The Lower Trail is roughly a 17-mile (27 km) smooth crushed stone rail trail in West-Central Pennsylvania, owned and maintained by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania. The trail follows the path of the abandoned Petersburg Branch of the old Pennsylvania Railroad, running along the Frankstown branch of the Juniata River between the small town of Alfarata, Huntington County to Flowing Spring, Blair County (just outside Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania). The trail is open yearround for bicycling, hiking, bird-watching cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. The trail also provides access to the Juniata River for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.
The portion of the Lower Trail from Alfarata to Williamsburg is part of the Pennsylvania Mid State Trail and Great Eastern Trail. In addition, the site was identified Important Bird Area by the Ornithological Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey in October 2001. In 2009, the trail was also designated as a National Recreation Trail by the United States Department of the Interior.
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Development
Construction of the Lower Trail begain in 1990, when the old Pennsylvania Railroad was purchased by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania. The trail originally opened eleven miles of the trail to the public, from Williamsburg to Alfarata. In 1994, the trail expanded 6.5 miles to Flowing Springs, and current plans are to connect the trail to the Canoe Creek State Park and their bike trail system (an additional 2+ miles).
The project was made possible from a donation by T. Dean Lower, a native of the Altoona area. The trail is named in honor of he and his family members.
What to expect
The Lower Trail offers a relatively level terrain for bike riding made of crushed stone. The trail is 8-feet wide, and also has grassy areas on either side of the stone path for horseback riding. The trail follows the Juniata River closely, offering unique glimpses of the wildlife and forests of central Pennsylvania.
Trail Access Points
The Lower Trail has six primary trailheads. All trailheads have abundant parking, and pavilions/picnic tables available.
| Trailhead | Coordinates | Elevation (ft / m) |
|---|---|---|
| Flowing Springs Station | N 40° 28.371' W 078° 16.050' | 880 / 268 |
| Grannis Station | N 40° 33.995' W 078° 07.282' | 728 / 222 |
| Williamsburg Station | N 40° 31.234' W 078° 10.304' | 798 / 243 |
| Cove Dale Station | N 40° 29.228' W 078° 10.188' | 830 / 253 |
| Mt Etna Station | N 40° 27.713' W 078° 11.908' | 844 / 257 |
| Alfarata Station | N 40° 28.426' W 078° 13.614' | 865 / 264 |
Street directions are also available.
References
- "National Recreation Trails". Trails nominated for NRT designation in 2009. National Recreation Trails. http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/09NRTapps.html. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
- "THE LOWER TRAIL: Where history and wildlife abound". THE LOWER TRAIL: Where history and wildlife abound. Sierra Club. http://pennsylvania.sierraclub.org/moshannon/OTT/OTT08-5LowerTrail.htm. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
- "Mid State Trail Guide and Maps". Mid State Trail Guide and Maps. Mid-State Trail Association, Inc.. http://hike-mst.org/guide.html. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
- "The Lower Trail". The Lower Trail. http://webpages.charter.net/cjmpsu/lowertrail/. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
- "Lower Trail". The Lower Trail. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. http://www.traillink.net/ViewTrail.aspx?AcctID=6017007. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
External links
See also
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