Struble Trail is a multi-use

rail trail A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...

located in

Chester County, Pennsylvania Chester County (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Tscheschter Kaundi''), colloquially known as Chesco, is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the De ...

. It is also known as the R.G. Struble Hike-Bike Trail.

Background

It has currently open and of proposed trails. The majority of the trail is a paved surface. The trail is open for

walking Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults o ...

running Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...

biking Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

skateboarding Skateboarding is an extreme sport, action sport originating in the United States that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry Profession, job, and a ...

, and

roller skating Roller skating is the act of traveling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreational activity, a sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller skating, though it also takes place on streets, sid ...

. It is often used for

dog walking Dog walking is the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog's residence and then returning. Leashes are commonly used for this. Both owners and pets receive many benefits, including exercise and companionship. Description D ...

. Use of

motor vehicles A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on Track (rail transport), rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of pe ...

and

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million y ...

s on the trail is prohibited. The trail is closed between

dusk Dusk occurs at the darkest stage of twilight, or at the very end of astronomical twilight after sunset and just before nightfall.''The Random House College Dictionary'', "dusk". At predusk, during early to intermediate stages of twilight, enou ...

and

dawn Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the appearance of indirect sunlight being scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc has reached 18° below the observer's horizo ...

. The Struble Trail was named for the late Chester County Commissioner (1976-1980) and longtime Executive Director of the Brandywine Valley Association, teacher and conservationist Robert G. Struble. The trail head is located on Dorlan Mill Road, just north of the Downingtown Borough on

Pennsylvania Route 282 Pennsylvania Route 282 (PA 282) is an state highway in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The route, which is signed east-west, runs from PA 82 in West Nantmeal Township southeast to U.S. Route 30 Business (US 30 Bus.) in Downingtown. PA 282 foll ...

. For most of its distance, the trail follows the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. The Struble Trail is maintained by the Chester County Facilities and Parks Department. In August 2008, of land was purchased from the owners of the defunct Shryock Paper Mill property after a highly publicized grassroots effort to preserve the property. Safe, continuous passage from the Struble Trail to the approximately of hiking trails within

Marsh Creek State Park Marsh Creek State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Upper Uwchlan and Wallace Townships, Chester County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is the location of the man-made Marsh Creek Lake. With an average depth of 40 feet (73 fe ...

is now possible. Along the trail there are several historical sites,

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

spots, and picnic areas. Notable among the historical sites is the Dowlin Forge, also known as the Mary Ann Forge, which is the oldest industrial site in Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania. The Struble Trail was closed for several weeks in September 2021 as a result of damage to the trail from

Hurricane Ida Hurricane Ida was a deadly and extremely destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 2021 that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. state of Louisiana on record, behind Hurricane Katrina in 200 ...

and the flooding of the trail from the Brandywine Creek.

External links

Official PA DCNR WebsiteChester County Parks & Recreation WebsiteFriends of the Struble Trail Website

References

{{coord, 40.031708, -75.707304, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-PA, display=title Rail trails in Pennsylvania Protected areas of Chester County, Pennsylvania Parks in Chester County, Pennsylvania