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Pine Creek Outfitters is located 11 miles west of Wellsboro on US Route 6 along Pine Creek at the entrance to the PA Grand Canyon, 1 mile from the Rail Trail and the north end of the WRT. Our base has on-site launching of boats and is conveniently located for nearby access to hiking trails. We sell hiking maps and trail-guides and our staff is very knowledgeable about the area. We are 3/4 mile west of the Ansonia bridge . Look for our red canoes and rough-cut building. |
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Q: How long is the Pine Creek Rail Trail?
There are a total of 64 miles currently open. Click HERE for a Pine Creek Trail map Part I (Wellsboro Junction to Ansonia) is 8 miles long and goes through scenic wetlands with varied fauna and waterfowl. Part II (Ansonia to Rattlesnake Rock) is 19 miles long and goes right through the heart of the PA Grand Canyon. Part III (Rattlesnake Rock to Waterville) is 23.6 miles long and passes by several small villages. Part IV (Waterville to Jersey Shore) is 15.2 miles long.
Q: What’s the trail like?
The trail is basically flat (no more than 3% grade) and follows the bottom of Pine Creek and the PA Grand Canyon. It is crushed limestone on top of an old railroad bed, providing a very firm surface to ride on. Wide tires work best, but are not required. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trail. When you enter the 17-mile canyon there are no roads, no stores, no cell signal, and you feel quite secluded as you are far removed from anything resembling civilization.
There are restrooms located about every 10 miles or so. Some parts of the trail have shade and other parts are sunny, depending on the time of day you go. The main parking areas for the Canyon portion are Darling Run (off Rt 362 near Ansonia) and Rattlesnake Rock (2 miles south of Blackwell on Rt 414). There are large parking lots at other points south such as Slate Run, Waterville (1 mile north of the village), Torbert (at the former Whitetail Campground property), and Jersey Shore.
Q: How does your shuttle service work?
Pine Creek Outfitters is located in Ansonia near the northern end of the trail. Check in here at Pine Creek Outfitters before you start your bike ride, then establish the time and location of your shuttle pickup. The 17-mile PA Grand Canyon portion takes about 3 hours or so to bike. However, Ansonia to Blackwell is a lot longer by car than it is by bike: 32 miles and 45 minutes one-way. Double that for a round trip. SEE MAP BELOW. We offer shuttle services for all bikers along the entire trail.
Normal pickups from Blackwell are at 1:00 PM; 3:00 PM; 5:00 PM. Other pickup points have similar schedules (about every 2 hrs or so in the afternoon). Pickup times are subject to change depending on demand and availability. Morning pickups/drop offs can also be arranged.
ALL SHUTTLES should be pre-arranged (time & destination) before you start. Please call us at (570)-724-3003 a few days in advance to let us know you will need a shuttle.
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Q: How do we get from your store to the trail?
The trail is only 1 mile from Pine Creek Outfitters. Most people just ride along Rt 6 (don’t worry, it is a registered bicycle route with a wide shoulder to ride on) and turn left onto Marsh Creek Rd to get to the Ansonia Access Area. If you are physically or mentally unable to ride from our building to the trail, then we can give you a ride over in our vans at no extra cost.
Q: Is there anywhere to eat along the trail?
Yes, at the northern end of the trail (Wellsboro Junction) there is Pag-O-Mar Farms which serves sandwiches and ice cream. In Ansonia (1/2 mile off the trail) is the Burning Barrell and the Ansonia Country Store ong Rt 6. There is the Blackwell Hotel in Blackwell (currently closed for renovations). At Cedar Run and Slate Run there are general stores that serve food and ice cream. There is also the Slate Run Hotel Manor across the river. At Waterville, there is McConnell’s Country Store and Waterville Hotel.
Q: Is there anywhere to get water?
Yes, there are water pumps located at places like Tiadaghton and Blackwell (safe to drink but not very tasty). You can also buy water and fill up water bottles here at Pine Creek Outfitters before you start. It is recommended that you bring most of your water with you as the water pumps have been unreliable from time to time (they are old pumps that you have to actually pump to make water come out). Water is also available at places like Cedar Run, Slate Run, etc.
Q: Are there mile markers on the trail?
No. There are blue signs that tell you how many miles to the next point of interest and how miles back to the last point. This makes riding the trail very easy as long as you have a map.
Q: How long does it take to bike the trail?
This is a subjective question that depends entirely on your fitness level and how much idle time you spend on the trail. The average person takes about 3 hours to leisurely bike the 17-mile PA Grand Canyon. Click HERE for destinations and average times.
Q: What kind of bikes do you rent?
We rent 21-speed Trek Navigators & Raleigh Ventures, 7-speed Raleigh Retroglide Cruisers (some call them the “Wizard of Oz” bikes, very easy to ride), and 21-speed Trek Mountain Bikes (limited number). We also have kids bikes and child tag-a-longs, or carriages that attach to adult bikes. All of our bikes are 1-person bikes and, with the exception of the mountain bikes, have upright handlebars and wide comfortable seats. |
