Its decorative piers and belts courses are unusual for a bridge this old. I WISH THEY WOULD MAINTAIN THE GRASSY AREAS ALONG the SIDE of THE ASPHALT TRAIL. I unknowingly turned onto the Skippack Trail for about 2 mi. We did avoid those hills on the return ride, thanks to the directions previously posted here by twowheelertom! Upon arriving at Philadelphia, the families were greeted by the representative of the Frankfort Land Company, a highly educated German lawyer, Franz Daniel Pastorius, who charged with the authority to make land transactions with the thirteen families. Fortunately it's along a straight piece of road so cars won't come around a blind corner and surprise you. Plenty of services are available along the route, which is open dawndusk. This application requires JavaScript. The Spring Mt Rd bridge is still out (and will be out for some time!). Casual bikers will need to walk it. These conditions last for days after a rainfall. This fishery is fragile and suffers from some thermal stress and bank erosion and trout populations fluctuate because of this. The map is 20 x 30 and printed on waterproof paper. The crossing of Rte 29 is perhaps the least pleasant of the crossings, since vehicle traffic can be fast and heavy and it is not stop light controlled. Overall the trail weaves through some pretty picturesque areas. East Branch Perkiomen Creek is a stream in Montgomery County. The Collegeville Shopping Center, less than a block away on Main Street, offers even more choices. The Perkiomen Trail, a 20-mile, multi-use trail, parallels the creek on a former railroad bed and provides a framework for access to the creek. It crosses Perkiomen Creek near Collegeville, Pennsylvania. " Great Trails " Aug 2019 The trail is for walkers, runners, bikers, and horse riders. I recently rode most of the trail from Lower Perkiomen Valley Park to Green Lane Park (roughly 18 miles each way). This time residents obtained a court order prohibiting the collection of tolls within a mile of the bridge, then they burned down the toll booth. Beginning of the trail is a bit confusing, so I would recommend starting at Snyder Road and Deep Creek Road. Sharp dropoffs to river below and a couple of busy road crossings were unnerving. There is no traffic in the very early morning. The distinction is that these flies don't hatch from the water but crawl out on the banks and rocks to hatch. I am tired of bike riders yelling at me for having my dog on the trail !!!! Also has a lot of places along the way for joining in and doing a shorter version of the trail if you don't feel like doing 38 miles out & back. It seems to change from stone to a paved surface in several locations. There's also a pizza place here--in the middle of nowhere! 100 picking up several small tributaries along the way. I am very glad to see the old right-of-way become something useful for the entire Perkiomen Valley community. ", "The newly opened paortion of the trail from Oaks to Collegeville has two distinct faces. It covers a lot of ground and has a many nice stop off areas in different towns that can make the trip more pleasant if you are looking a nice day long adventure. The bridge was widened in 1928 by removing all the stone facing on the north side of the bridge, extending the arches 15 feet (4.6m) north with concrete rather than stone, and resetting the facing. There are several road crossings in the Collegeville area that are stop light controlled. Once past Schwenksville, one does a brief climb, followed by a steep descent to the Perkiomen Creek. The mills brought prosperity as reflected in growth and good-paying jobs. Going South from the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, the asphalt surface is perfect and you continue to follow a river but you encounter more buildings and roads. This is a very good trail, but 1/4 of the people are rude. Perkiomen Creek at Graterford, PA - 01473000 - USGS In Collegeville, the trail is a little tricky to follow if it is both dark and not familiar, in the light while not geat signage the path is easy enough to find. The challenge is rewarded by interesting variety along the Perkiomen Trail! Perkiomenville, which was right on the trail a little south of the trail head and south of where you have to ride on the road, so it was a great place to start. I found the campground at Green Lane, so I can combine a bike ride with having a travel trailer for my home base near the trail. The trail enters the 800-acre Central Perkiomen Valley Park about a mile later and crosses the creek twice within the next 2 milesfirst about 0.5 mile after crossing Plank Road, and the second about 1.8 miles farther (0.5 mile after passing Graterford Road). Category:Perkiomen Creek - Wikimedia Commons Officials hope to link the north and south ends by the end of next year - their deadline for opening the final stretch, from Collegeville to Spring Mount.The mostly cinder and packed-gravel path is laid largely on the old Reading Railroad line, running along the Perkiomen Creek. 100 to the Green Lane Reservoir is managed as a put and take fishery. Trail runs the gamut from coarse gravel to paved spots, did not see many road bikes, fair amount of horses, no recumbents. Most of the remaining trip to Collegeville was on stones, cinders, mud or a combination of all. Excellent!! Click the USGS logo for water data at Graterford, PA. Scroll down the page to see the table that includes Most Recent Instantaneous Vale [Date] (see example below). Ive biked on some of the best trails in Pennsylvania including the Heritage, Buffalo Valley, and Pine Creek but none of them are as nice as the Perkiomen! Lots of bladers here and families riding so watch your speed and courtesy. I go often for a Sunday morning ride with Bethie's as the midpoint in the ride just to have breakfast there. Its a huge, beautiful park with plenty of parking, and if you choose, you can ride up to the trailhead or just immediately head south for your awesome adventure. Park at the Green Lane Park Deep Creek Recreation Area. The first copper mine in Pennsylvania was operating near Schwenksville before 1720. The best part of the trail from where I started seems to be from Schwenksville to Collegeville, although I didnt bike on the section from Green Lane to Spring Click the help button to access the map legend, plan your trip, and find instructions on how to use the map. (Southern part). We happened upon it awhile back while visiting Valley Forge National Park, but at that time it wasn't completed. I would give this trail three-and-a-half stars out of five, and here is how I would make it better: 1. You can park behind the Spring Mountain Hotel with immediate access to the trail. Notable people Perkiomenville is an unincorporated community that is located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As I progressed up the trail I became aware that my surroundings and the trailside Perkiomen Creek were very familiar. Find out here. Interactive Google Map . This portion of the trail is only going to appeal to the true knobbies out there and not to families with children. I still have to do the lower half of the Perkiomen and there are so many more side trails to explore. Deep shade makes this trail a good choice for summer usage. Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population. Now that I know the route, I will bike this again. By the end of the year you will be able to ride off-road from Locust Street in Philadelphia to Green Lane Reservoir 45 miles away (except for a mile in Manayunk and a 1/2 mile in Shawmont). Just below Spring Mt there is a 12% grade for about a 1/4 of a mile, not fun going up but a great ride down. These are small stone flies, #18 and #20, and they are fished primarily on the surface but many anglers prefer to fish them wet. I grew up in Collegeville and remember watching trains along the route in the 1960s. As the Germantown area became more densely settled, there was a departure of some of the original families of Germantown to an area twenty miles west of Philadelphia further up the Schuylkill, purchasing land from the father in-law of Herman op den Graefe, (an original settler of Germantown) who had earlier purchased approximately seven thousand acres. A major tributary of Perkiomen Creek, Hosensack Creek, is an un-stocked Wild Trout Stream that stays cold all summer and adds its flow to Perkiomen Creek just above the American Legion Hall on Rt. For me, that ends my journey on the trail and the last time I bicycled that far, it was all gravel down the slope. Serving the Schuylkill Appreciation Night, Schuylkill River Trail Rules and Regulations, Reading Railroad Heritage Museum Trailhead, Bear Creek Environmental Area & Dr. James S. Shadle Nature Center, Belmont Mansion and Underground Railroad Museum, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Colebrookdale Railroad: The Secret Valley Line, Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Fitzwater Station Canoe and Kayak Rentals, Germantown White House (Deshler-Morris House), Historical Society of Berks County Museum and Library, Montgomery County Community College West Campus, National Museum of American Jewish History, Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Philadelphia History Museum at Atwater Kent, Reading Area Community College Yocum Library, Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad, Santander Arena and Performing Arts Center, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative, Spring-Ford Area Historical Society Museum, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R). Today, open space is used . Varied terrain, elevation, and views made this trail an A+. Few road crossings but nothing I felt was dangerous as long as you stop and look. The Perkiomen Creek Offers 18 miles of navigable waters from south of Green Lane to its confluence with the Schuylkill River near Oaks. I only found two crossings a little awkward/dangerous. On the other hand, in the autumn when all those leaves fall and then get wet, that could make cycling a little dicey. We turned around once we climbed the hill near the Spring Mountain ski area.We thought it was quite a contrast that some residents along the way left out a water container and lolipops (on Cedar near Spring Mountain), while others apparently fought the trail and had it travel around their property. We