I have an Electra Loft. The Chester County Parks & Recreation Department opened this trail in 1979 on part of a former Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way. The bad is that you will need to keep a close eye out for the many walkers, runners, strollers, and families. The Chester Valley Trail (CVT) is a Chester County project utilizing a former Reading Railroad right of way between Chester County's Struble Trail in Downingtown Borough, through the length of Tredyffrin Township, to the Chester County/Montgomery County line in King of Prussia. Anyone who knows, I would appreciate it. Love it if could connect to VF park trail, but overall a great trail whether biking, running or taking the dog for a walk. It's an easy 30mi (end-to-end and back again). Clean trail and a decent amount of tree coverage at most points for those hot sunny days. More than 1/3 of the distance is directly adjacent to 202 and the road noise is very loud. Drivers always slowed down for us to cross. The access at Exton Park is great with parking and restroom. %PDF-1.5 % 2023 The Circuit Trails. I rode the entire 13.5 mile trail from King of Prussia to Exton. Become a member and wear your FREE T-Shirt with pride. The installation of the new bridge over Henderson Road in Upper Merion Township for the Chester Valley Trail. Find more trail information and detailed trail maps on TrailLink.com. 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. Second, I love the quarter mile markers. Youve got to build that basic infrastructure that provides the broad access that you can then tie into and connect, he said. For a few miles you are riding next to I-76 so you will hear traffic but it is not deafening. The location is home to one of the largest concentrations of employment and population in the Philadelphia region outside of Center City, and the trail provides a key connection of "The Circuit . Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. A map of the Chester Valley Trail and its new extension in Montgomery County. The middle segment, currently the longest, runs almost 4 miles from Ship Road east to Route 29. So I visited the trail for the first time today. I think between the western park and County line Rd it runs about 12 miles and that is like 100 miles and novice seniors like myself. at the more northern end of the trail. This trail is paved, 12 feet in width, and will eventually be 22 miles long. I have visited this trail more than any other trail in PA, NJ, DE, and MD. The Chester Valley Trail is also part of the Circuit Trails, a developing 800-mile urban network of trails in Greater Philadelphia, of which about 350 miles are complete. I saw a lot of different types of bikes, recumbents, rollerblades, runners! Read more about the planned trail extensions in the Daily Local News. All in all, I would say that the portion of the trail that I saw was very nice. It was a weekday so I did not have any problems with traffic. Montgomery County officials are moving forward with two major trail projects that will make it easier for folks to travel through the county on foot or bicycle. In 2021, 477,092 people used the Chester Valley Trail, while 68,225 enjoyed the Schuylkill River Trail. What is the Chester Valley Trail Extension? 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. I can see how they might run a paved path along Clover Mill Road. 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. Note: we started at the King of Prussia end and rode to Exton, but the last mile or so of the trail was closed. You can get to Valley Forge National Park either via The Schuylkill River Trail or via the trail system in Chesterbrook (being formerly developed as part of the Patriot's Path to Valley Forge). I then headed out on my run going East (I think) for 3.1 miles. Battery-powered wheelchairs, dog walking under leash, and strollers are also permitted. The rail-trail ends in another 2.4 miles after passing through the community of Exton. Once one reaches Exton Park Trailhead, where water, restroom and tables are available, unless one wants to go into Exton, there is little reason to travel further. Started in the car park at the western end and rode all the way to KoP. Within Montgomery County, the Chester Valley Trail passes through three municipalities: Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport, and Norristown. The Chester Valley Trail will generally follow a now-abandoned rail corridor and will connect Chester Countys Struble Trail in Exton with Montgomery Countys Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. I highly recommend biking 14 miles one way but do not make the return trip. The Chester Valley Trail Extension project is a 3.8-mile expansion of the Chester Valley Trail completed in March 2023. Great Job!! It's harder going then coming back, but the street crossings are minimal and non invasive, the other riders/walkers are considerate and upbeat. And don't get your hopes up when you see the 0.5 mile sign, there is still another mile or so to go. At its full length, the Chester Valley Trail is planned to run from Atglen at the Chester County line to the Schuylkill River. 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. At its full length, the Chester Valley Trail is planned to run from Atglen at the Chester County line to the Schuylkill River. The Chester Valley Trail currently runs from Exton, in Chester County, to the Schuylkill Expressway in King of Prussia. endobj 3164 0 obj >/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[85A11EC3E497704D9DBE9723DD859F08>]/Index[3150 26]/Info 3149 0 R/Length 79/Prev 22770029/Root 3151 0 R/Size 3176/Type/XRef/W . Got a question about life in Phillys suburbs? I have used the Struble Trail near my home mostly, and have a little experience with several other rail trail systems in SE PA. Today being especially beautiful and the weather cool I chose to ride on the Chester Valley Trail. 