Hey Philly area riders…question…when riding on the SRT…headed west from the city, and you get to Oaks area. The path gets gravely around Upper Indian Head Road, which you can hop off, onto Cider Mill Road and then it connects back with the path…but is still pretty rough / gravely. Any routes to avoid this area and get back to the path where it is paved / smooth? this is the area I am referring to. basically looking how to bypass the stretch that is poor riding surface and get back on, still headed west. any info is much appreciated.
Technically you are on the Perkiomen trail at that point. When you cross the bridge near Oaks, the SRT continues to the right, Perkiomen to the left.
Regardless you could always get off the trail at the parking lot and use New Mill Road to get onto Cider Mill. However the Perkiomen isnt paved anymore after Indian Head Road.
If you are looking to stay on the SRT, make the right turn coming off the bridge and you will go out to Phoenixville, but even there the trail ends and goes “on road” from there.
Path is “supposed” to be completed by May 5th. In its current state, I think that is a long shot- but hopefully around that date it will be patched up.
Path is “supposed” to be completed by May 5th. In its current state, I think that is a long shot- but hopefully around that date it will be patched up.
You are talking about the section that was closed through Norristown though, right? Thats a different problem in any case.
Hmmm…okay. So if I understand correctly, the paved “path” ends in Oaks…what do people do who want to continue west? Switch to regular roads? Any other options? Need to go further west and looking for options, ideally away from cars.
The SRT itself ends, at least as a “path”, at Port Providence. It is blazed out to Pottsville, following the river, but its on roads the whole way.
If you are trying to avoid traffic, check out the farm country around southern Chester County. Very little traffic on the farm roads, the locals give you plenty of room when they DO come up behind you and pass. You might need to contend with loose dogs, but even that isnt too bad. You will, however, encounter hills. Lots of them.
Path is “supposed” to be completed by May 5th. In its current state, I think that is a long shot- but hopefully around that date it will be patched up.
You are talking about the section that was closed through Norristown though, right? Thats a different problem in any case.
As of this past weekend, that section in Norristown was pretty much open again, except for a ~50-yard section of gravel/stones leading down to where the trail passes under the railroad (they’ve cut out that sharp little s-turn that used to be there).
As far as the OP’s question, no idea - I only ever ride the SRT as far west as the Lower Perkiomen Valley parking lot, or on the Perkiomen Trail as far as the Fitzwater Station bar/restaurant. Got a set of 700x28 Kenda Karvs for the road bike today, so I plan on doing some exploring past the paved trail soon.
Cool - thanks noofus. without asking too much, any routes that you recommend? you seem like you know the area quite well.
How much farther west are you looking to go? If you continue past the end of the SRT you are unforunately stuck with a bit of traffic for a while until you can clear the river valley.
thanks. I will go west, south, north…whatever, just looking to add in miles on good routes, before heading back east - to the city.
thanks. I will go west, south, north…whatever, just looking to add in miles on good routes, before heading back east - to the city.
Well from the end of the SRT (Port Providence) you could head into Phoenixville, get onto 23 and then left on 113. You will contend with some traffic here for about 3 miles, but then hang a right onto Kimberton Road. You will lose the majority of the traffic here.
I would use something like Map My Ride from here to figure out where to go for the distances you want to ride but from here I can suggest climbing up into French Creek State Park, and then from there using Rt 345 to drop back down into the valley. You can then either start making your way back towards Valley Forge via smaller roads, or continue south towards Hibernia Park and then head back east.
Unless you are looking at a >100 mile round trip, however, you wont really be able to get out to the western parts of Chester County where its all farm land. Alternatively starting the from somewhere west of all the city mess would get you out there.
I live right on the trail. When you get to Collegeville where I live there are a lot of small country roads to jump on. There are great roads in Phoenixville and if you look at a maps you can see few of the side roads.
Testing a few new Blue Bicycles on the trail and I ride really slow so you might just see me.
Great - thanks for the info - much appreciated.
This is a great area for riding that you have described. I lived in Kimberton for 20 years and still miss riding out toward French Creek SP. I would suggest to the OP, if he follows your advise, to get off 23 at Valley Park Rd. (by the Valley Forge Post Office) and parallel Route 23 through Phoenixville. The traffic on 23 in Phoenixville sucks, and there is no shoulder, and he can easily find better roads that run parallel to it on the south side of 23.
One more point. You had mentioned southern Chester County in your previous post, but the area you have described is most definitely northern Chester County.
This is a great area for riding that you have described. I lived in Kimberton for 20 years and still miss riding out toward French Creek SP. I would suggest to the OP, if he follows your advise, to get off 23 at Valley Park Rd. (by the Valley Forge Post Office) and parallel Route 23 through Phoenixville. The traffic on 23 in Phoenixville sucks, and there is no shoulder, and he can easily find better roads that run parallel to it on the south side of 23.
One more point. You had mentioned southern Chester County in your previous post, but the area you have described is most definitely northern Chester County.
Ahh yea good suggestion.
I know my recommended routing was mostly nothern Chester County, but that was based on what was easy to access from the end of the SRT.
For the southern area I was thinking more like the areas south of Downingtown and Coatesville. Around Modena and out to Kennet Square.
Gotcha.
Anyone know if the water fountains that are out passed Norristown but before Valley Forge are operating yet? I saw them uncovered last week but didn’t stop but planning this weekend’s ride and a refill there would be perfect.
anyone know if the trail survived the flood? we are supposed to do a shake out on Sunday. Last time there was a storm this big half of the trail became a mud pit…
Anyone know if the water fountains that are out passed Norristown but before Valley Forge are operating yet? I saw them uncovered last week but didn’t stop but planning this weekend’s ride and a refill there would be perfect.
They’re flowing with lovely cold water.
I guess my run for this evening just got converted to a swim!