The Lehigh Gorge Trail is a multi-use rail trail

Rail trail

A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...

 that winds along the valley of the Lehigh River

Lehigh River

The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...

Gorge from White Haven, Pennsylvania

White Haven, Pennsylvania

White Haven is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. White Haven was created in 1824 by industrialist Josiah White. It is located along the Lehigh River which connects White Haven to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,182 at the 2000 census...

, to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Jim Thorpe is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 4,804 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County. The town has been called the "Switzerland of America" due to the picturesque scenery, mountainous location, and architecture; as well as the "Gateway to...

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Much of the trail runs through the Lehigh Gorge State Park

Lehigh Gorge State Park

Lehigh Gorge State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Luzerne and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park encompasses the Lehigh Gorge, which stretches along the Lehigh River from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control dam in Luzerne County to Jim Thorpe in Carbon County...

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Uses

The Lehigh Gorge trail has a crushed stone

Crushed stone

Crushed stone or angular rock is a form of construction aggregate, typically produced by mining a suitable rock deposit and breaking the removed rock down to the desired size using crushers...

 surface suitable for hiking, and cycling. The 25 miles (40.2 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.

Trail Access

The trail has three primary trailheads, the White Haven and Glen Onoko terminuses and a midway access point in Rockport. A recent 2.1 mile trail connection via the Nesquehoning

Nesquehoning

Nesquehoning may refer to the following places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, a borough in Carbon County*Nesquehoning Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River*Nesquehoning High School...

Trestle

Trestle

A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...

 between Glen Onoko and Jim Thorpe provides direct access to downtown Jim Thorpe.

History

The trail follows an abandoned railroad corridor along the Lehigh River. Prior to the railroad, the Lehigh Canal

Lehigh Canal

The Lehigh Canal was constructed by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company to carry anthracite from the upper Lehigh Valley to the urban markets of the northeast, especially Philadelphia...

 ran along much of the same route, and many of the original stone locks

Lock (water transport)

A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...

are still intact and visible from the trail.

External links

• Official PA page about the trail
• Web page dedicated to trail
• Pocono Whitewater Local bike shuttle service
• Blue Mountain Sports Local bike shuttle service