HEALTH & WELLNESS

RAIL Riding the TRAILS

ABOVE: J. MANLEY ROBBINS TRAIL AT HESS FIELD AT THE DANVILLE RECREATION AREA. LEFT: THE SHADED AREAS OF THE BLOOMSBURG RAIL TRAIL PROVIDES A GENTLE WALKING/BIKING TRAIL.

Four Valley trails for hiking and biking

Story and photos by Robert Stoudt

Central Pennsylvania has been blessed with a variety of landscapes, ranging from river towns located on fertile, flat floodplains, to large, forested tracts on rocky ridges. A cultural history of European exploration and settlement dating to the early 1600s and a much longer history of settlement and use by Native Americans, dating back hundreds more years, means humans have left their mark on our region in many ways. Those looking to explore our region’s history and landscapes, while also enjoying the physical exercise and mental well-being that comes from being outdoors in natural settings, have dozens of locations from which to choose. From the coal region in southern Columbia and Northumberland Counties, to the gently rolling farmlands in Montour, Northumberland, and Union counties, to the many forested ridges that define the ridge and valley geographic region in which we live, residents and visitors alike can take their pick of the adventure they’d like to pursue.

As the Director of the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) since 2010, it’s been my great pleasure to visit most of the parks and trails in our region. MARC’s staff and volunteers, together with local and regional organizations have been making great progress in maintaining and creating new trails for all to enjoy.

For those looking to find somewhere new to explore close to home, here are four of my favorite local trails to visit for easy, family-friendly hikes.

J. MANLEY ROBBINS (HESS LOOP) TRAIL, MONTOUR COUNTY

The J. Manley Robbins Trail at the Hess Recreation Area near Danville has been known by many names over the years, in part because it is the oldest recognized rail-totrail in the United States. Located along a portion of the corridor of the Muncy-Mahoning Path as used in historic times by Native Americans, the trail was initially improved in the 1860s to allow transportation of iron ore from mines and limestone from quarries from points north of Danville

WATSONTOWN TOWPATH TRAIL, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

into the furnaces in Danville.

The corridor was further improved for use by a narrowgauge railroad, but rail use was discontinued by the early 1890s. In 1897, a group of Danville men formed the Cycle Path Association and purchased a portion of the former railroad line to create a place for Danville-area bicyclists. Originally referred to simply as the ‘Bike Path’, the trail eventually came to be known as the J. Manley Robbins Trail and, today, it is part of the Hess Loop Trail.

The trail is part of a 2.6-mile-long loop around the Hess Recreation Area. The trail surface is gravel and dirt and is mostly flat, suitable for most users. The trail corridor is nearly fully tree-covered and parallels Mahoning Creek for much of its length, making it a great hike to take when it might be too hot to go elsewhere. The trail is open to bicycles and is pet-friendly (dogs must be on leash), open daily from dawn to dark. Parking is at the Hess Recreation Area, 843 Meadow Lane, Danville, PA 17821 (40.979281° -76.626859°).

BLOOMSBURG RAIL TRAIL, COLUMBIA COUNTY

With 6.4 miles of signed trail, the Bloomsburg Rail Trail allows visitors to walk or ride from the west side of Fishing Creek, near Rupert (40.980972° -76.473111°), nearly to the Hoffman Natural Area, north of the town. While more than half of the marked trail is road and sidewalk-based in the town, many visitors choose to park at the Fernville Family Park (41.003109° -76.463177°) or near the Steve Shannon Tire & Auto Center along Millville Road (41.018621° -76.470875°) and hike or bike the roughly 1.5-mile-long railto-trail corridor that parallels Fishing Creek.

Portions of the Bloomsburg Rail Trail are road and sidewalk-based, but the roughly 1.5-mile-long rail-to-trail section along Fishing Creek is crushed gravel surfaced. The trail is very flat, mostly tree-covered, and suitable for nearly all users. The trail is open to bicycles and is petfriendly (dogs must be on leash), open daily from dawn to dusk.

