Trip Overview. You’ll also get nice views of the Shenango River just at the upper end of Shenango Lake. The Upper Shenango River Water Trail runs from Pymatuning Dam, through downtown Greenville’s Riverside Park and, under the historic Kidd’s Mill covered bridge, to Shenango Lake. The Shenango River Water Geotrail combines two great hobbies-paddling and geocaching. Trail is marked with white blazes and the towpath trail has a blue dot in the white blaze. Add your article. This trail follows the old towpath of the abandoned Beaver and Erie Canal. But between New Hamburg and Kidd's Mill, the trail is very overgrown with thorn bushes. The final marker is being manufactured and will be installed at Kidds Mill next week. Installed knicks, drainage sumps, and rolling grade dips to deal with any water which may run down the trail during rainy weather. A suspension bridge near North Bend Rd is a bonus. At mile 1.25 crossing the puncheon bridge area was somewhat muddy but expected this time of year. Tidal Delaware. We parked at the North Bend Road parking area just off Valley Road, which is across the river from the Big Bend Boat launch. Water trails are comprised of access points, boat launches, day use sites, and -- in some cases -- overnight camping areas. Maintenance is behind due to COVID-19 work restrictions. No engineered features, but many natural obstacles such as roots, mud, and loose sections. Shenango River Lake authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938, is one of 16 flood damage reduction facilities in the Pittsburgh District. The connection with Kidds Mill trail at 2.8 miles north New Hamburg continues to be a water problem. Mercer County Trails Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and maintaining multipurpose trails in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The Big Bend to New Hamburg trail section is fully passable and usable for hiker, horse, mountain biker and trail runner. Great day for a hike but very warm in late afternoon. 35° and sunny. 2.5 miles in and back from Big Bend. . Hiked 8 miles on the Shenango Trail; Big Bend to New Hamburg and back. It has been suggested to me that starting at the end of the Trail which is the Big Bend Trail Head and walking to New Hamburg is the best route. The pilot project was the Shenango Beaver River Water Trail. Lots of squirrels sighted and deer tracks! Several hawks sighted by river. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking. The Shenango Trail is nearly completely weed free and brush cut. I have now covered the entire trail in sections. Fourteen eager volunteers spent a 65°-70° day completing a number of water mitigation projects on the Shenango Trail. Take the Birchwood Drive exit and head South on SR18 for about 1/4 mile. If your horses do not like water crossings you may want to start at Hamburg Rd. Next time we will try to enter the trail at the Hamburg end. There is a section off to the side of the trail which is usually submerged in several feet of water was actually dry. Shenango River Dam is a dam in Pennsylvania. The installation of mileage markers from Big Bend to Kidds Mill trailhead is nearly complete! Met another eight hikers on the second leg; all enjoying the unseasonably warm/sunny weather. We love geocaching. … Best viewed from the northern end. Nine other hikers enjoying the day. It's a Micro size geocache, with difficulty of 3, terrain of 4. This trail is meant to be followed in a single file line, and was not intended for bikes, but some mountain bikers do still run it. I have found that the best way to ride many of these is to just be prepared to hike the bike across, almost in a cyclocross style, if it's beyond your current comfort level. Walked the entire trail from New Hamburg to Big Bend on Dec. 16, 2019. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. They've done some clean up a few weeks prior. Hiked an additional 1.5 miles to the beaver pond near Spook Hollow road. Unfortunately, due to this spring's weather patterns, some sections have become more overgrown than they were a year ago. 17 other hikers had the same idea to get out of confinement on a sunny Saturday. Trail Description. Signage for the bypass is pending. This should really be described as a cross country mountain bike trail. Set puncheons for crossing in AM. The Upper Shenango River Water Trail runs from Pymatuning Dam, through downtown Greenville’s Riverside Park and, under the historic Kidd’s Mill covered bridge, to Shenango Lake. The valley was once the site of the Erie Extension Canal, and remnants of the canal are still visible in areas along the river. Little maintenance- but worth a visit. Even if the bridge were intact, it may be a challenge on snowshoes. It's located in Pennsylvania, United States. Due to COVID-19, many of our programs have been cancelled this year. 8 mile hike on Shenango Trail from Big Bend to New Hamburg and back. Shenango River Watchers has spent more than a decade working to clean up the Shenango and improve recreational access to its water and banks. The trailhead is at the bridge. Mile markers had been requested by many trail users. Beech Ridge Trail 41.28367, -81.06898 Clubmoss Trail 41.29506, -81.06065 Add Trail From Big Bend to New Hamburg, the trail is well defined. Snowshoeing was nice for the short time we were out there. Maintenance is sporadic at best on this trail. Since its completion in 1965, Shenango River Lake has Pennsylvania currently has over 2000 miles of designated Water Trails in 28 water ways. 2/29/ 2020. Midday hike on the Shenango Trail. Like conventional trails, water trails are recreational corridors between specific locations. Lots of deer sign, no other hikers. Shenango Recreation Page; Visit the Army Corps official Shenango River Lake Recreation page for additional information and resources relating to Shenango. Final length was measured at 8.75 miles. Spotted 4 bald eagles; 3 adults and 1 juvenile! There are also side spurs that I have not investigated but am told offer good MTB riding. DRAINAGE AREA.--589 square miles. Meijer. About a half hour in, a dense snow squall dumped another inch of snow on the previous blanket. Currently, as of this writing (September 2013) approximately 1.5 miles of the Kidds Mill section is clear and .75 of the New Hamburg to Kidds Mill section is clear and mulched. Check the Shenango River Watchers website or Facebook page for updates. There are numerous foot bridges to cross. With just a little bit of bike oriented maintenance, this could be a very nice hidden gem of a mountain bike trail. Turnip Rock Water Trail, Trail Guide and Trail Map, Photos, Maps, Links, Resources for paddling,trail maps, trail information, rail trails, Michigan trails bna_0006.jpg Meijer trail in bad need of maintence barley walk most of it let alone ride a mountain bike or ski . The Shenango River Water trail offers 1, 4, 8, 12 or 23 miles of fun. Three Rivers. The new mile markers are great. Trail snow covered, weather sunny and bright; 18° at 8:45 AM. Shenango River Lake’s flood control benefits were demonstrated during the June 1972 flooding resulting from Tropical Storm Agnes when over $1.8 million in damages were prevented. Hermitage, PA 16148 724-962-7746 Northern trailhead: N41º 21.242 W80º 23.855 Southern trailhead: N41º 17.740 W80º 26.13514. If you pay attention, you’ll spot the shape of the canal and occasional remnants of structures. Don't be scared off by the challenge of the trail. This canoe and kayak trail follows the Shenango River from just below the Dam to Riverside Park in Greenville. The easy-flowing Class I float time makes Shenango a fantastic option for the entire family. looking for mid-trail access. This is an “as the river flows” reach of some 26 miles. Shenango River Lake Shenango Lake is our family's favorite place to camp, fish and water ski. Hiking during the recent week required the removal of many small trees either by handsaw work or simply moving to the side. It sould be a really nice trail. Thank you. Many new faces on the trail; including two former students! WATER TRAILS. The historic Kidds Mill Covered Bridge features the unique "Smith-Truss" design from the 1800s. A total of 19 fellow hikers and 2 horse riders enjoyed the balmy weather. Made it about a mile in and trail just ended because of a downed tree. Hiked forward to mile 2.0 for snacks and a break. Pennsylvania currently has over 2000 miles of designated Water Trails in 28 water ways. Some areas were kinda buggy so you may want to hit your self with the insect repellent before you take off. Mostly level river trail with a few dips for stream crossings. Be prepared for all conditions and to observe lots of wildlife. ... Shenango River. Water trails are boat routes suitable for canoes, kayaks and small motorized watercraft. Finished installation of mileage markers on southern section of Shenango Trail; Big Bend to New Hamburg, four miles. Exit Route 18 at the Reynolds Industrial Park Road Exit (8.5 mile north of Shenango Valley Mall). Examined recently installed grade dips to channel water from the trail. Visit Trail Website. Then a small gang of common mergansers flying fast and low over the waters. Loved it. Hikers and bikers have a choice of trails running through woodlands or around the lake shores, and there's a huge park just a couple of miles from the campground for off-roading. There is an increasing number of complaints about trespassing in these areas. The Shenango River water trail that flows from the Pymatuning outflow to the Shenango Reservoir is being utilized heavily. 