Ironton Rail Trail

Rail trail in Pennsylvania, US

Ironton Rail Trail

Length| 9.2 miles (14.8 km)
Location| Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Trailheads| North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Coplay, Pennsylvania
Use| Hiking, Cycling
Surface| Asphalt

The Ironton Rail Trail is a rail trail that spans 9 mi (14 km) in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The trail was made from tracks of the defunct Ironton Railroad and includes a paved 5 mi (8.0 km) loop.

The trail spreads across Whitehall Township, Coplay and North Whitehall.[1] It is a very popular trail in the Lehigh Valley for walkers, bikers, runners and dog walkers.[2] The trail has many events such as a 10k race held every year.

## History

[edit]

Further information: Ironton Railroad

The Ironton Railroad was originally chartered in 1859 and built during the 1860s. It transported iron ore from mines in Ironton, Pennsylvania to the Thomas Iron Company plant in Hokendauqua, Pennsylvania. The railroad was acquired by the Reading Company in 1923 and was consolidated into Conrail in 1976. However, the railroad was ultimately closed in 1984, and tracks were removed in 1990.[3]

Right of way for the 9.2 miles (14.8 km) stretch that would become the Ironton Rail Trail was purchased from Conrail in 1996.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ironton Rail Trail". Whitehall Township. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
2. ^ "Ironton Rail-Trail". TrailLink. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
3. ^ Pany, Ed. "Taking a look at the Ironton Railroad". www.lvpnews.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
4. ^ "Ironton Rail Trail - About IRT". irontonrailtrail.org. Retrieved May 21, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

40°39′53″N 75°30′37″W﻿ / ﻿40.66475°N 75.51014°W﻿ / 40.66475; -75.51014

* v
* t
* e

Rail trails in Pennsylvania

* Armstrong
* Beaver River
* Chester Valley
* Clarion-Little Toby
* Conewago Recreation
* Conoy Canal Trail
* Cross County
* Cumberland County
* Cumberland Valley
* Cynwyd Heritage
* D&H
* East Coast Greenway
* Erie to Pittsburgh
* Five Star
* Ghost Town
* Great Allegheny Passage
* Greene River
* Indian Creek Valley
* Ironton
* Lebanon Valley
* Lehigh Gorge
* LeTort Spring Run
* Liberty Bell
* Lower
* Montour
* Nor-Bath
* Northwest Lancaster County River
* O&W
* Ohio River
* Palmer
* Panhandle
* Pennypack
* Perkiomen
* Pine Creek
* Plainfield Township
* Radnor
* Saucon
* Schuylkill River
* Sheepskin
* Stavich Bike Trail
* Stony Valley
* Struble
* Susquehanna Warrior
* Switchback
* Three Rivers Heritage
* West Penn
* Westmoreland Heritage
* York County Heritage

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template