Lehigh Gorge Trail

On the trail near Jim Thorpe.

The Lehigh Gorge Trail is a 26-mile (42 km) multi-use rail trail that winds along the valley of the Lehigh River Gorge from White Haven, Pennsylvania, to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Much of the trail runs through the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trail is part of the 165-mile (266 km) D & L Trail.[1]

Activities

The Lehigh Gorge Trail has a fine crushed stone surface suitable for hiking and cycling. The 25-mile (40 km) downhill grade from White Haven to Jim Thorpe makes the trail popular with cyclists who use various shuttle services from the Jim Thorpe area to reach the White Haven trail head, for an easy "downhill" pedal.[2]

Trail access

The trail has three primary trailheads, the White Haven and Glen Onoko terminuses and a midway access point in Rockport.[2] A recent 2.1 mile trail connection via the Nesquehoning Trestle between Glen Onoko and Jim Thorpe provides direct access to downtown Jim Thorpe.[3]

History

The trail follows an abandoned railroad corridor along the Lehigh River. Prior to the railroad, the Lehigh Canal ran along much of the same route, and many of the original stone locks are still intact and visible from the trail.[2]

External links

References

  1. "The D & L Trail". The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Lehigh George State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. February 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  3. "Pedaling through history on the Delaware & Lehigh trail". The Sentinel. August 18, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-22.