20 ° and bright sunshine. Boots are helpful the entire length of trail this time of year due to high stream volumes. Via the Beaver and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. Decided to hike Shenango Trail to break away from home and isolation. Recognizing the geographic significance of such a link, Andrew Carnegie formed a conglomerate group to lease the nearby lines for 999 years. This trail is a bit of a flyer for a site that focuses mainly on rail trails. Returned at 3 PM to complete installation. DRAINAGE AREA.--589 square miles. Flint River Water Trail, Trail Guide and Trail Map, Photos, Maps, Links, Resources for paddling,trail maps, trail information, rail trails, Michigan trails. We saw one person on a mountain bike and 3 people on horses come by. Personal Floatation Devices must be worn on all canoes and kayaks. Parked in New Hamburg and headed South. LOCATION.--Lat 41`15'54", long 80`27'47", Mercer County, Hydrologic Unit 05030102. Began at Kidds Mill bridge; no hiker tracks but lots of squirrel, rabbit, dear and coyote sign. Volunteers recently began reinstallation of a puncheon boardwalk approximately 1.25 miles from Kidds Mill trailhead. Beaver are active at dusk each day and can be observed from either end of the dam. This is definitely a trail we want to hike again. After the band moved through, spotted three doe and a perched bald eagle. We love geocaching. Trail is in good shape for mid-winter. Shenango River Lake authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938, is one of 16 flood damage reduction facilities in the Pittsburgh District. Trail Description. It is not recommended to use the river when the gauge is over 5.75. Relatively flat. Please check with the trail owner before you go. Shared the trail with a family of three from Hermitage, PA. Had a brisk winter hike on the Kidds Mill/Shenango Trails. 1 near Camp Nazareth to avoid water on trail. Authorized by the Flood Control Acts of 1938, Shenango River Lake is … Hiked from Big Bend. From Shenango River Lake, avid canoers and kayakers can access the Shenango Water Trail. Began hike at about 9:30 AM hoping to hike about four miles and relax; maybe do a little trail work along the way. Hiked in about 3/4 of a mile to several normally damp areas of the trail. Additional information on paddling the Shenango River can be found on the Shenango River Water Trail map housed on the Shenango River Watchers website. New Years' Day hike on the Shenango Trail. Spotted immature bald eagle perched near riverbank. Saw deer and an Eagle who was flying just ahead of us today. Each time I could not find the other trail, only the same landmark, a seemingly private path to the river, that told me I had reached the same spot. The hanging bridge needs repaired, but can be bypassed if you are adventurous. I moved out here in 2005 and started running the trail and in all those years I have never been able to run in July.... what the Shenango River Watchers have done with the trail is nothing short of amazing! I nearly dropped my bike walking it across. It's very green and full in there with beautiful purple and yellow wildflowers. I only half jokingly thought that this trail was charted on Google Earth and Traillink just to get people to develop it themselves. Total of 13 fellow hikers, 3 bikers, and 2 horse riders. From what I've read and heard, there is a lot of brush on the trail the other 3 seasons of the year. As the other reviews say, the bridges need lots of work, and there are parts of the trail (especially between New Hamburg and Kidds Mill) that are impassible. During the mid-1800s, mules pulled boats along the canal, linking goods from the Great Lakes to Pittsburgh and beyond. We decided to pull this off by trying a trip we had often discussed-paddling from the Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County, PA to the Shenango River Lake Reservoir in … It offers great scenery, including portions of the Shenango River. Back to the lower section, it is only slightly overgrown, having been very clear last season. You can now easily hike, bike, or run from Kidds Mill trailhead south to the beaver pond. To access the Shenango River Trail at Kidds Mill Bridge, Follow Route 18 north from Hermitage. Trail is very well maintained and thank you to the volunteers that have been working on the trail upkeep. Several mature bald eagles circling around on the river. The Shenango River water trail that flows from the Pymatuning outflow to the Shenango Reservoir is being utilized heavily.