Ironton Rail Trail, PA with Whitehall Parkway

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Ironton Rail Trail - Whitehall Township

Whitehall Parkway - Whitehall Township

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.65644, -75.48353

Water Street Parking

TRAIL MAPS: 

Ironton Rail Trail Map - Whitehall Township

Whitehall Parkway Trail Map - Whitehall Township

HIKE and BIKE DISTANCE:  15.3 miles

THE HIKE and BIKE: 

Every three months I get a cortisone injection in my ankle for arthritis and it works amazingly well allowing me to hike completely pain free for 10 weeks.  There are 2-3 weeks until the next injection when I have to manage with meloxicam and that doesn't work as well.  I came up with a solution:  Buy a bicycle.  So I will be switching it up to biking when that injection has worn off and to give my ankle a break off and on.  Often times there are hiking trails off of bike paths so I'll incorporate those when I can.  And that is what this hike and bike was.

And here she is.  I started left on the rail trail to go clockwise around the loop portion.

There are many kiosks, benches and things of interest along the way.

Off to the left there was a butterfly garden and bird area.

Indeed, there were birds down there.

There are steps to go down there but there was one thing lacking throughout this trail - not a single place to park bikes so you can walk the nature trails off of the rail trail.

There were pretty many road crossings which was good because my mount and dismount needed a lot of practice.

This is the intersection with the loop and spur trails.  I would be finishing the loop later but now left on the spur.

In a very short distance entering Whitehall Parkway, a nature preserve on either side of the rail trail.

Coplay Creek

I decided to ride the spur trail first and see if I could walk the Whitehall Parkway trails on the way back.

At this intersection ...

... a right turn leaving the rail trail briefly leads to the Toxell-Steckel House.

After trying to get a face shot of a white-breasted nuthatch, to no avail.

“God protect this house from danger, and lead our souls into the halls of heaven. Johan Peter Troxell and Maria Magdala.”

Continuing on the rail trail.

Barn Swallow - there were lots of them along this trail.

Coming up on some interesting ruins.

There is only a very short section along a road.

The last crossing is the worst one but there are pedestrian lights.  If drivers care to stop for them.  Some did, some didn't.

The end of the trail.

Heading back.

Soon after entering back into Whitehall Parkway a trail leave so the left.

It follows along Coplay Creek.  A bike rack would have been really nice here but no such thing to be found so I walked the bike.

Uh oh.

Double uh-oh on the other side of the bridge where the steps and a good chunk of earth are missing.

It was actually harder to get myself down over the huge hole at the bottom than it was to get the bike down.

Left on the rail trail ...

... then right opposite train car ...

... on a gravel path.

I locked the bike to a tree.  It was the best I could think of to do.

Now off on foot through the Bluebird Meadow.

No bluebirds.

Ah a footpath.  Yes, please!

They are actually mountain bike trails but I can promise you will not catch me mountain biking.

Ruins along the way.

Quarry

I went back to get my bike then headed over to where there are supposed to be overlooks.

Like about here somewhere.

Well, I suppose there is no longer an overlook.

This was a cute idea.  They are making a bird blind out of ruins.

No birds today.

Continuing on the rail trail.

At the intersection with the loop portion, I kept left to finish the loop.

Just across this intersection is Saylor Park.

Coming back up on the parking lot.

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