ATTENTION: The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail was transferred to UNION COUNTY effective July 1, 2019.

You can contact them directly at https://unioncountytrails.org/trails/ 

(570) 524-3878

 

The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail is a 9.5 mile long finished scenic trail that spans between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg with trailheads, facilities, and parking areas. Thousands of visitors and residents walk, run, and bicycle the Rail Trail since the trail opened in 2011.

The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail is a protected spine of asphalt and gravel stretching between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg, PA.  It is available to serve all ages and abilities, whether for recreation or transportation. The trail provides a safe environment for children to play, dogs to explore, and adults to unwind.

Join us on the trail to connect, revitalize, and get a breath of fresh air!

Learn more about the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail:

 


HISTORY

Yesterday

The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail follows the route of a railroad that once ran from Montandon to Bellefonte in Centre County, crossing through Union County on an east-west alignment. The Lewisburg Centre & Spruce Creek Railroad was incorporated in 1853, and immediately faced the difficulties of the Civil War and the St. Patrick's day flood of 1865.

In 1879, the branch was renamed the Lewisburg & Tyrone Railroad Co., and for another hundred years it was a key part of the valley's transportation network. The rise of interstate highway system led to a reduction in rail traffic. In 1982, the line ceased operations.

Today

By the late 1990's, the rails-to-trails movement was gathering steam in other parts of the country. In 2009, after several years of planning and feasibility studies, BVRA acquired the right of way for the West Shore Railroad stretching from Northumberland County to Mifflinburg.

Phase I, including nine miles of finished trail, trailheads, facilities, and parking areas, was completed in the fall of 2011. Since then, thousands of residents and visitors have walked, run, or biked the 9.5 miles of scenic trail. In October of 2015, work was completed on Phase II, extending the trail into the heart of historic Lewisburg.

The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail is the result of investment by BVRA, Union County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Tomorrow

The next phase of the Rail Trail will include examining the feasibility of restoring the existing railroad bridge in Lewisburg as a pedestrian walkway. Union County Trail Authority will also explore the possibility of extending the trail for pedestrian use.

 


TRAIL RULES

  • Trail open from dawn to dusk
  • No motorized vehicles or horses permitted
  • Obey traffic signs at all crossings
  • Keep to the right—call out when passing
  • Keep dogs on a short leash and clean up after them
  • Do not litter—carry in, carry out
  • Do not disturb or feed wildlife or livestock
  • Do not cut or remove vegetation or crops
  • Park only in designated areas
  • Respect our rail trail neighbors: stay on trail; keep quiet
  • No alcoholic beverages, camping or fires
  • No hunting on or from the trail
  • Be Alert—Be Courteous
  • No Graffiti or Any Vandalism
  • No posting on mile markers or anywhere along the Rail Trail without prior approval from BVRA

 


AGRICULTURAL AREA CAUTIONS

  • Stay on trail—look, don’t touch
  • Keep alert for large machinery and trucks at all crossings
  • Respect farmers’ rights, privacy, and property
  • Watch for health hazards and projectiles from farm machinery
  • Do not litter – all litter is potentially deadly to livestock
  • Do not feed, call, yell at, or tease livestock
  • Please do not photograph residents
  • Be aware of electric fences
  • Avoid biohazards: do not enter farm buildings, pastures, ponds or fields

 


MAP OF THE RAIL TRAIL

View larger map of the Rail Trail
View larger map of the Rail Trail connectors