stopped at the Collegeville Diner for a light supper on the return tripgreat place to stop. A couple of times, I didnt think the trail was well marked. The bridge's six semi-circular arches cover a total of over 300 feet (91 m). The Oaks end is paved and very family friendly. In the meantime I became a trail runner. area, going to Perkiomenville was fun, (down hill) but the return was the best as the cardio got into high gear on the climb back up!!! PHOTOS: Perkiomen Valley hit hard by Ida's flooding The crushed stone surface is rough and in many spots the stone is thick and loose, making it difficult to control your bicycle at times. Wow!! Trolley service to Skippack began in 1908. The longest arch spans 76 feet (23 m). The Valley Forge National Historical Park is about 3 miles away by trail. The park features 25 miles of equestrian, mountain biking, and hiking trails. From Spring Mount, turn right at the 3-way stop sign, take this road 8/10 mile to light at 29/73, turn left. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In front of me sits a steep, curving hill. Situated in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area of the Northeastern United States, this community is part of the Eastern Standard time zone and is located on both sides of the Perkiomen Creek, which separates Marlborough Township and Upper Frederick Township. Well kept trail with sections that vary widely, from woody to open. Beware the 1/3 mile steep hill on the northern end just north of Schwenksville. I thought it was decent, a little rought in spots (I rode this section shortly after some heavey rain). It's expected this trail will be completed in 2003. Founded in 1756 by Jacob Kreator, a textile weaver, Graterford was originally named Grater's Ford until abbreviated to Graterford by the postal service in the . It is during this time frame that they become vulnerable to the trout. Parking is available at a number of locations along the trail. Superb trail, gorgeous & varied scenery. There were water puddles and some muddy sections. Trail from there is great. An update on the "mountain" pass north of there - yeah, its steep! In 1683, thirteen families from the lower Rhine River arrived at Philadelphia aboard the Concord, on October 6 of that year. My 4-year old said it was the best part of the trip. They settled on farms in the vicinity of Perkiomen Creek and Skippack Creek, up to a point where travel by boat became impossible because of shallow water. CHAPTER 8 Middle Perkiomen Creek Corridor - Montgomery County, Pennsylvania This path generally follows the path of the old Perkiomen Railroad that was abandoned in the 70's. So we hit the trail. Males had a median income of $51,315 versus $40,179 for females. Started in Green Lane and went south. Since this is a bike-hike-equestrian trail, one often meets horses and hikers, too. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}400710N 752742W / 40.1194N 75.4617W / 40.1194; -75.4617. . A good portion of the trail, after about 1.5 miles, is fine gravel or packed dirt, and goes along nicely wooded and scenic areas, which used to be a railroad. A post office was established in 1827 with weekly mail delivery by the Kutztown stagecoach. 2.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[3]. It wasn't until I saw riders coming the other direction that I noticed a small sign and realized I had to cut through an alley behind a diner along a narrow area with a fence, once on it recognized where I was. The paved trail ends about a half mile from the park where the Perky Trail begins. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. Mount. Perkiomen Creek is a 37.7-mile-long (60.7km)[1] tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. The Perkiomen Creek Water Trail in Montgomery County offers approximately 14.5 miles of boatable waters from the Crusher Road access just south of Green Lane Park to the Hoy Park/Arcola Road access at the confluence of Skippack Creek and Perkiomen Creek. The only exception is a short, steep hill mentioned by a few others and clearly marked as you approach from either direction. The bridge is constructed of cut stones, but they are only laid in regular courses on the spandrels and on the top of the parapet. One area where you're going to want your water bottle full is near the prison. I clocked a little over 17 miles each way from where I started. The park has three bodies of water (Green Lane Reservoir-814 acres, Deep Creek Lake-38 acres and Knight Lake-18 acres) available for fishing, two of which (Green Lane Reservoir & Deep Creek Lake) are also available for boating. Unsightly, but temporary until the project is over. In this section of the trail there was a porta-john at the trail head and business district to stop if needed. This United States trail or long-distance pathrelated article is a stub. 1 Plank Road, Schwenksville PA, 19473 (Get Directions). I rode this trail in April 23 its a well maintained trail with plenty of areas to stop relax and buy food if you need to. Many plus's such as the ups and downs, river crossings, good amount of paved areas, being very well marked, and great scenery. Mostly well packed gravel and some