Redbank Valley
Trails Association

419 Arch Street
New Bethlehem, PA 16242 

814-275-1718 or 717-649-1771*

* During business hours

[email protected] 

After hours/emergency call:

814-275-1718 or 724-664-4754

PA Great Outdoors

Development News – Pending Improvements

2024. DEP may be doing some mine remediation work near the 861 crossing in 2024.  Watch Facebook for updates.  We also hope to add a kayak launch on the east side of the Rachel Carson bridge in 2024 so that kayakers can park at the Moore Road trail head and kayak around the Moore Road loop near the notch and exit at the existing kayak launch on the west side of the Moore Road.

2022-3 Accomplishments.   We are in maintenance mode and respond to downed trees, washouts, thefts of signs and other maintenance issues as they occur.  We made some improvements for visibility at the Lawsonham parking area and installed 3 new metal sculptures in December 2022 and 2 fiberglass trail bears in New Bethlehem and Brookville in 2023 along the trail along with putting down some new crushed limestone so it can seed in over the winter.  We worked with a local scout to complete a massive shelter at the Lawsonham Trail head reminiscent of the station that once stood there as his Eagle Scout project. We also worked with the Summerville Story Project to install a picnic shelter and caboose at the Summerville Trailhead.  We hosted many groups for their runs and fundraising efforts.

2021 Accomplishments.  To avoid a similar disaster to the one at Long Run, remediation work was completed at the beautiful keyhole arch at Lawsonham to move the stream back to its original location.  It had eroded to aim behind the eastern wing wall threatening destruction of the arch.  The beavers were also very busy this year and damaged several bridges by falling trees.  Bridge decking is beginning to deteriorate in places so we worked on replacing many boards. Parking areas were improved at Mayport, Heathville, and at SR 68 and mile 9 on the Sligo Spur. Vandalized gates were repaired and some gate systems were replaced to improve access.

2020 Accomplishments 

Mile 19 Long Run Disaster.  On July 19, 2019, a flash flood destroyed an 1871 15-foot wide and 50 foot long stone arch over Long Run.  It created a 40-foot gap in the full width of the trail. Volunteers completed a temporary bridge over Long Run in April 2020 and on November 3, 2020 installed a new steel and wood bridge to bridge the gap and reconnect the trail.

Parking lot improvements.  Signage and parking lot improvements were made on the Sligo Spur and SR861, SR68 and Walker Farm Road and on the main trail at Heathville.  Gates were installed on the Sligo Spur with more gates needed there and gate replacements needed on the main trail.  Additional parking area improvements are planned.

Crushed Limestone.   Some much needed resurfacing was done on the main trail in New Bethlehem, Heathville and Brookville’s Depot Street Spur but much more is needed along the trail when funding permits.

2019 Accomplishments

FAIRMOUNT CITY  In 2019, the ramps at Middle Run Road were lowered to a less steep grade, drainage repairs were made and crushed limestone was added in August 2019, to complete surfacing of the entire 41.5 mile main trail, except for the July 19th, 2019 washout disaster at mile 19.

SLIGO SPUR  Work on surfacing of all 9 miles of the Sligo Spur was completed in early August 2019 including some parking area improvements which were  completed at the SR861 trailhead with help from the Eccles Foundation.  The first mile from Lawsonham  at mile 6 of the main trail was improved in 2016.  A contractor improved from Walker Farm Road near Sligo to SR 861 with Northwest Commission Greenways Grant funding in 2018-19.  Volunteers completed the Cherry Run bridge in March 2017 and the bridges at .092 and 1.02 of the Spur in March 2018 with private donations and grant funding from the Trail Volunteer Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation.  Volunteers and a contractor worked on the lower 3 miles between SR 861 and mile 1. Donations for additional drainage, historic markers (as well as historical information), and other improvements would be appreciated.

