Delaware & Lehigh Trail, PA - Black Diamond to Weissport with Pocono Biking Shuttle

ABOUT THE PARK:

Delaware & Lehigh Trail - Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor

Full Monty Section of the D&L Trail - Pocono Biking

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.83111, -75.70061

Weissport D&L Trail Parking

NOTES ABOUT PARKING:

The Pocono Biking shuttle leaves from Jim Thorpe where parking is $25 on weekends ($8 during the week).  Park in Weissport, just under 4 miles away, for free, and bike to Jim Thorpe instead!  This also avoids having to navigate Jim Thorpe traffic with a car later in the day, which can be insane on weekends.  Weissport is an easy in and out.

TRAIL MAPS: 

Trail Section: Weissport - Jim Thorpe

    Pocono Bicycle "The Full Monty" Shuttle in Jim Thorpe to the Black Diamond Trailhead

Trail Section: Black Diamond – White Haven

Trail Section: White Haven – Lehigh Tannery

Trail Section: Lehigh Tannery – Rockport

Trail Section: Rockport – Glen Onoko

Trail Section: Glen Onoko – Jim Thorpe

BIKE DISTANCES: 

Weissport to Jim Thorpe - 4 miles

Black Diamond to Weissport - 39.4 miles

THE  BIKE: 

I highly recommend Pocono Biking for this shuttle.  They are very organized, really nice people, and so inexpensive!  It's only $24.99 per person for the shuttle to Black Diamond.  You can also rent a bike from them if you don't bring your own.  They also have shuttles for a variety of shorter versions.

Leaving the Weissport D&L parking lot and heading north.

The 140 mile marker is where I will be starting from later.

The canal is on the right ...

... the Lehigh River on the left.

There is an overlook platform across that bridge.

Or not.  Bummer.

The trail becomes paved coming into Jim Thorpe.

Bridge across the Lehigh River into Jim Thorpe.

Straight ahead is the parking lot.  Pocono Bicycle is on the other side of the train station.  Continue on the trail along the parking lot then through the parking lot at a break in the fence, left on Lehigh Avenue then just a few steps ahead on the corner ...

... is Pocono Bicycle.  I was way too early so the kind employee took my bike for me so I could ...

... walk about 4 minutes up Broadway to get a coffee.  I was headed to Curiosities Coffee and Ice House on the left but they were closed even though they should have been open.  Then I noticed Donerds Donuts on the right (past the aqua building) directly across from Curiosities and that was open so I went there instead.  Super nice staff and really good coffee.

Back to Pocono Bicycle with my coffee to wait for the shuttle.

That would be the shuttle.

I really don't understand what it is with people but if you saw my bike ride from the previous weekend on the McDade Trail there was a couple on the shuttle telling me I would never be able to finish biking the length of the McDade Trail because it was way too difficult.  I did finish it.  So on this shuttle, another couple with something to say.  "You are doing all 36 miles with a regular bike?  You don't have an e-bike????"  Seriously, what is with people and their opinions of what I do?  I work very hard at staying in shape so I can be active for as long as I can so stop trying to knock me down already!

This is the Black Diamond Trailhead.  Just a parking lot, nothing else.  Apparently work is in progress to extend the trail north to Wilkes-Barre.  But for now, this is the northern terminus of the D&L Trail.

A right at the kiosk ...

... and the ride is on.

Moosehead Lake

Beaver Lake

Concrete Phone Booth

There are very few road crossings.  The first is just a dirt farm road.

A short section of paved trail.

After crossing the railroad tracks, a road crossing then continuing on to White Haven.

In White Haven the trail veers left then right along the fence.

Then left on Main Street for a short road section.  Note mile marker 130 on the building up ahead.

During the orientation speech before the shuttle bus leaves, they show you this picture and explain that you stay on Main Street passing the shopping center on the left.

There is another Pocono Bicycle location on the left at the end of the shopping center in case you need them for anything.

Then Main Street becomes the trail.

Coming up on I-80.

At Lock 22 you can lock up your bike and hike down.

Left at the fork brings you to the Lehigh River with Mud Run, the scene of that awful trail wreck, on the other side.

A right at the fork leads to Lock 22.

The forecast was for all sun all day, which was not the case but that was fine.  Until it started spritzing.  Then POURING!  I managed to dive under a tree for cover until it passed.

Rockport

Steam coming up off the trail from the downpour.

This is how wet the trail was from that brief rain.

This is the result of riding on wet crushed stone after the rain.

This was all up and down my backside.  There was a LOT of cleanup to be done once I got home.  The backpack was due for a good washing anyway.

Mountain Laurel in bloom.  There is a ton of rhododendron along the trail that should be blooming in July.

I had stopped for a break at the picnic table across from this sign when a couple approached me and asked me very nervously if I knew what one should do should one encounter a bear.  I assured them I had encountered bears many, many times and as long as you follow proper bear etiquette (which I explained to them) all should be fine.

Glen Onoko

This is another picture shown during orientation before the shuttle departs.  The sign on the left shows a left arrow to a "shuttle pickup".  I suppose there are those who thought that had to do with this shuttle trip.  It does not.  The trail continues right across the bridge.

The passenger train was coming towards me as I was crossing the bridge.  That was pretty cool.

Coming back into Jim Thorpe.

Here is where you would turn into the lot if parking in Jim Thorpe or if you need to return a rental bike.

Otherwise, continue on to Weissport.

I went out that little path on the right ...

... and back.

Back at the parking lot.