paved sections. Even with 35mm tires there were a number of soft/deep gravel areas where my tires would sink in and throw the bike. The combination of crushed stone and a few paved surfaces makes the "Perky", as some call it, a one-of-a-kind trail located amongst the history and beauty of the Philadelphia countryside. We picked it up by the Collegeville diner and rode 10 miles north and then 10 miles back. The south end was much busier then the north end. Another way to navigate the map is to rollover the icons on the map. Then I saw the sign for Green Lane Lane and realized that by chance I had run to my Dad and my favorite fishing spot that I had not visited since he took me there when I was about 8, or about 45 years prior. About 1706 the first section of the Perkiomen Bridge Hotel was built on the west bank of the creek, just to the north of the current bridge site, then known as Phillips Ford. Negative would be quite a few road crossingsbe careful as a few have a good amount of traffic. But I am told this will remain as long as a certain county commissioner has his way, because he is a horse fanatic and feels pavement will preclude horses from using the trail. Once you get to Green Lane you can ride back through the park. ", "Eight miles at the southern end of the Perkiomen Trail, which tracks across the heart of Montgomery County, is now open.The Betzwood-Collegeville section will be the second part of the 19-mile path for hikers, cyclists and equestrians to open. "gilwell.com: the Lenape / English Dictionary", U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gaging stations, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perkiomen_Creek&oldid=1154372547, This page was last edited on 12 May 2023, at 01:45. What Happens When a Creek Rises from 1 Foot to 18 Feet? Ida Flooding The hill is tough riding from North to South, 12 percent grade going up. The two biggest towns on the trail are Collegeville and Schwenksville, and both have enhanced their business districts thanks to this trail. The trail surface could use some improvement. Also high marks for Da Vinci's restaurant, right near the trail in Collegeville. Rode this trail for seven miles from Oaks to Collegeville. The number of dairy farmers declined as milking techniques modernized and herds became larger. The abandoned portion of Perkiomen Branch of the Reading Railroad was purchased by Montgomery County in 1978, and the trail mostly follows the former railroad bed. The following 10 files are in this category, out of 10 total. But seems as though these trails are mainly for the bicycle riders, of whom think the trail belongs to them and I have no right to be out there. Yes, it's no picnic climbing the mountain at Spring Mount, but it is fun going down and it's the only trying part of the trail. ", "I just wanted to say thank you to Commissioner Merlino for supporting this trail. "We rode this 16 mile out and back yesterday. It is a good ride. Long stretches of it are flat with only slight changes in elevation. Both the water trail and its land-base counterpart offer spectacular opportunities to enjoy the wilds of the Perkiomen Valley. There are a lot of bench's from one end of the trail to the other. The 1970 song "Perkiomen" by Hall and Oates is named after the Perkiomen Creek. Photos (490) Directions. Started at Green Lane Park and had a bit of a hard time finding the trail, would say to put in at Snyder trailhead below there to avoid roads. There are many spots where you need to cross a road (I did not know what a bollard was until today - it's the name for those 3 ft high yellow fence posts where the trail crosses a road). Perkiomen Trail is paved in this section. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 29 min to complete. The headwaters of Perkiomen Creek originate on South Mountain, southwest of Allentown as small mountain freestone streams. Geography Skippack is located at 401337N 752356W (40.227014, -75.398889). A little farther down the path, I came upon Bethie's Caf. Every Montgomery County park with the word "Perkiomen" in its name is closed - Upper Perkiomen Valley Park, Central Perkiomen Valley Park and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, as well as Lock 60. The outside arches are 30 feet (9.1m) long. Perkiomen is a village in Montgomery County and has about 8,260 residents. It is split between the Alburtis zip code of 18011 and that of the Barto zip code of 19504. ", "Mu wife and i came from south Jersey to ride this trail. Only discovered the trail last week and just rode it on 4/22/2018. In warmer years the trout move to find cooler water. The origin of the name "Skippack" came from early German settlers, they originally spelled it Schippach, named after a town of the same name in Bavaria. Check the weather forecast & flow rate for the creek. [1] It begins at the junction with the Schuylkill River Trail near the mouth of the Perkiomen and Valley Forge National Historical Park and ends in Green Lane Park. Collegeville to Oaks, A Guided Tour of the Perkiomen Creek Water Trail Perkiomen Watershed Sojourn Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 59 min to complete. This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 