Biking "Rails to Trails" Adventure Group

Let’s do one of our favorite rides!
Join friends from both the Lancaster Club and Rails to Trails with a ride on the C and D Canal. The ride starts at 11 am from the parking lot from Schaeffer’s Canal House, Chesapeake City and we will ride 16 miles to Delaware City where we will stop for ice cream. We will ride back, and at the end of the trail, we can eat lunch at Schaeffer’s Canal House. Please park in the lot furthest past the restaurant or at the nearby C & D Canal parking lot.
This is a casual ride. Please do not sign up for this ride unless you promise to stay with the group. No one left behind.
Helmets are required. Please do not put the leader in an embarrassing situation by begging someone to wear a helmet. Have a tube for your bike so someone can fix a flat.
Richard Conner leader 717-572-8480

This will be a 20 mile trip out and back through the pastoral Wissahickon Valley Park - Forbidden Drive (14mi) passing stone arches and covered bridges and lots of history then continuing onto the urban Schuylkill River Trail and out to the Art Museum (6mi). While the urban section is paved, the Forbidden Trail is crushed stone, rolling hills, and a few overly bumpy sections. For that reason, road tires are not acceptable for this ride. Please use hybrid or mountain tires.

We will be starting and parking (as guests) at Chestnut Hill College. Upon our return, we can gather for some snacks at the trail end at the Cedar's House café (with outside seating). We will ride at a 10-12 mph moderately slow pace through the park as the surface does not lend itself to fast speeds. While the Wissahickon is heavily trafficked, the trail is extra wide allowing for easy maneuvering. We can loop our way to the Art Museum using MLK Drive and Kelly Drive. There is congestion at the Museum and boat house row so your brakes should be in good working order.

Helmets are required.

While 20 miles is not that long of a ride, this is not a beginner or novice ride due to the rough surface (at times) and the few riding in pedestrian traffic sections so you should have some experience under your belt (but you don't have to be an expert). We will be mixing beautiful foliage, streams, waterfalls, bridges, monuments and history for a really enjoyable ride!