicycle paths in the nation several years ago. Hotels and bed and breakfasts can be found in a few places along the trail including Cedar Run, Slate Run, and Waterville. There are no hills but you will be riding against an almost imperceptible grade going from Jersey Shore to Wellsboro. There are several roads leading north into the PA canyon area. There was not much traffic, and it is still a beautiful, peaceful, ride. I took the opportunity to ride the Pine Creek rail/trail on a nearly perfect, sunny, 80 degree day on a mid July weekday. The DCNR worker told us that we had just passed another snake along the trail and walked us back about 50 feet. Horseback riding is allowed next to the trail but signs are posted for biking and horseback riding to keep horses off bike trail. This is what most of the bike path looks like - tree lined on both sides for the majority of it. There is a small store there that sells drinks, snacks, ice cream, etc. There was a lot of shade from the trees. I stopped at Waterville and ate my lunch that I had packed along while watching a helicopter drop the geo-boxes for gas exploration. The ride is about as wild and adventuresome as they get in Pennsylvania, without being overly strenuous. So I had another 5 miles to ride on well traveled roads that are not marked to get you into town. Not only is the upper half the more scenic, in my opinion, but traveling south will give you a slight downhill the whole way. The lower half of the trail has 3 geocaches (GCPDDM, GC14DDM, GC17DVF) easily accessible from the trail. The surface is made of crushed limestone and is suitable for hybrid and mountain bikes. That made our day complete. Could I use my road bike if that is all I have. The next time I'll try to bring someone else along to go in the Waterville Inn for a sandwich and a cold one. A great trail, definitely hall of fame. It sure is nice not having to worry about traffic. Its all part of the fun. Nicely down Heather. 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. Big Cypress National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located in South Florida, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Miami on the Atlantic coastal plain.The 720,000-acre (2,900 km 2) Big Cypress, along with Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas, became the first national preserves in the United States National Park System when they were established on October 11, 1974. Expect to see a number of people kayaking and making their way down the creek. Overall, this trail is great and worth the drive to Jersey Shore for a ride. We rode from Slate Run to Cedar Run 11/10/2012. We parked the van with our two bicycles at the Jersey Shore parking lot at about noon on the 13th and biked to Waterville for lunch. I started from the Jershey Shore entrance and went to Black Walnut Bottom and back, which is roughly 56 miles round trip according to the map; however, it did not seem that long. I recently moved to PA and wanted to ride this trail that I have heard so much about. We still have the very beginning of the trail - Wellsboro Junction to Darling Run - and the very end of the trail - Waterville to Jersey Shore - and then we will have completed the entire trail. 62 miles of Pure Enjoyment! Many miles of trails are available for hiking in Tioga State Forest, revealing some of the most beautiful scenery in Pennsylvania. This is my favorite rail trail and I love it so much I wrote a guidebook to it. it is located directly across the rail trail from the path to the parking area. all the locals we met in the area towns were very nice and helpful. Bicycles with wide tires seem to do best on the Pine Creek Rail Trail, either Mountain Bikes or Multi-Speed Cruiser Bikes seem to be the popular choice. This was once the site of a fire tower and the remains of the anchors can be seen. Just beyond the swinging bridge, youll enter Leonard Harrison State Park. Then while Lucy did some bird watching I rode from Slate Run to Blackwell and back. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Plenty of restrooms and canoe access points but not water pumps. The Pine Creek Rail Trail is a reason in and of itself to visit Wellsboro. Milky blue eyes indicate that this snake is about to shed its skin. Wind past dramatic rock outcrops and waterfalls along the trail. About 62 miles round trip. There is lots of wildlife along this section of trail. However, if you start here, you miss the start of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon at the confluence of Pine Creek and Marsh Creek. Continued till I hit 50 miles and turned back only to get a flat tire. It is a jewel well known as a base for visiting fisherman and hunters. I started early in the day in Wellsboro. The trail continues along Pine Creek and runs adjacent to Route 414 and 44. This is the first place to get food and bottled water along the trail. This stream has a beautiful waterfall directly next to the trail thats worth stopping to see. A group of 6 of us rode Recumbent Trikes with narrow, 100 psi tires, the full length of this trail in 2 days. The Cedar Run Inn was charming and would have also been a good option for our overnight stay. Once again we met a lot of people (and dogs) enjoying the trail either on foot or bike. Awesome views and great trail conditions. It is a great trail if you are looking for an easy ride with low traffic, hardly any grade to speak of and wonderful views. The far end of this bridge on the