Overview
In the forested and farm-dotted hills of Pennsylvania’s northeastern corner, the D&H trail runs 39 miles between the small town of Simpson and the state’s northern border. The crown jewel of the trail, the Starrucca Viaduct, is a stone arch bridge near the trail’s northern end, while the best-improved surfaces are found in the trail's southern half, between Ararat and Simpson. Passing railroad remnants and through the lush forests of the Endless Mountains Region, this rail-trail offers a rugged yet accessible rural retreat.
About the Route
The D&H Rail Trail’s northern endpoint is at State Line Road at the PA-NY line (Susquehanna). The nearest trailhead, though, is 2.7 miles south of the northern dead-end, at Luciana Park in Lanesboro. The de-facto northern trailhead for the route, the park has picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and a large parking area. As it leaves Luciana Park, the trail passes beneath the Starrucca Viaduct—an engineering wonder of the world, with its 17 bluestone arches—which is part of a railroad that is still operating today. It’s not uncommon to meet railroad buffs here from around the globe.
From Lanesboro, the trail heads east for about 3.5 miles to Stevens Point in Harmony Township, before turning back south. Here, the trail is thickly forested, barring the occasional emergence upon a farm vista. Trail users will also catch a glimpse of the small village of Starrucca below as they travel on a ridge to its west. The trail also intermittently parallels or crosses Starrucca Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, stocked with trout.
Continuing south, before reaching the town of Thompson, the trail comes to a deep ravine with a waterfall, Bucks Falls. Once the site of a 500-foot railroad bridge, the trail today navigates the ravine via switchback trails on either side. In Thompson, the trail passes the only original, still-standing railroad station along the route. Leaving Thompson to continue south, the trail first heads northeast before looping back southwards on a surface of original cinder, which has been graded with drainage improvements and is conducive to mountain biking.
South of Thompson, the trail comes to a trailhead in Ararat, the highest point on the trail. Many trail-users opt to loop back from here to their origin—downhill in either direction. Heading south from Ararat, the trail passes three lakes as it begins a 8-mile stretch towards the town of Union Dale, passing mostly through farm country. A general store in Union Dale offers a great spot for trailside refreshments. The town also houses an original D&H pusher caboose, and the office of the Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the agency that manages the trail.
Heading south from Union Dale, trail users are treated to views of the Stillwater Dam before crossing two bridges along the 5-mile stretch between Union Dale and Forest City. With the largest trailhead and parking area on the D&H, Forest City is a welcoming trail town with many goods and services, including restaurants and markets, several of which are located just two blocks west of the trail on Main Street.
The southernmost portion of the trail, south of Forest City, leaves behind the Endless Mountains region for the terrain of coal country. Here, the trail offers a crushed-stone surface, as it follows the Lackawanna River, crossing it four times in a tango with the O&W Trail, as the two run mostly parallel to Simpson. The D&H Rail Trail’s southern endpoint is at 1 Morse Ave (Simpson). From here, the trail continues south for another 18 miles as the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
Connections
At the southern endpoint in Simpson, the D&H Rail Trail connects to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail which continues south to Scranton.
The D&H Rail Trail also connects to the O&W Trail (PA). The two trails straddle the Lackawanna River, running loosely parallel between Simpson and Forest City, with multiple connection points available between the two. North of Forest City, the trails part.
Trail History
D&H Rail-Trail traces the former corridor of the Delaware & Hudson Railway, a line that primarily carried anthracite coal out of the Lackawanna Valley in the second half of the 19th century. The D&H Railway corridor’s early claim to fame: it was on its predecessor—the D&H Gravity Line—that the first steam locomotive in America, the Stourbridge Lion, made its one and only run in August 1829.
The D&H Rail Trail runs between State Line Road at PA-NY line (Susquehanna) and 1 Morse Ave. (Simpson), with parking available in Simpson.
Parking is also available at:
There are numerous parking options along this route, see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Started in Simpson and headed north. The first 12 miles is very nice, except for the occasional noise from the ATV trail nearby. The next eight miles is a little rough, but not too bad. Then a mile of the trail was very soft, like they were working on the trail. After that, it becomes VERY rough - riding on balast. Some very nice scenery; has the potential to be a great trail - if they ever finish cindering the full length of the trail.
We have been riding the D&H for years, as it is only an hour’s car ride away for us. We find the best parking to be at the Forest City Trailhead. It is paved, large, and has an outhouse.
We recently took a 23-mile ride on our hybrids. The trip started at Forest City, riding south to Carbondale. We turned around and went north, past Forest City, to Union Dale. At Union Dale, we turned to the south and ended the ride at our starting point in Forest City.
The trail is an interesting mix of nature, history, and artwork. For most of the ride you are in an isolated area. We had a white tail deer cross the path in front of us. There are many bridges which provide opportunity to view the stream which is running high this time of the year. In Union Dale, you will find a restored railroad car and remains of a mill. In Forest City and near Carbondale, you will find some interesting artwork.
The trail is in very good shape. It is hard packed with small gravel. At one time there were large stones near the Stillwater Dam, but they are no longer there, greatly improving the ride. While there are no large hills, there is a grade going north and you will have to work. We suggest taking this into consideration as you plan your trip.
We had a beautiful Saturday for the ride, and surprised to encounter no other bikes! (Just a couple of walkers and 2 on horseback.) We started in Starrucca (at Little Ireland road), and went toward Lanesboro from there. Not clear where to park at the Starrucca trail entrance, but there's room off the road for a couple of cars.
It's always a good day on the trail when you can start with a historical marker! And there is a nice one there on an old railroad work shed that is still standing. The trail stretching north to Stevens Point is largely unimproved, but certainly ride-able with a decent off-road bike. There are stretches of grassy track that are smooth, some pretty rocky stretches that can be rough, and some muddy spots after a rain. But it's really no problem to keep moving, with a pretty steady, gentle downhill grade. Very pretty tree-lined experience, quite shady, with breaks that reveal the beautiful valley below. The stream down to the right, and occasional small waterfalls on the left, make things very pleasant.
When you get to Stevens Point, you do have to cross Starrucca Creek Road, but not a big deal, and you quickly come into the main trailhead parking area at Rockwell Memorial Park. (Thank you, kind Samaritans, for leaving some water bottles there for bikers!! Really saved us!) From there it's clear sailing all the way to Lanesboro. For this stretch, it's a broad, fine-gravel path that is very easy going, with the slight downhill grade continuing. Fantastic to ride along Starrucca Creek as it rushes to meet the Susquehanna. Outstanding dedicated bike bridges over the creek.
Before you know it, you're under the phenomenal Starrucca Viaduct, standing tall and true since the 1850's!! A testament to engineering!
We continued on to the NY border, just to say we did it! That last stretch occasionally puts you right alongside the Susquehanna, which is broad and calm. Trail surface is largely quick good along this stretch, except as you approach the border ... just gets a little rougher, but not bad.
From Starrucca to the NY border was 11.3 miles. We turned right around and went all the way back. Admittedly, the return was harder as you're going back up the gentle grade, especially the last 5 miles in the unimproved section. But it was an epic and fine journey that took us about 3+ hours of riding and a little over 4 hours elapsed time. (For what it's worth, I'll say that we are 60 and 66 years old ... and we weren't trying to set any speed records.)
If you want a less challenging and much shorter round trip, starting at Stevens Point and going down to Lanesboro and back is just the ticket!
A beautiful start of the trail beneath the Viaduct. It’s newly blacktop/ crushed stone trail heading south towards Starrucca. After about 3 miles it turns to jungle. It’s also all up hill which makes the ride back nicer.
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