Pine Creek Valley - Along the trail
Places To Stay
Rail Trail Guide
Area Businesses
Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a multi-day ride through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, the Pine Creek Valley offers a wide variety of places to rest and recharge.
Area Businesses
Rail Trail Guide
Area Businesses
Discover the small shops, local eateries, outfitters, and family-run businesses that make the Pine Creek Valley special. From trail-side stops to hidden gems just up the road, these are the places that turn a ride into an experience.
Rail Trail Guide
Rail Trail Guide
Rail Trail Guide
Everything you need to know before you go, trail access points, distances, parking, etiquette, and tips to help you enjoy the Pine Creek Rail Trail safely and confidently.
Hiking/Camping
Wildlife & Nature
Rail Trail Guide
Discover peaceful trails, scenic overlooks, and campgrounds tucked into the heart of the Pine Creek Valley. From creek side tent sites to wooded retreats, it’s easy to turn a day on the trail into a full outdoor escape.
Wildlife & Nature
Wildlife & Nature
Wildlife & Nature
Bald eagles overhead, deer along the trail, mist rising off the creek—this valley is alive with wonder. Explore the forests, cliffs, wildflowers, and changing seasons that make Pine Creek unforgettable.
Events
Wildlife & Nature
Wildlife & Nature
From trail running events and festivals to fly fishing gatherings and local celebrations, there’s always something happening in the valley. Find events that bring people together and add a little magic to your time on the trail.
About Pine Creek Rail Trail
History
The Pine Creek Rail Trail has a rich history rooted in Pennsylvania’s lumber and railroad eras. In the mid-1800s, Pine Creek Valley became one of the nation’s most productive lumber regions. Vast old-growth forests covered the canyon, and millions of logs were floated down Pine Creek to sawmills below. To support this booming industry, railroads were built along the creek’s narrow corridor, carving a transportation route through what is now known as the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.”
By the late 1800s and early 1900s, trains hauled timber, coal, and supplies through the gorge, connecting remote mountain communities to the outside world. When the lumber boom collapsed and forests were depleted, many of these rail lines were abandoned. Nature slowly reclaimed the corridor, and for decades it lay quiet, echoing only with the creek and wind through regrown forests.
In the late 20th century, conservation groups, local communities, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources saw new potential in this historic route. The former railroad bed was transformed into a multi-use recreation path, preserving its gentle grade and scenic alignment through the canyon.
Today, the Pine Creek Rail Trail stretches over 60 miles through Tioga and Lycoming Counties, welcoming cyclists, walkers, runners, bird watchers, anglers, and e-bike riders. What once carried timber and freight now carries people seeking beauty, adventure, and peace—honoring the valley’s past while giving it a vibrant new life.