WATSONTOWN TOWPATH TRAIL, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

At 1.0 mile in length, the Watsontown Towpath Trail is a great option for a quick and easy hike. Watsontown Borough residents and visitors have enjoyed the use of the towpath of the former West Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal for more than 100 years. Since 1901

when the Pennsylvania Canal Company ceased operations, borough residents, local community service organizations, and Watsontown Borough employees have cared for and enhanced the towpath to make it one of the community’s most treasured resources.

The original section of the Watsontown Towpath Trail, stretching from the Elm Street access near Marsh Lane to the trail’s end at Spring Run, was 0.7 miles long. Through the efforts of the Warrior Run Community Corporation’s Pathways Committee, the cooperation of the Borough of Watsontown, the hard work of Eagle Scout Derek Grose, his family and friends, and the generous donations of local residents and businesses, an additional 0.25 miles of trail was created in 2014 to extend the trail to PA-405 in Delaware Township.

Parking is at the Watsontown Borough Municipal Parking Lot / Canal Boat Pavilion, at the intersection of W. Brimmer Avenue and Canal Street (41.081776° -76.862823°). You’ll need to cross W. Brimmer Avenue and walk a short distance along Elm Street before entering the trail off of W. Dewberry Alley on your left. The trail surface is gravel and dirt and is mostly flat, suitable for most users. The trail corridor is nearly fully tree-covered and parallels the West Branch Susquehanna River and the remnants of the West Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal for much of its length, making it another great hike to take when it’s hot and sunny. The trail is open to bicycles and is pet-friendly (dogs must be on leash), open daily from dawn to dusk.

BUFFALO VALLEY RAIL TRAIL, UNION COUNTY

At 9.5 miles in length, the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail offers gorgeous views of the rolling farmlands in Union County, as well as access to the many amenities available in Lewisburg and Mifflinburg at either end of the trail. Following a portion of an abandoned rail line that once ran from Montandon, in Northumberland County, to Bellefonte, in Centre County, this asphalt-paved and gravel-surfaced trail has quickly become one of the most popular trails in our region.

This rail-to-trail is extremely flat and is fully handicapped-accessible at the Lewisburg and Mifflinburg ends of the trail. Portions of the trail are tree-covered, while much of the trail passes through open agricultural areas. The trail is open to bicycles and is pet-friendly (dogs must be on leash), open daily from dawn to dusk. Bicycle repair shops are located near the trail in both Lewisburg and Mifflinburg, as are restrooms, restaurants, and other great resources.

Parking is at the Lewisburg Trailhead on N. 13th Street (40.960170° -76.897608°), the Mifflinburg Trailhead on N. 10th Street (40.915580° -77.056841°), or the Vicksburg Trailhead on Beaver Run Road (40.941560° -76.984096°).

Our region has hundreds of miles of trails and countless opportunities for outdoor recreation that will appeal to all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a short, easy, rail-to-trail experience with small children or a seriously challenging, long hike over rocky ridges, you can find it close to home in central Pennsylvania.

OTHER PARKS AND TRAILS

To learn more about these trails and the many other great parks and trails throughout our region, please visit https://montourrec.com/parks-trails-inmontour-county/. There you’ll find mapping of every park and trail in Montour and Columbia Counties, as well as the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail and the Watsontown Towpath Trail mentioned in this story.

Additional trails and information are being added on a regular basis. The Google Maps-formatted mapping includes photos and details for many of the locations and offers driving directions to the trailheads, as well as allowing you to view your location on any of the trails in real time.

For more great information about regional parks and trails, please visit: ● https://unioncountytrails.org/trails/ ● https://www.visitcentralpa.org/things-to-do/ outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation ● https://itourcolumbiamontour.com/things-to-do/ outdoor-recreation/ ● https://susquehannagreenway.org/