Cowboy Trail near Neligh was washed away in the 2019 "bomb cyclone" flooding. I highly recommend this trail and wish we had time to do more than Ansonia to Slate Run. I wish I didn't live in Michigan. We rode from Ansonia to Jersey Shore and all used mountain bikes. Stunning, serene, smooth. There are mile markers each and every mile, park benches along the way. The hard packed stone is easy to ride. Location Pine Creek Rail Trail--Marsh Creek Access. However, if you have time, its much easier to drive to this handicapped-accessible overlook. "Hotel Manor" is an excellent Pub/restaurant in Slate Run. I have found the Seresto Collar to be most effective. Maybe a few too many clueless tourists who don't know about trail etiquette, but a bell helps with that. While this trail is a little overgrown at the rail trail, it is easy to follow as it travels above the creek along the ridgeline. This park occupies the eastern rim of the canyon with Colton Point State Park occupying the western side. I had gone about 27 miles and did not see any snakes of any kind, then boom, i saw a garter, another garter, then boom, the beautiful timber rattler was crawling on its way. I noted the Tale of Two Trails in the headline since the trail from Jersey Shore to Wellsboro is essentially 62 miles uphill with the grade rolling between 1 and 3 percent the entire way. History Group created on August 31, 2010 See more 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. The state of PA is repaving portions of this beautiful trail with crushed limestone and clay pack. This is a must do trail for anyone who loves nature. We ride thousands of miles per year and have explored trails from South Carolina to Connecticut. ", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Butler Road just south of Lower Marsh Creek Road (Wellsboro Junction) and Seminary St. between McClintock Alley and Fountain St. (Jersey Shore). My wife and I decided to do a short get-away to Gaines Pa. and ride the Pine Creek Trail. It was OK, but I would have given my first born for pavement !! Havent you heard that snakes can be on planes? We went through the Pine Creek Gorge and the scenery is great. Having said that, the ride goes alongside Pine Creek for much of the route until one nears Wellsboro Junction. The 62-mile well-maintained trail runs at the bottom of berscenic Pine Creek Gorge, commonly called the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. It is a wonderful trail for a nice leisurely ride. It could use a better set of signs to the northern trailhead, but that's the only complaint i can think of. Beautiful ride. Lodging Attractions Map Pictures. Go 13.3 miles, take the Thomas St. exit, and turn left onto Thomas St. Go 0.2 mile, and turn right onto Railroad St. Go 0.2 mile, and turn left into the parking lot. The condition is so perfect at times it felt more like it was paved. Stayed at the PennWellsHotel in Wellsboro. Copyright 2013-2023 Uncovering Media, LLC - All Rights Reserved, the amazing vista at Leonard Harrison State Park, the waterfalls along Jerry Run and Bohen Run, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Pine Creek Rail-Trail Guidebook by Linda Stager on Amazon, Great Allegheny Passage in southwestern PA, the Allegrippis Trails in Huntindgon County, visit the sources of Pine Creek at the Triple Continental Divide, Pennsylvania Waterfalls: How to Get to Rapp Run Falls in Clarion, PA, Pennsylvania Waterfalls: How to Get to Hector Falls, Exploring the Abandoned Kunes Camp in the Quehanna Wild Area, Biking the Little Toby Creek Trail to an Amazing Swinging Bridge. This was one of the most beautiful B&B's we have ever stayed in. Our recent adventure on the now 62 mile long Pine Creek Rail Trail began in the middle at Slate Run Village. The combination of a great trail and hospitality of the Wolfe General Store made this a ride we will never forget - and we will return! There is the Waterville Hotel to eat at after the ride; their salads are unchallenged in taste and size plus their soups are surely homemade. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Mansfield. If someone gets hurt there, it is a long time being rescued. 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. While its not enough to coast, the slope does help to make things a bit easier traveling downstream, than if you were to start in the south and head north. South of there, there are no stores or vending machines until you reach Blackwell. At the end or beginning of your trip if you want to experience some civilization like I did, you can visit the quaint little town of historic Wellsboro. The beauty of the Pine Creek Rail Trail continues as you travel south beyond Tiadaghton Campground. Rode the trail in segments Thursday through Sunday, mostly out and back except for one day from Ansonia to Cedar Run then a pickup by Pine Creek Outfitters. My First Rattlesnake, Pine Creek Rail Trail, August 2009. The section from Ansonia to Tiadaghton is open to horses. Till I hit 50 miles and turned back only to get you town. Trail is a wonderful trail for a nice leisurely ride trail for a leisurely. A flat tire but you will be riding against an almost imperceptible grade from. And mountain bikes ) enjoying the trail including Cedar Run Inn was charming and would have been. Into the PA canyon area occupying the western side to get you into town and. Sells drinks, snacks, ice cream, etc B 's we have stayed! 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