Arriving at 7:15 AM was a mess because parking lots were gated with no indication of what time they open. I worked my way north until I found one that was open and that was a little after 8:00 AM. Here are the parking lots from south to north that I tried.
Pennypack on the Delaware Parking (my first choice)
40.02711, -75.01407
Pennypack Trail Rhawn Street Trailhead Parking (second choice)
40.04488, -75.02004
Pennypack Park Parking (where I ended up where the south section ends and connects north with the Lorimer Park Fox Chase Farm Trail)
Having to start in the middle instead of at the southern end as originally planned, I decided to head south first then north. That was a good choice because the southern section, although paved, is more challenging with curvy and hilly parts. It is the more scenic section and you get to see more of it when you have to walk your bike up the hills! The northern section is crushed stone, mostly flat railbed with minimal uphill and downhill grades.
Starting south from the parking lot there was almost immediately another glitch ...
What?!?!? I notice a path to the right ...
... that led down to the creek, which fortunately was very low, where someone had placed a board, and that worked beautifully.
Continuing on.
The trail mostly follows right along the creek going uphill and downhill.
The trails goes under many old bridges.
It really does not feel like you are riding through heavily populated Philadelphia. Even when the trail comes up to a road ...
... it is there briefly ...
... before heading back into the woods.
Straight ahead is the top of the Pennypack Creek Bridge referenced above; the trail turns left just before the bridge railing.
Nearing the Delaware River there will be three major road crossings (with none up to that point). They all have crossing signals so they are easy to navigate. Short on road parts are separated from traffic.
The trail veers left towards Pennypack on the Delaware.
The gate that blocked my way early in the morning was now open.
Delaware River
Can you see the three birds hiding in plain sight?
I thought the gate up ahead would be locked but it was open.
The paved path continues on.
This closure I knew about. Apparently it is because there are two shooting ranges on the other side which, of course, you can hear loud and clear.
Heading back I stopped to look at the banner hanging on the fence.
It was hard to see the map (link to the map under TRAIL MAPS above) but I could make out some of the trails I had seen while riding through but did not know where they went.
Now I knew so I looped around on those trails. They were mostly ridable but sometimes rough with rocks and roots.
Pennypack Creek flowing into the Delaware River.
Heading back to retrace.
Sadly there was a TON of graffiti throughout and lots of litter. Presumably that is one of the reasons parking lots are gated overnight, according to a local man I spoke with who rides the trail.
I even see balloons while riding! Balloon #5 of the year.
In this picture you can see how steeply the trail ascends on the left.
This duck was having a blast splashing in the water.
I passed several such groups of volunteers with trash bags full of litter they had been picking up. These were teenagers up ahead and I stopped to let them know what a great thing they were doing.
Back at the wonky alternate bridge crossing.
Passing by where I parked ...
... to the crossing at Pine Road leading to ...
... the Fox Chase Farm trails.
Continuing straight from the woods road is a gravel path that follows the creek to Lorimer Park.
Right across this bridge ...
... then left through the Lorimer Park parking lot ...
... connecting to the northern section of the Pennypack Trail.
Now it is crushed gravel the rest of the way.
This post office used to be a train station which is mentioned in a video I inserted below about a train wreck from 1921 that I would be passing.
This informational sign is right at the gulch where the accident occurred.
I was speaking with a local man who told me the two trees pictured in the original photo are the ones to the left. Witnesses of the 1921 crash still standing over 100 years later.
The gulch where the crash happened. The video below has a lot of information about the crash and features many of the things I saw while biking through.
The Pennypack Trail ends at County Line Road but crossing over then turning right leads to ...
... the Newton Rail Trail which is only 2.5 miles long so while here, why not?
At the end, turning back.
Balloon #6 of the year.
Back over County Line Road to the Pennypack Trail.
At the Lorimer Park lot I continued straight which was wrong. I should have turned left through the parking lot. But I was still on the Pennypack Trail. Thing is the connection hits about 1.5 miles along the trail so there is more to it that I biked accidentally.
Things weren't looking very familiar.
No, not familiar at all! The end was just up ahead so I turned back.
Back at the Lorimer Park lot, I veered right ...
... and headed over to where I should have turned across that bridge.
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