August 1999
Vol. 3, Issue 8
More Pennsylvania water trails established
Six organizations have teamed up with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and DCNR to develop more than 260 miles of water trails throughout Pennsylvania.
Water trails are a recreation venue patterned after their land-based
cousins--hiking and biking routes. Under the water trail initiative, PFBC and
DCNR work with conservation partners to provide specific information about
designated water trails, including directions to trailheads and take-out points
and information about natural, scenic, historic, geologic and other points of interest along the
way.
Launched in 1997 with the 24-mile Susquehanna River Trail from Halifax to Harrisburg, in Dauphin County, the water trail program recently expanded to include the following proposed trails:
Swatara Creek 14.6 miles from Jonestown to Union Canal Canoe Rental, in Lebanon County, supported by the Swatara Creek Watershed Association;
Schuylkill River 100 miles from Schuylkill Haven and Tamaqua, in Schuylkill County, to the mouth of the Schuylkill on the Delaware River, supported by the Schuylkill River Greenways Association, Schuylkill Headwaters Association and Schuylkill Recreation Commission;
Juniata River-Raystown Branch 60 miles from Bedford to Saxton, in Bedford County, supported by the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy;
Lehigh River 75 miles along the entire river, supported by the Wildlands Conservancy;
Allegheny River 85 miles from Kinzua Dam to Oil City, in Warren, Forest and Venango counties, supported by the Allegheny National Forest; and
Susquehanna River (expansion) 27 miles from Sunbury to Halifax, in Northumberland and Dauphin counties, supported by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
Boaters and canoeists along these trails will be treated to outstanding wildlife watching, fishing and overnight camping on designated river islands.
Funding for the program is provided by DCNR through its Recreational Trails Program.
For more information, contact the Fish and Boat Commission at (717) 657-4444.
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