SUSQUEHANNA RIVER LEVEE TRAILS:
KINGSTON/WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: August 3, 2014
Length: Riverside Ramble/Wilkes-Barre/Hanover Reach; 4.8 miles
Anthracite Heritage Walk/Kingston Reach; 3.6 miles
First Residents Path/Forty Fort Reach; 2.7 miles
Plymouth Passage/Plymouth Reach: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved trail.
Directions:
Riverside Ramble/Wilkes-Barre/Hanover Reach: To start from the N Street Bridge; From I-81 take exit 170 to the N Cross Valley Expressway. Take exit 3 to River St and turn left. Park on-street downtown or use the parking garage next to the N Street bridge. There are also many areas to park for free near the southern end of the trail.
Anthracite Heritage Walk/Kingston Reach: To Start from the Church Street parking lot; From I-81 take exit 170 to the N Cross Valley Expressway. Cross the river and take exit 4 to Rutler Ave. Turn left and travel to Church St. Turn left, then left again into the parking lot.
First Resident’s Path/Forty Fort Reach: To start from the Wyoming Ave parking lot; From I-81 take exit 170 to the N Cross Valley Expressway. Cross the river and take exit 4 to Rutler Ave. Follow Rutler Ave to River St and turn left. Follow River St to Wyoming Ave and turn right. Follow Wyoming Ave for 1.8 miles and turn right along a road next to the Levee to a parking lot.
The Susquehanna River Levee
Trail is a recreational trail atop the Levee system that protects the towns
along both banks of the Susquehanna River. Pedestrian paths located on
several bridges provide access between the two sides of the river. The Susquehanna
River Levee Trail system includes engineering and heritage kiosks designed
by the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. I've traveled
along three of the four trails and describe them below. For more information
visit; LUZERNE
COUNTY LEVEE TRAIL
The Trail System is comprised of
four different reaches on both the East and West sides of the river. The four
reaches of the Levee Trail are:
1. Riverside Ramble/Wilkes-Barre
& Hanover Reach in Wilkes-Barre & Hanover Township. [East
side of river]
2. Plymouth Passage/Plymouth
Reach in Plymouth. [West
side of river/Western section]
3. Anthracite Heritage
Walk/Kingston Reach in Kingston & Edwardsville. [West side of river/Central section]
4. First
Resident’s Path/Forty Fort Reach in Forty Fort & Wyoming. [West
side of river/Eastern section]
Riverside Ramble/Wilkes-Barre/Hanover Reach:
Starting from the N
Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre; The
paved trail currently starts just behind the Luzerne County Courthouse.
The trail travels southwest between the Levee wall and the Susquehanna River.
The trail splits as you come to a promenade along the Riverwalk. You may go
either way. At 0.3 miles an opening in the Levee wall allows access to N River
St, the Market
Street Bridge and a trail atop the Levee.
Note;
A 0.3 mile pedestrian path along this bridge allows you to cross the river to
check out the Anthracite Heritage Walk/Kingston
Reach section of trail.
Continue straight underneath the Market Street
Bridge to another promenade along the river. You'll need to exit through another
breach in the Levee wall out to S River St and continue right up to the top of
the Levee. Head left where the trail then leaves the Levee and brings you to an
on-road section at S West St after 0.8 miles. Head right, then left along W
River St. Beautiful old buildings as you travel through Wilkes University.
Turn right and follow Riverside Dr next to the Levee wall along this residential
road. Just before Riverside Dr reaches Pickering St you'll find an opening to
rejoin the paved trail atop the Levee at 1.6 miles. A 0 mile marker
starts here and every 1/4 mile is painted on the trail. The trail now follows
the Levee underneath a RR trestle that crosses over the river before heading up
a slight incline with views along both sides of the Levee. The flood plain along
your right and residential to your left. Watch out for
the Levee markers sticking up in the middle of the trail. At 2.4 miles
you'll find a spur down to the Gordon Ave parking area. Informational
signboards are located all along the trail. Another spur down to the Willow
Street parking area at 2.8 miles. You'll come to the Carey
Ave Bridge at 3.1 miles.
