D&H CANAL and GRAVITY RR HERITAGE TRAIL:
PORT JERVIS, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: April 09, 2024
Length: D&H Canal; 0.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved towpath.
Directions:
From I-84 take exit 53 in PA to Routes 6 & 209 and head northeast across the river to Port Jervis, NY.
Note; If you like RR history, two quick detours are suggested. Just after you travel underneath the RR tunnel take a hard right onto Pike St then a left along Front St. This will bring you past the old 1892 Erie Depot (NY & Erie RR) on your right followed soon by an old red Erie RR Caboose. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave (across from the caboose), then left on Hammond St. Cross Routes 6 & 209 to a large shopping plaza. At the far end you'll find the old Port Jervis Erie Turntable and rail cars along with an information board. Then simply return to Routes 6 & 209 and continue left.
Turn left on W Main St (Routes 42 & 97) and follow to where W Main St veers left off of Routes 42 & 97. Just before the bridge over the RR tracks turn right into the parking lot.
As a result of the War of 1812 Americans were faced with an energy shortage due to the blockade of shipments of soft (bituminous) coal from England. Designed as a system of transportation between the coal fields of Pennsylvania and the ports of New York along the Hudson River, the Delaware & Hudson Canal was one of many towpath Canals constructed in the early years of the nineteenth century. The coal passed over a Gravity Railroad to haul coal from the mines to the canal terminus at Honesdale, PA. From its opening in 1828 to its demise in 1898, the D&H Canal transported millions of tons of anthracite coal. The Canal was 108 miles long (Honesdale, PA to Kingston, NY) and contained 108 Locks, 22 aqueducts, 136 bridges, 22 reservoirs, 16 dams and 14 feeders. You may also check out other sections of the D&H Canal further North. See; D&H Canal Trail/O&W Rail Trail Corridor . For more information visit; MINISINK VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY .
Starting from the W Main Street parking lot [Eastern End]; The trail travels North past a sign board following a very narrow paved trail along the towpath. The old Canal is along your right and active RR tracks are down below on your left. After 0.8 miles you'll spot the remains of an old bridge abutment. Trail ends after 0.9 miles.
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT