We are blessed to have many rail-trails in our area. A rail-trail is an abandoned railroad which has been deeded to a conservation group. The Pine Creek Rail-Trail is located in both Lycoming and Tioga Counties. It is over 62 miles in length, from the southern terminus in Jersey Shore to the northern terminus just north of Wellsboro.
The Pine Creek Rail-Trail is considered one of the top ten rail-rails in America. Take a walk or a bike ride just once on this delightful trail, and you will absolutely fall in love with this place. We have been using this rail-trail and several others since we bought our bikes in 2006. It gave a nice new outdoor pursuit.
Things to see on the trail are many. I would suggest that you obtain a copy of Linda Stager’s excellent book, “The Pine Creek Rail-Trail Guidebook, A bicycle Ride Through History.” Linda lives in Wellsboro, PA and is on the rail-trail often. Her book breaks down the 62 mile length in 8 to 12 miles segments. You can also obtain a Pine Creek Rail Trail brochure at places all along the rail-trail. This excellent guide shows most all aspects of the rail-trail including the numerous hiking trails. The brochure is published by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. DCNR also maintains the rail-trail along with numerous local volunteers who have a love for the outdoors and local ties to the rail-trail.
We enjoy taking ten to twelve miles rides with lots of stops for photos and just enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of nature. When we rode the rail-trail last Friday, the intoxicating smells of the Honey Suckle bushes are a true delight this time of year.
Incidentally, those beautiful wildflowers that you see along roads, fields, and streams are known as Dame’s Rocket, an escapee from England. This 4 petaled flower is a member of the mustard family. We used to think this flower was the Spring Phlox. That is a similar looking 5 petaled flower that blooms in July.
Get out and enjoy these wonderful things that God gives to all of us, if we only look for them.