Note;
A pedestrian path along this bridge allows you to cross the river to check out
the Plymouth Passage/Plymouth Reach section
of trail.
Bear right to travel underneath this bridge.
Another spur down to the Delaney Street parking lot, as well as, a boat
launch area. Travel past the Hanover Township Sewage Treatment Plant
where the trail becomes a bit more isolated before ending after 4.8 miles. Solomon
Creek & RR tracks are just below a large hill where the Levee ends.
Anthracite Heritage Walk/Kingston Reach:
Starting from the Church Street parking lot
in Kingston; An informational
sign board is located here along with a couple of benches. Informational signs
are scattered all along the trail.
Note; To access the First Resident’s Path/Forty Fort Reach you'll need to utilize an 0.9 mile On-Street connection. Travel out to the intersection of Church St and Rutter Ave and use the cross-walk to reach a sidewalk over Rutter Ave. Turn right and travel alongside Rutter Ave over the N Cross Valley Expressway. Continue straight via the cross-walk, then head right across Welles St continuing alongside Rutter Ave. Turn left down River St and you'll pick up the trailhead on your right.
From the Church St parking lot travel
southeast atop the paved Levee Trail you'll have wetlands along your left and
residential to your right. The trail then turns southwest as you come along the Susquehanna
River. This is a more industrial area. Travel underneath a RR bridge and
above Nesbitt Park which is located in the flood plain. At 1.2 miles
you'll need to veer left down into this park to travel underneath the N Street
Bridge.
Note;
Straight brings you out to Pierce St and the N
Street Bridge which
does not have pedestrian access.
The trail then returns to the top of the Levee
with the park below. At 1.6 miles you'll need to veer left down into this park
to travel underneath the Market
Street Bridge.
Note;
A 0.3 mile pedestrian path along this bridge allows you to cross the river to
check out the Riverside Ramble/Wilkes-Barre/Hanover
Reach section of trail.
The trail then heads more inland out of sight
of the river and past wooded Kirby Park on your left and Ralston Field
to your right. A spur leads down to these fields at 2.4 miles. Cross the RR
tracks, pass by another spur down to Heisz St and come to S Wyoming Ave at 3
miles. Turn left to reach a cross-light over this busy road, then right back to
the Levee trail. This section of trail passes through a commercial area with Toby
Creek along your left. Another spur leads down to a parking area
behind Lowes. The trail then currently ends at Main St after 3.6 miles.
First Resident’s Path/Forty Fort Reach:
Starting from the Wyoming Ave parking lot; A paved path leads up to the top of the Levee where you'll find some informational signs and Mile 0 painted on the asphalt. It's 0.1 miles from the parking lot to the Mile 0 marker. All my mile references are starting from the parking lot.
Note; Heading left the trail passes by a map board, then brings you out to Wyoming Ave after only 0.1 miles before ending.
The open trail travels along the Levee past fields and the end of the runway for the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport before coming to the Susquehanna River after 0.3 miles. Informational signs located along the trail. Here the trail turns west traveling above the river and runway. Mile markers painted every 1/4 mile on the asphalt. Pass by a spur trail on your right at 1.4 miles that leads to another parking lot and ball fields. Porto-Potty and picnic tables located there. Travel alongside a tall barrier at 2.2 miles that separates you from homes. The trail then ends at River St after 2.6 miles. Map board located here.
Note; To access the Anthracite Heritage Walk/Kingston Reach you'll need to utilize an 0.9 mile On-Street connection. Travel left on-road along River St. Turn right on Rutter Ave and follow over the N Cross Valley Expressway. Turn left on Church St and you'll spot the Church Street parking lot across the street. Trail picks back up here.
HH
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