Come join us as we explore the Lower Trail!
Trailhead located at the intersection of Liberty and 1st Street near junction 866 in Williamsburg, PA. Meet at 10:00 AM. There is a small parking lot there with a trailer that sells treats. We will meet at 10:00 AM and it's your choice to ride the trail out to Alexandria Station and back, or head to Flowering Spring Station and back. You can then take a break and have lunch or continue the opposite direction. Trail is 16-17 miles in total. Bring your own lunch and tailgate at your leisure. For more information contact Becky Havice at rlpatt50@gmail.com or 717-250-2811.
History of the Trail
The Lower Trail runs for almost 17 miles from near Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County northeastward to near Alexandria in Huntingdon County. The trail has a rolled crushed limestone surface except for a 2-mile asphalt section through the Borough of Williamsburg and running northeastward. The trail is extremely flat with only a slightly noticeable grade when riding from east to west. The Lower Trail is open year-round for hiking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching and photography and, in the winter months, cross country skiing and snowshoeing (any non-motorized use).
Much of the Lower Trail, paralleling the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River, was part of the original towpath of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal which operated in the mid 1800’s. Following the end of the canal era, the Pennsylvania Railroad took over the property and developed the Petersburg Branch of the PRR on this alignment. In 1979, the rail corridor was abandoned. Over the next 8 years, the rails were sold for scrap and the corridor put up for sale. In 1989, Rails to Trails of Central Pennsylvania Inc. purchased the first 11 miles of the Lower Trail from Williamsburg to Alfarata from the Penn Central Corp. Another 5.5 mile extension was added in 2004. The trail's name rhymes with "flower" and honors the memory of the wife and son of the late trail benefactor, T. Dean Lower.
Distinctive Features
When traveling along the trail, either by foot or bike, you can see many remnants of the canal era, including remains of locks and foundations of lock tenders' houses, as well as the historical Mt. Etna iron plantation area. There are a number of bridge crossings of the Juniata River and one covered bridge over the tail race of a historic mill stream. Remains of tipples and massive concrete rock crushers from abandoned stone quarries along the trail hint of the once industrial nature of the now-unbroken forest beside the river.
The trail supports many different plant and animal species and the Audubon Society has identified portions of the Lower Trail as “Important Birding Areas.” A number of Bald Eagles and Osprey have been spotted along the trail. There are also many beautiful and some rare plant species along the trail. The Lower Trail is part of the Mid-State Trail and the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway, and has been designated a National Recreation Trail by the National Park Service. It is a beautiful, very family-friendly rural trail through wooded areas with few road crossings and provides access to the adjacent Juniata River Water Trail.
Length: 16.5 miles in length
Trail surface(s): 85% crushed rolled limestone, 15% paved
Trailheads: Trailheads are called "Stations" because when the railroad ran, there were station stops there.
Directions from US Route 22
Williamsburg Station: Turn onto Route 866 at the base of Short Mountain, travel into the town of Williamsburg. At the first stop sign, proceed straight for two blocks; trail head is on the left.
