Allegheny Valley Trails Association
PO Box 264
Franklin, PA
(814) 432-5823
Allegheny River and Sandy Creek Bike Trails
The Allegheny Valley Trails Association is an all volunteer, non-profit organization which
was founded in 1990. The AVTA's mission is the acquisition of abandoned railways in the Allegheny River watershed and their rehabilitation into multipurpose, non-motorized recreational trails. Over the past decade the organization has had a good measure of success in fulfilling that mission. As of the spring of 2005, the AVTA had taken title to a total of 55 miles of abandoned railway and completed the construction of two trails, the 20 mile Allegheny River Trail and the 8 mile Sandy Creek Trail.
The Allegheny River Trail
The trail is 31 miles of flat, smooth, asphalt surface from Oil City to Emlenton except for a 1/2 mile break at Sunny Slope, 14 miles south of Franklin. Bordered on the west by the Allegheny River and on the east mostly by woodland, the 8-foot wide paved surface built on an old railroad grade is parallel to a dirt access road suitable for horses. The trail is marked through Oil City to the intersection of Seneca Street and Route 8. There are two railroad tunnels, the Kennerdell Tunnel, 3350' long, is 15 miles south of Franklin, and the Rockland Tunnel, 2868' long, is 21 miles south of Franklin. The trail is paved through the tunnels and three rows of reflectors mark the trail edges and center. Both tunnels are very dark. Bring a light! Six miles south of the Rockland Station Tunnel is the town of Emlenton. The old Emlenton Quaker State Refinery at the north of town has been completely dismantled and the bike path has been constructed through the property.
The Sandy Creek Trail
The Sandy Creek Trail winds along East Sandy Creek through some of Pennsylvania's most spectacular hills, valleys, and forest. The trail runs east and west, crossing over the Allegheny River and the Allegheny River Trail 5 miles south of Franklin. The Belmar Bridge is 1385 feet long with a wooden deck and railings, and provides a great view of the river valley. The area is almost entirely undeveloped, remote, and of great natural beauty. The $1.5M project was funded by grants from the Oil Heritage Region, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA), and the Transportation Enhancement Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). In 2006, 4 miles of paved trail was added going west from the Belmar Bridge. This follows the Allegheny River down to and across big Sandy Creek.
