THE MONTOUR TRAIL
Peters Township

  
The much anticipated opening of another section of hiking trail in Peters Township occurred in 2009. Hikers, bikers and joggers now have a second venue for burning calories while enjoying the great outdoors and witnessing a bit of local history.
  
The Montour Trail follows the former railroad right-of-way used to transport coal from the Montour 4 Mine on the eastern end of Peters Township, near Lawrence (Hill Station or 'Hills') Pennsylvania.
  
This new section of hiking trail crosses a scenic high level bridge and takes past the "double tunnel" area near Valleybrook Country Club. Most sections are refreshingly shady during hot summer weather due to large trees arching over the trail from both sides.

Unlike the original asphalt Arrowhead Trail in Peters Township, this trail surface is a tightly compacted stone which makes a great hiking and biking surface, but wouldn't lend itself to rollerblading.
   
While many trail users attempt to park in or near the small parking area along Valleybrook Road, there is a much larger parking lot between Valleybrook Road and Hidden Valley Road. You currently have a choice of two bumpy gravel roads you can use to access this parking lot:

• From the top: Follow Hidden Valley Road (travelling toward Valleybrook C.C. from Washington Road or Route 19) to a right turn downhill onto Linwood Avenue. Proceed with caution.

• From the bottom: The better choice is accessing the trail parking lot from the bottom by turning onto Buckeye Street from Valleybrook Road, next to the purple bridge by Lawrence, Pa.  Proceed with caution since this road is also rough and has considerable truck traffic.

Hope you enjoy these photos of our
Montour Trail hike on July 12, 2009

  
WELCOME TO THE MONTOUR TRAIL

  
The Montour Trail is Maintained by
Volunteers and Friends.

A Rails-to-Trails project of:
* The Montour Trail Council
* Peters Township
* Washington County

THE MONTOUR TRAIL
PETERS TOWNSHIP
VALLEYBROOK ROAD
ELEVATION 929'
MILE 30.3
N40° 17.666'
W80° 06.439'

Just above the hiking trail, near the end by Route 19, is an old entrance to the Mountour 4 coal mine
c.1953

The mine had to be evacuated and abandoned due to a flood that inundated the mine in 1980

It's reported that this mine could produce over 40 train car loads of coal during one 8-hour shift

To access this parking lot:

• From the top: Follow Hidden Valley Road (travelling toward Valleybrook C.C. from Washington Road or Route 19) to a right turn downhill onto Linwood Avenue. Proceed with caution.

• From the bottom: The better choice is accessing the trail parking lot from the bottom by turning onto Buckeye Street from Valleybrook Road, next to the purple bridge near Lawrence, Pa. Proceed with caution since this road is also rough and has considerable truck traffic.

  
MONTOUR RAILROAD HISTORY

  
HIKING THE MONTOUR TRAIL
IN PETERS TOWNSHIP

  
Flora and fauna along The Montour Trail

LINKS
Google map of The Montour Trail
Montour Railroad
Peters Township