It's mostly flat and straight, but there are some short hills on the few on-street segments. :( OK so NOW the GOOD! Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Our suburban reporters want to hear from you! This extension of the existing 13.5 mile trail will provide connections to the existing Struble and East Branch Brandywine Trails in the Downingtown area. Not too difficult and the trail is shady so for an August day it wasn't too hot. Youll pass several small parks with picnic tables: DAmbrosia Park at 4 miles, Cedar Hollow Park at 6.6 miles, and Ecology Park at 10.1 miles. But I would not want to bike this route on a weekday. The Chester Valley Trail now extends 5 miles east in King of Prussia to Norristown where it connects to the Schuylkill River Trail. Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes . Work by Chester and Montgomery Counties began in 2009 to convert the railbed into a trail. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I road this trail. Meanwhile, the Schuylkill River Trail, which runs through East Coventry and North Coventry townships, will have four miles added to its current 5.75 miles this spring. It is a favorite destination for walkers, runners, families, and bikers since it is convenient to a large population. My brother and I rode this asphalt trail. Nice trail in great condition. The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox. I saw a lot of different types of bikes, recumbents, rollerblades, runners! This includes the area known as "Battle of the Clouds," where an impending battle was cancelled due to torrential rains and dampened black powder, in the vicinity of Phoenixville Pike and Swedesford Road. I use those for track type running workouts. However, when bikers traveling over 20mph on the trail choose to pass in the middle of the trail, where there is east and west bound congestion, the risk they create for collision is a serious threat to everyone. The Chester Valley Trail extension is considered integral to Montgomery Countys trail system, Hartman said. Overall, I think CVRT is more a commuter trail than recreational trail. The cost is estimated to be $1.5 million, which will be paid for using county bond funding, a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant, and a grant from Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Regional Trails Program/William Penn Foundation. There were a couple of maintenance stations along the way. Does anyone have firm facts about the path that the existing Chester Valley Trail is going to use to get to Downingtown? Despite helping to provide a pedestrian link between the area's many malls, shopping centers and office buildings, this segment appears to be underused. Incoming traffic has the right of way and does not stop. Smooth surface the entire length of the trail and the shade from the trees in the hot days of July was a plus. In other areas, homes and office parks are along the way. To get from Clover Mill Road to Boot Road, and then down 322 to where the existing trail begins, there is a massive hilly area. On March 13th, 2023 a 3.8 mile extension of the Chester Valley Trail officially opened in Montgomery County. We will have to wait for the politicians to get some good weather to pat themselves on the back about what a great job they did before the trail is officially open, but in the meantimeexcept for the extreme eastern edge east of Old Eagle School Road and the extreme western edge, west of the Church Farm School, the path is open and clear of snow and ice. He has a mountain bike. Please give today. It's mostly flat, though, heading back West was a BIT more difficult than the ride East. The recommended alignment connects the existing CVT to the inactive Philadelphia and Thorndale (P+T) line, which runs parallel to but separate from the SEPTA/Amtrak main line for 7.4 miles. Montgomery County has seen a surge in trail users since the COVID-19 pandemic started. I don't know? Superb trail as far as smooth and maintained, but the road noise from Rt 202 made parts of the trail unbearable. So the Chester Valley Trail was a site for sore (hamstrings) eyes! But going further has major road crossings, and one enters into a major commercial area, and about a mile or so past that, the trail simply stops. Maintenance and operation east of County Line Road should be directed to Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites. I quite literally DID NOT KNOW WHERE the trail was! the work area is estimated at 85% complete. Well maintained, paved, with plenty of shade. Lots of shade & nice suburban neighborhoods to ride through. %%EOF
There are several stores to stop at for a break. I ride on the trail too, but I don't understand why bikers choose to break the speed limit rule on a trail that is so frequently used by runners and walkers - especially when it is crowded. The new 3.9 miles will run through Upper Merion Township and Bridgeport Borough to Norristown, where it will then connect with the Schuylkill River Trail. The Road crossing at Rt 100 is rather bizarre. All motorists very considerate. Agree some parts were not scenic and were near busy roadways but crossings were safe and clearly marked. Trail end points: PA Route 322/Downingtown Pike (near Bradford Road Avenue) and PA Route 322/Downingtown Pike (east of the Sugars Bridge Road intersection) Trail surfaces: Asphalt. Just need to be attentive around mile 7.5 when the trail seems to end -- it doesn't just need to go left at the PNC Bank. What is the Chester Valley Trail? What is the Chester Valley Trail The only drawback is crossing several roads which could be a challenge at busy times, and could be a negative for bikers. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. While the Chester Valley Trail West Study completed . Found it to be much easier to run on than the Valley Forge Freedom Trail since there were far less cyclists riding at high speeds. west to the Exton Wal-Mart. