Sunday, June 21, 2026

Appalachian Trail, PA - Victoria Trail to Route 325 with Joseph Ibberson Conservation Area

ABOUT THE PARK: 
Explore the AT Pennsylvania - Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club - they have built an impressive amount of stone steps throughout this hike and their trails are impeccably maintained.

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 40.45162, -76.77629
Parking at Clarks Creek Appalachian Trail Crossing

TRAIL MAPS: 
Appalachian Trail in PA Sections 7 & 8 - Keystone Trails Association


HIKE DISTANCE: 10.8 miles

THE HIKE: 
I had heard of people spotting a bike to hike sections of the Appalachian Trail so I wanted to give that a try but sort of in reverse.  To hike this section I would have to bike 5 miles from the Clarks Creek crossing of the Appalachian Trail to the Victoria Trail along Route 325 which has a 55 mph speed limit and almost no shoulder.  So I did that first early in the morning when there was hardly any traffic and it wasn't bad at all.  Except for the many hills.

It's a hilly ride so I had to walk several hills but it was easy coasting downhill.
Just past just guardrail on the right ...
... is the State Game Land parking lot and the Victoria Trail.
Locking the bike to a tree to be retrieved later ...
... and the hike begins on the Victoria Trail.
The trail starts out smooth ...
... then there is an extensive amount of impressive stone work going up.
When the Victoria Trail switchbacks left ...
... continuing straight on the pink Whitetail Trail.
At this intersection of massive downed trees the Whitetail Trail continues straight and the Appalachian Trail crosses over.
Turning left on the AT.
The Victoria Trail joins in from the left having come up from that switchback.
Now staying with the Victoria Trail when the AT continues straight.  That section is for another day.
The Victoria Trail descends on an old woods road.
Nice views along the way down.
At the intersection up head the Victoria Trail continues straight (I'd be returning that way later) and ...
... the Whitetail Trail crosses over.  I turned left on the Whitetail Trail.
At the pond I was surprised to see this Eagle Path that was not on the map.
Unfortunately it has become a bit difficult to follow but I made it through.
At the far end of the pond with picnic tables to the left the trail continues along the other side where the trail is in much better shape.
Continuing on the Whitetail Trail.
The Whitetail Trail ends and becomes the red Evergreen Trail.
Just before the parking lot at this downed tree a short gated woods road to the left looked like it might lead to a view so I went to check that out.
It did not only lead to nice views but to a mowed path as an alternative to the Evergreen Trail.
Continuing to the right and along the parking lot.
Back into the woods and on the Evergreen Trail ...
... where the beginning of the Victoria Trail joins in.
Staying with the Victoria Trail.
Where the trail had been woods roads, the Victoria Trail become more rugged.
Back at that intersection where the Whitetail Trail crosses over ...
... turning left on the Whitetail Trail to switchback up to the Appalachian Trail.
Back at the intersection from the beginning of the hike and now turning left on the AT.
It's the AT for the next 5 miles.
Indigo Bunting
A blue-blazed side trail to an overlook.
It is supposed to be an overlook of Clarks Valley but you can't see the valley anymore.
Continuing on the AT.
Where the AT had been surprisingly smooth up to this point, it becomes rockier in parts.
A side trail back to Route 325.
About 2 miles from the Shikellimy Trail the AT descends Peters Mountain on long switchbacks.
Coming out at Route 325 where the AT crosses over ...
... and continues past the parking lot where I parked the car.  Now a 5-mile drive ...
... to retrieve the bike.
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Lykens Valley Rail Trail, PA

ABOUT THE PARK: 
Lykens Valley Rail Trail - Pennsylvania DCNR
According to the Lykens Valley Facebook Page the organization spearheading this became defunct in 2016, which is kind of the feeling I got while riding the trail.  That would explain why the URL on the sign no longer works.

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 40.58581, -76.61331
State Game Lands 264 Parking

TRAIL MAP: 

BIKE DISTANCE:  7.5 miles (3.75 miles each way)

THE BIKE: 
Having finished hiking an Appalachian Trail section I did not want to get stuck in Sunday evening stop and go traffic on I-78 through Allentown so I decided to kill some time on a short rail trail on the way home.  I found this one on TrailLink so that is where I went.
Right off the bat I was concerned that this might be more of a gravel State Game Lands road than a rail trail.
Especially early on when I encountered very rough, rutted, loose gravel washed out surface that would have been a wipe out for sure had I not walked it.
I almost turned back but decided to give it a little more time and the trail did become crushed stone and resembled a bona fide rail trail.  The trail looks fairly level but actually went uphill for about half the way then the rest was coasting downhill.
Only one blow down to carry the bike over.
The trail ends in Wiconisco where apparently you have to navigate on road to continue so I decided to turn back at this point.
Looks like there wasn't all that much more after the road parts anyway.
Heading back.
Walking the bike back over the washed out area.
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