LUZERNE COUNTY RAIL TRAIL:
PITTSTON-PORT GRIFFITH, PENNSYLVANIA
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 31, 2024
Length: Luzerne County Rail Trail; 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from Port Griffith [Southern End]; From Route 11 in Pittston, follow Main St south through Port Griffith. As the road starts to rise (before crossing over the RR tracks) turn right on Knox Mine Dr (easy to miss). Parking lot will be on your left.
The Luzerne County Rail Trail follows alongside active RR tracks and the Susquehanna River from Port Griffith, North to Pittston. Just South of Port Griffith, you can check out the Susquehanna River Levee Trails in Wilkes-Barre & Kingston. Just North of Pittston, you can check out the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in Scranton. For more information visit; LUZERNE COUNTY RAIL TRAIL , LUZERNE COUNTY TRAILS .
Starting from Port Griffith [Southern End]; An informational board is located here.
Note; Heading left, South, the trail quickly ends after only 0.1 miles below the River Road bridge.
Heading right, North, the stone-dust Luzerne County Rail Trail travels alongside an active RR separated by a fence. The Susquehanna River is just past the RR tracks. Mile Markers are located along your right every 0.1 miles. A large cliff soon rises along the right side of the trail. At 0.4 miles there will be an opening in the fence, where you may cross the RR tracks to view a memorial marking the Knox Mine Disaster, where 12 miners were killed in 1959. Another 0.1 miles on your right is a marker indicating where 33 miners escaped using the Eagle Air Shaft. Cross into Pittston after 0.9 miles. After 1.4 miles you'll come to another informational board and a Spur up to the Pittston parking area. Continue straight, where you'll cross over the RR tracks. Here the cement trail splits, with the Riverwalk traveling alongside the river and the Luzerne County Rail Trail just above it. Benches & sculptures. Travel underneath the Water Street bridge and the cement trail ends.
Note; Steps lead up to Kennedy Blvd and a small firefighter memorial.
The hard packed trail continues left down along the river or straight along a dirt road. The trail ends just below the Fort Jenkins Bridge after 1.8 miles. Nice view upstream of a RR trestle crossing the river.
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT