Luzerne County National Recreation Trail

Pennsylvania

9 Reviews

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Luzerne County National Recreation Trail Facts

States: Pennsylvania
Counties: Luzerne
Length: 1.8 miles
Trail end points: Pittston's Riverfront Park and Port Griffith
Trail surfaces: Cinder, Concrete, Gravel
Trail category: Rail-Trail
ID: 6017758

Luzerne County National Recreation Trail Description

Tracing nearly two miles of riverfront, the Luzerne County National Recreation Trail (also known as the Luzerne County Rail Trail) will eventually form a 16-mile pathway along an active railway. Chain link fencing separates the tracks from the trail.

In downtown Pittston, the flat rail-trail intersects with a path to the water's edge. The trail is straight as an arrow, with markers every 0.1 mile. You'll have the active railroad on one side, with trees and Susquehanna River views in the background. On the other side,most of the corridor looks like a well-maintained lawn. The trail ends at a gravel parking lot, but continue another 0.1 mile to see the railway tunnel.

Parking and Trail Access

From Route 11: Take Route 11 North across the bridge from West Pittson to Pittston. Bear right onto Kennedy Blvd. Continue across Water Street to Coopers Seafood Waterfront restaurant (304 Kennedy Blvd). Park in the lot next to and behind the restaurant where you will find a clearly signed trailhead.

At the other endpoint of the trail there is an access point off Main Street. Follow Main Street South (right) from Kennedy Street. Pass Pierson Lane and look for a right hand turn onto a gravel access road; it is immediately beyond a private residence. Drive past the private property to the trail parking lot.

Luzerne County National Recreation Trail Reviews

Wanted to try this trail, but after less than 500 feet I turned around. Overgrown and clothing littered on the trail. Almost hit the fence that was pulled down toward the trail.

Wanted to try this trail, but after less than 500 feet I turned around. Overgrown and clothing littered on the trail. Almost hit the fence that was pulled down toward the trail.

Hidden Gem!

Close by, convenient...ample parking....clean & serene My new go-to for a walk with my dog after work on a nice day

Short, but Beautiful

Some beauty is grand, some beauty miniaturized. This one's the latter, but size doesn't always matter. Absolutely one of the prettiest spots anywhere in the fall. Multitudes of varieties of trees makes for quite a colorful display. That coupled with the bend in the Susquehanna River makes for zen viewing.

Beautiful

Beautiful views and easy hiking trail along the rails. Historical marker to the coal miners who lost their lives in the Knox Mine Disaster half way through the trail. Enjoyed this trail and the intrigue of it all.

Accordion

NICE BUT BEING DESTROYED BY ATVS

WAS HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS TRAIL BEING BUILT NEXT TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY PASSENGER MAINLINE. WAS GREAT TO WALK THE FIRST FEW SEASONS BUT THEN THE LOWLIFE ATVERS STARTED DESTROYING THE FENCE SEPARATING THE RAILROAD FROM THE TRAIL. MILEPOSTS ARE RUINED NOW...NO UPKEEP IS BEING DONE TO IT. TURNING INTO A SLUMPIT AGAIN THANKS TO IGNORANT PEOPLE. WON'T BE BACK FOR A WHILE.

slow start

I started at coopers waterfront trail fair at start quickly got rocky . after a short distance it got much better fine gravel. Very nice flat ride but again to short,Hope it gets longer in near future.

To bad it's to short

I started out at Coopers Seafood Waterfront Restaurant to the right is a concrete paved pathway, that leads to a riverfront, a nice fishing area, and a sight of the bridges and mountains in the distance.
The actual trail is to the left, it is made up of pea sized crushed gravel, surprisingly if I stayed on the upper part it was well packed, but only about a foot wide, if you drifted off that, the surface sucked all your speed away.
Just before the 1 mile marker, there is a plaque and a picture dedicated to the Knox mine disaster. Just a little further down on the right is a cleared out grove with 3 grave markers, man I'm allways finding a cemetery on the trail!
The end came much to soon, the trail at this time is only 2 miles long (short), I tried going beyond the trail, but it was a muddy mess, I turned around went back to the starting point, and tried to take that further, I made it about a mile before that to became to hard to ride, it was all those track ballast stones.
Hopefully they will make this trail longer, for now it's to short for anything except maybe a ride with the kids.

PITTSTON LEG

I am maintaining a wesite that will reflect and promote the progress of the Pittston leg which is shaping up real fine-
http://www.freewebs.com/montagna/homepage.htm

Where's the Trail?

"I have been to the area many times but still do not know where this trail is. Can anyone tell me? I know about a paved section a few blocks long at Cooper's Seafood Restaurant, but it is usually covered with mud. I've searched along River Street in Plains near the Waterfront Complex, but could find nothing there. Am I looking in the wrong places?"

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