Almost 21 years ago, US Route 6 in Pennsylvania was dedicated as a National Recreational Trail by the National Park Service of the US Department of Interior. Named as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, the roadway was celebrated for its scenic beauty as well as its historical significance.

Officially dedicated as part of the National Trail System in July 1994, US Route 6 in Pennsylvania was cited for providing a variety of outdoor recreation and being easily accessible from major urban areas such as New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo.

Today US Route is also a Pennsylvania Heritage Area known for telling the story of transporting natural resources across the state and country as well as a connector to historical, cultural and recreational sites. In fact, within the PA Route 6 Corridor, there are: 19 state parks, seven state forests, and one national forest-the Allegheny National Forest.

Travelers across Route 6 will find an abundance of trail systems for hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorized recreation. The trails often tell the local history in places, like the old railroad bed that is now the Pine Creek Rail-Trail, which was voted on of the top 10 places to take a bike tour in the world by USA Today readers, and the Lackawanna Heritage Trail, a 50-mile, multi-use trail that follows the Lackawanna River and links the communities in the Scranton area.

PA Route 6 also offers access to some of the best water trails for canoeing and kayaking. The North Branch of the Susquehanna River Trail is visible from Route 6 and several towns along Route 6 have access points including Tunkhannock, Laceyville and Towanda. Another favorite is the Conewango Creek Water Trail, with access points around the city of Warren. Conewango Creek was named 2015 Pennsylvania River of the Year.

The PA Route 6 Alliance encourages travelers to get out of their cars as they travel the highway and take advantage of the trail systems that are accessible along the heritage corridor. Take a hike or a sojourn down on the one of the following trails, including the Allegheny River Trail as well as the Warren to North Warren Bike Trail and the Conewango Creek Water Trail:

Warren to North

Warren Bike Trail

Located along the banks of Conewango Creek, the open three-mile segment of this proposed 11-mile trail follows an old New York Central branch north from the city of Warren. Designed to serve primarily as a safe, off-road route for cyclists and commuters, from the downtown area to the burgeoning North Warren business district along US 62, the trail also preserves scenic vistas of the Conewango and controls flooding along its tributary, Jackson Run.

Northwestern Pennsylvania history is defined by early oil exploration and the industry and community development it brought to the area. Warren is a classic example of a community that saw large growth when oil was first discovered. The New York Central railroad corridor this trail follows was built to serve the several oil refineries that once occupied this area.

Beginning at the north end of East Street in downtown Warren, the trail leads north out of town, following the banks of quiet Conewango Creek. It is not uncommon to see wildlife near the river’s edge, including ducks, deer and abundant bird life.

As the trail continues north, it leaves the creek and enters a busy commercial section along US 62. The trail is sufficiently removed from the highway, creating a pleasant buffer from traffic. There are a number of restaurants and shops along this section to North Warren. The trail ends near a beautiful town park that has picnic areas, a garden, parking and restrooms.

www.traillink.com/trail/warren-to-north-warren-bike-trail.aspx

Allegheny River Trail

With a wide, paved pathway and adjacent equestrian trail running through lush woodland and riverside terrain, the Allegheny River Trail (ART) has something to offer every trail enthusiast. Following a segment of the Allegheny River that is part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the 32-mile trail extends south from the Samuel Justus Recreation Trail in Franklin, to a point south of where the Allegheny and Clarion rivers meet just south of Foxburg and north of Parker.

The Scrubgrass Generating Company acquired the rail corridor after the Allegheny Valley Railroad stopped using it in 1984. Scrubgrass Generating donated the property to the nonprofit Allegheny Valley Trails Association, which is building an extensive rail-trail system in northwestern Pennsylvania.

The trailhead begins 5 miles downriver from the Franklin Belmar railroad bridge. Built in 1907 the picturesque bridge offers a spectacular view of the river and wildlife. At the Belmar bridge, the trail connects with the 8-mile, paved Sandy Creek Trail, which runs east to the village of Van. Eventually, it will connect with the Clarion Highlands Trail to offer 46 miles of trail.

The Allegheny River Trail is also one of several trails that make up the growing Erie to Pittsburgh Trail in western Pennsylvania. One day, the trail network will extend from Lake Erie to the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers in Pittsburgh.

www.traillink.com/trail/allegheny-river-trail.aspx

Conewango Creek

Water Trail

The rural nature of the Conewango Creek Valley creates a great habitat for wildlife. As you paddle downstream, you will probably see many species of birds and animals, as well as a large array of water creatures. Bald Eagles have made a tremendous comeback on the Conewango with several nest sites being identified. On most trips, you can expect to see eagles, ospreys, blue herons, little green herons, kingfishers, pileated woodpeckers, and many species of ducks.

Akeley Swamp, which is easily accessible from the creek, has an easy walking/hiking trail that runs the length of the swamp. You will encounter many species of salamanders, snakes, frogs, and turtles. Watch for nesting turtles in the early summer. They can often be seen along the walking trail digging a nesting site.

Otters have been reintroduced to the Conewango, and now there is a breeding population. They hunt fish and frogs and are often seen on the flat water section. Beavers are plentiful, and you will see many signs of their handy work on the banks of the creek. The shy muskrat can also be seen cruising along with mouthfuls of grass and green leaves.

If you are quiet and watchful, you may also spot deer, black bears, and turkeys. These wild animals are very shy, so, please try to keep their presence a mystery. For all of our creatures, we say photo shooting only is encouraged for sharing.

Trailink.com pages include GPS directions and information for each site.