00:03. Continuity There are a number of areas where it seems like they're still trying to figure out how to connect segments of the trail and although the trail is mostly well marked you will have to cut behind buildings and through alleys to find the connectors at a few places. Love this trail. Central Perkiomen Valley Park - Schuylkill River Greenways Though largely a free-flowing stream from Green Lane to the Schuylkill, there are a few small dams and old mill dam remnants scattered throughout its length. The reviews have been excellent and I also have been wanting to scout out the stream for potential paddle. Facilities Montgomery County, PA CivicEngage Conrail later acquired the line, and Montgomery County bought the land in 1978. There is an earlier mention of an Ice Cream store on the trail at Schwenksville - well, it has food too - and there is a mini-mart at the gas station to the north. Me and my dog have a right to be out there just as much as anyone else!! Spring Mount - Ski and camp area nearby; old arch bridge (to be closed June 2009 for repair work). PV Area Info - Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce The PT is worth the trip. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7km2), of which 2.5 square miles (6.5km2) is land and 0.39% is water. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, as the Warren Z. Cole House. 29. Perkiomen Creek's water to supply municipalities at the eastern end of Montgomery County. The terrain is a combination of totally paved to total gravel. I made a day trip of it, riding from its Green Lane start to its intersection with the SRT, and back. There is a well maintained restroom and water fountain at the 10 mile mark, a perfect mid-way rest stop. Shorter angular columns were added on the south side of the bridge. There were 1,152 housing units at an average density of 452.2 per square mile (174.6/km2). They quickly gather other small tributaries and springs who's limestone waters add flow and fertility to the creek. I've ridden this trail before, but only going west from this point. Skippack (Pennsylvania German: Schippach) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Skippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Plenty of other people around, safety is NOT an issue. East Branch Perkiomen Creek is situated nearby to the village Schwenksville and the locality Spring Mount Summit. We happened upon a charming little circus in Schwenksville along the trail- saw camels standing by the wayside! It is a workout but fortunately there are benches at the top to take a break after your climb. Maps dont help much either in this area. The 20-mile Perkiomen Trail follows the route of the Perkiomen Creek from Oaks to Green Lane Borough. One of our favorite resting points is Bethies Cafe, which is complete with bicycle racks, a hitching post, a picnic table, an outdoor drink vending machine and wonderful food. There weren't any really steep hills. Only about half or less of the trail was in the shade so be prepared to ride in the sun. Right around the county line the pavement gives way to crushed stone. The Perkiomen has 3 Main Branches, Perkiomen Creek, East Branch Perkiomen Creek and West Branch Perkiomen Creek. It would be nice if they set it up like the Lower Trail with a grass lane just for horses. Coordinates: 401233N 752711W Rahns is an unincorporated village along the Perkiomen Creek in Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Most of the trail is nice and smooth but there are some sections that are kinda bumpy rough. Most of the trail is a 10-foot wide cinder or stone aggregate (non-paved) surface with grass shoulders. This page is not available in other languages. The Perkiomen Creek Water Trail Map & Paddlers Guide provides expert tips for paddling, plus information on creek access, hazards and services along the way. It begins just beyond the northern borders of the county and travels south. Rahns - Trail head provides access to/from PA 113. ", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Gravel Pike & Lumber St (Green Lane) and Station Ave, 0.1 mile north of Pawlings Rd (Oaks). East Branch Perkiomen Creek Map - Stream - Mapcarta When I got to Green Lane Park I was unable to find the last two miles of the trail to Green Lane Borough but was satisfied with turning around there. It passes through ten communities (from south to north): Oaks, Arcola, Yerkes, Collegeville, Rahns, Graterford, Schwenksville, Spring Mount, Upper Salford, and Green Lane. The best part was the 1/4 mile 12% grade just outside of the Spring Mtn. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. Was in town for a wedding and ,per the recommendation of a local running store, ran this trail. The trail is not for road bikes/tires - trail is rough in many places for extended stretches. In a nutshell the trail offers an excellent variety for all, no road bikes to be sure, but for anyone on a hybrid or Mtn bike this is a great ride with good scenery and lots of shade to keep you cool.. Lots of rolling hills here, much more of a challenge than the usual rail-trail.
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