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Nice clean trail. I highly recommend biking 14 miles one way but do not make the return trip. One was in a development and had no traffic. They are rarely on the trail and more so in the nearby woods. Got a question about life in Phillys suburbs? We found it well maintained, paved and wide. The 1.3-mile section from Joshua Road to Stenton Avenue is projected to start construction in 2023. I'm just curious what the plan is, if anyone knows. The rail-trail ends in another 2.4 miles after passing through the community of Exton. It's a pretty run, homes to look at, woods, hills parts are shaded, parts are not. This should be on all trails. There's construction at the main intersection in Exton at the moment about a mile-ish from the trail end. The county is looking for funding to construct a roughly $8 million to $10 million trail bridge over Germantown Pike to continue the trail into Whitemarsh. The trail is suppose to be 12 wide and it is in places but at most crossings it is a maze to get through especially when the traffic is heavy and a wide range of people from novices to experienced road bikers who are impatient with the rest of us. Highlight was on the east end there is a Wegmans Super Store just off the trail. Heads up tho! Exton to Downington Section: The construction of the Chester Valley Trial extension to Downingtown will be completed in two phases. SURE, it's EASY for someone who knows it already, which obviously includes those who designed it and put it together, and don't realize where the "fails" in the markings are, and NEXT time, and there WILL BE next TIMES, I'll know, but, again, there are places where it needs to be better marked. The new trail section is a 10- to 12-foot-wide, paved, multiuse path that is part of the Circuit Trails network, a vast regional network of hundreds of miles of multiuse trails in the Greater Philadelphia region that is growing each year. The road crossings provide natural stopping points to re-group. Good for casual riding. Chester Valley Trail Public Meeting Recap - Circuit Trails A look into SEPTAs new transit systems proposed for the Philadelphia suburbs. Local Leaders Unveil 3.8 Mile Extension to Chester Valley Trail in We will go back after a few more trails to see if we still think the same. When complete, the $6.2 million project will run 17.5 miles across the county, from the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken to the Pennypack Trail in Upper Moreland and Bryn Athyn. There is lots of green space on both sides of the trail so that most of the time you don't realize that you are in the middle of quite a built-up area. However, the fact that several major segments remain unbuilt, necessitating lengthy detours on busy roads, give the trail a low overall rating. I like having access to it at different points. There are many township parks and Valley Forge National Park along the trail or that connect to the trail. The Chester Valley Trail Extension project is a 3.8-mile expansion of the Chester Valley Trail completed in March 2023. The only crossing that is a real pain is going over Route 100 if you want to ride past Main Street at Exton. The Chester Valley Trail Extension project is a 3.8-mile expansion of the Chester Valley Trail completed in March 2023. Started in the car park at the western end and rode all the way to KoP. (NJ drivers are less likely to stop than PA drivers.) The Potential Alignments exhibit illustrates all of the alternatives being evaluated towards extending the CVT and providing connections to the existing Struble and East Branch Brandywine Trails. The trail is well kept and access to many restaurants if you like that. It is flat, shady and immaculately maintained. Battery-powered wheelchairs, dog walking under leash, and strollers are also permitted. All other runs probably don't make sense here as I can get the same workout by going out my front door. The only real problem is the many many crossings. There are about a dozen road crossings, a couple across major highways. There is a 0.8-mile spur trail that splits from the main route by the intersection of Commerce Drive and S Pottstown Pike/Main Street. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Enjoy. There are a fair amount of road crossing with two being busy four lane highways but they all either have signals or stop signs. Philadelphia trail linking Schuylkill and Delaware rivers closer to taking shape. I WILL be back, probably many times. Chester County trails more than just recreation - Daily Local At its eastern end, the rail-trail connects to theSchuylkill River Trail inNorristown. The new 3.9 miles will run through Upper Merion Township and Bridgeport Borough to Norristown, where it will then connect with the Schuylkill River Trail. There are many well marked road crossings with gates and audible crossing signals. I'm anxioust to ride end-to-end. I only walked a small section, about 3 miles but it was clean and perfect. One of those is Battle of the Clouds Park, located 1 mile past Ecology Park, where the trail crosses Phoenixville Pike. Fabulous ride not at all marred by the multiple road crossings. I essentially had to stop running for several minutes while I waited for the light to change. Noise from 202 was blocked mostly by a wall. Ironton Trail near Coplay PA & the southern Henry Hudson Trail near Freehold NJ are also paved & shady, but they are no where near as long. Chester County trails more than just recreation - The Mercury There are also many cross streets which will slow your time considerably, even though most of them are secondary roads. The Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) completed the Chester Valley Trail Extension Study (CVTE) which investigated alternatives and determined a recommended alignment for extension of the Chester Valley Trail (CVT) from its current terminus in Exton into the Borough of Downingtown. Find more trail information and detailed trail maps on TrailLink.com. This will likely change once future segments are finished. Weve ridden short distances on this trail toward King of Prussia ( ride to K of P Town Center and eat outside at one of the many restaurants) but last week was Our first excursion towards Exton. Once implemented, there will be an additional 10.1 miles of trail including three new trailheads and connections to the existing Struble and East Branch Brandywine trails in the Downingtown area. I did find my way to where the trail starts up again at Commerce Dr. Getting across Rt 100 is a challenge. Fourth very nice bathroom and parking area at Exton Park on Church Farm Road. . Our cub scout troop rode the 6 mile section and added part of the unpaved "phase 2" section, parts of which requires hybrid tires until it is paved. There is also parking at businesses and small shopping centers including Worthington which includes Wegmans and Target at Route 29 (Morehall Road). Two of them had pedestrian yields that at least meant I could cross.
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