BROOKVILLE WHITE STREET/SR 36 KAYAK LAUNCH.  RVTA worked in cooperation with Brookville Borough to establish a kayak launch across from the Depot Street Trail Head with funding provided by the Western PA Conservancy and private donors. One of our Board members also created two wonderful maps of the Red Bank Creek water trail which are found under maps on this website.

HISTORIC MARKERS ADDED.   New markers were added at the Smuckers Peanut Butter Factory and near the former Lower Tile Plant  near mile 19. Bridge memorial and honor markers were added in May 2020 on ten of our bridges for which donations were received.

2018 – The Climax Tunnel at mile 17 is OPEN.  Work was completed in August 2018.

A metal tunnel liner was added in from each portal beginning in February 2017 which concluded in June 2017.  Guniting in the center of the tunnel was completed in November 2017 to help support and protect the 4-course brick ceiling.  This followed the removal of a large overhanging rock on 5-22-16 and the addition of a buttress wall in June 2016 on the SW portal to stabilize the portal.  An 80 foot extension to the tunnel was added at the eastern portal to protect against falling rocks and an asphalt surface was installed inside the tunnel. Work was completed in August 2018.   We recommend walking your bike through and using a light.  We also recommend using a light and walking your bike through the naturally carved Long Point Tunnel near mile 9.

Please use caution and respect private property all along the trail.  Do not trespass on adjoining property and please do not block gates.

For a treat in Spring, at the eastern portal of the tunnel if you look across to a pine tree on the other side of the creek, you might see the resident Bald Eagle family.  Their nest of several years on the trail side of the creek up on Climax Road was destroyed by winter storms.  Please do not disturb the eagles.

Climax eagles

Climax eagles

BROOKVILLE DEPOT ST. SPUR TRAILHEAD 

Trailhead improvements were completed except for a planned widening of the parking area.  New signage, a kiosk with trail and area information, a picnic table, gazebo and portojohn  have been added. Paving has been done and the trailhead is open while additional improvements are being planned for the parking area. Congratulations Brookville on a wonderful trailhead!July Aug 2016 1506July Aug 2016 1503

MOORE ROAD 

Redbank Valley Trails Association was awarded a grant in December 2014 by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to install a canoe/kayak launch at the very scenic Moore Road parking area under the Rev. Dr. Joseph Mateer bridge in Corsica. The location is near a loop in the Red Bank Creek near the “notch.” Work was completed by the end of 2015 thanks to our great volunteers.

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2016 PROJECTS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Crushed limestone was applied between mile 11.4 and 6 in July through September 2016, including through the open naturally carved Long Point Tunnel at mile 8.42,  to complete surfacing of almost the entire main trail except for about a quarter mile stretch in Fairmount City near mile 21.39.  Crushed limestone has not yet been applied in Fairmount City pending drainage work and DEP AMD work scheduled to conclude by September 2018 or possibly earlier.  Volunteers plan additional work to lessen the slope on the ramps at Middle Run after the drainage work is completed.

Creek stabilization work was completed in September 2016 near the Rt. 28 crossing near Fishbasket at mile 21.97 between Town Run and Middle Run and in October at St. Charles at mile 14.69.

The major washout was repaired and the first mile of the Sligo Spur was improved in July 2016.

2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The beautiful scenic area downstream of the Climax Tunnel at MP 17 to Leatherwood Station Road near MP 11 was improved in late 2015 with crushed limestone.   Areas downstream of Lawsonham from mile 6 to mile 0 were also improved in 2015 after a great deal of work to clear downed trees and landslides that occurred with the heavy rains in June and July 2015.

Trail maintenance and knotweed eradication are ongoing.  Help is always appreciated.

Watch for our fundraising events as we try to raise enough money to make additional improvements and open the trail and the area to greater recreational and economic opportunities. Thanks to all who participated in past Days of Giving and for your support throughout the year. The Day of Giving is held in May and we hold a December challenge to raise funds for ongoing maintenance and improvements.