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 extension project also included building three new pedestrian bridges (South Gulph Road, Henderson Road, and Boro Line Road) and updating two bridges for pedestrian/bike use. An official website of the Chester County Government. There is a parking lot off S. Warner Rd. I have ridden the paved portion many times with my seven year old daughter and she has no problems making a round trip. As of late 2011, three major segments of the trail, which is being constructed along an abandoned rail line that once connected Downingtown to Norristown and allowed freight trains to bypass Philadelphia, have been built in Chester and Montgomery counties. It is a favorite destination for walkers, runners, families, and bikers since it is convenient to a large population. (NJ drivers are less likely to stop than PA drivers.) Work is currently underway to extend the trail roughly three miles further to reach the Schuylkill River Trail. The Chester Valley Trail is a planned multi-use trail from Downingtown to Norristown. endstream endobj 502 0 obj <. Fortunately, this will likely change in the next few years, as major sections between Route 29 and Warner Road, and King of Prussia and Norristown, will close two of these gaps and create an unbroken trail from Ship Road to the Schuylkill River Trail. @oiA'@!=pH0pb` 6^,n Smooth surface the entire length of the trail and the shade from the trees in the hot days of July was a plus. It's mostly flat, though, heading back West was a BIT more difficult than the ride East. When the missing link is completed in Montgomery County it will connect to the Schuylkill Valley Trail. Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites, Chester County's Exton Park Site - 132 Church Farm Lane, Exton, Battle of the Clouds Park - 125 N Phoenixville Pike, Malvern, East Whiteland Municipal Building - 209 Conestoga Rd, Malvern, West Whiteland Municipal Building - 101 E Commerce Drive, Exton, Battery powered wheel chairs by persons with disabilities, Strollers, including those connected to bicycles, Equestrian use, including horseback riding or carriage use, Motorized vehicles, including motor vehicles (excluding authorized vehicles). 100 in the next phase and eventually all the way to Downingtown so you cannot yet gain access at Ship Rd. Liked the fix it stations. All blacktop! First time users of the CVT. The completed $20.2 million trail will be 22 miles long. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Runs too close to busy highways and past shopping centers. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Our suburban reporters want to hear from you! What is the Chester Valley Trail? What is the Chester Valley Trail Took several minutes (and several again on the way back). A couple of mild, short hills face travelers in Malvern and just past PA 29. The scenery varies greatly, from woodsy tree tunnels to office parks and residential. Cons - The scenery is less than ideal. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! Highlight was on the east end there is a Wegmans Super Store just off the trail. It was raining, but still plenty of people out and about. Definitely recommend for a family bike ride. But due to the many road crossings and that some of the trail is along major highways and that one is funneled to road crossings requiring sharp turns , I am giving this trail a 3 star rating. For all practical purposes you have to cross three roads, each with a long wait for the light and crossing signal. The 1.3-mile section from Joshua Road to Stenton Avenue is projected to start construction in 2023. PDF Moving the Circuit Forward to Reach 500 miles by 2025 Chester County is actively working to extend the trail an additional five miles to the west into Downingtown with the first one mile leg currently under engineering review. States: Pennsylvania. We biked northeastward to the end of the trail along King of Prussia Blvd and returned to the Exton Trailhead and continued to the southwest end of the trail. Primarily residential on one side and highway (202?) First, in Exton, the crossing at Rt. PDF Transportation Priority Projects in Chester County Status - June 2022 Bill Rettew traversed the particulars for the Daily Local News. Otherwise, the proximity to 202 and the numerous road crossings makes the trail feel choppy and you never really feel disconnected from suburbia. Final Report. Those two pieces are projected to be completed by the end of 2024. . I quite literally DID NOT KNOW WHERE the trail was! WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. In the 3.1 miles out, I crossed 4 roads. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Crossing the river via a protected pedestrian/bike lane on theNorristown Dam Bridge, theChester Valley Trail winds throughBridgeport and passes an old inn named for Frederick the Great. Local Leaders Unveil 3.8 Mile Extension to Chester Valley Trail in Read more about the planned trail extensions in the Daily Local News. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I road this trail. Download a full copy of the final report and watch a short summary video of the recommended improvements. Went for a bike ride on this trail with my boys and it was fantastic! It's a pretty run, homes to look at, woods, hills parts are shaded, parts are not. Transportation Priority Projects in Chester County I biked this trail for the first time a week ago, end to end - just short of 15 miles each way. The Chester Valley Trail Extension passes through three municipalities, Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport, and Norristown. (Courtesy of Montgomery County). I only walked a small section, about 3 miles but it was clean and perfect. The county saw 2 million path visitors in 2021, and more than 2.8 million users as of November 2022. 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. Meet Our New Community Planning Director, Bill Deguffroy! Paving is nice. Nice shaded parts of trail make it easier to run during summer months. 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. It has since been investing in pre-existing and new trails across the county, and making huge strides. We were both very comfortable. Brandywine Conservancy is working with Caln Township and the Chester County Planning Commission on a feasibility study for its portion of Chester County's Chester Valley Trail West extension, which the previously completed study refers to as the "Beaver Creek Trail.". Beaver Creek Trail | Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art Ran to the left after parking. PDF TII Projects by Legislative District in Chester County Major Corridors I'm anxioust to ride end-to-end. Constantly looking over my shoulder for cyclists. TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Schuylkill River Trail by Trail Junction Center (75 E Lafayette St, Norristown) and 0.3 mile west of Indian Run St & Commerce Dr (Exton). The trail is used for commuting, exercise, and recreation by a variety of users including, walkers, joggers, cyclists, and inline skaters. PennDot really needs to put in a crosswalk for the trail and walkers on the south side of Commerce Dr. As previously stated, the trail surface is smooth and well maintained.