The D&L Blog

By Brian Greene, Trail Programs Manager

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) today launched its new Trail-Friendly Business program. This program highlights businesses that provide exceptional customer service and who are geared toward catering to the needs of runners, hikers, and bikers who use the D&L Trail. From filling up water bottles to having bike parking nearby to selling the best trail gear, these businesses create a trail-friendly atmosphere that welcomes outdoor enthusiasts.

The program looks to connect hundreds of thousands trail users to local and regional businesses. The D&L provides businesses in Luzerne, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties with information about trail users, important amenities, and ways to create a trail-friendly atmosphere.

Several area businesses popular among D&L Trail users have already signed on, including:

• Inn at Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe
• Pocono Biking, Jim Thorpe
• Canal Side Guest House & Bicycle Repair, Lehighton
• Chantilly Goods, Weissport
• Charlotte Fay’s Main Street Diner, Slatington
• L.L. Bean Center Valley, Upper Saucon Township
• Aardvark Sports Shop, Bethlehem
• Easton Outdoor Company, Easton
• Genesis Bicycles, Easton
• Mueller’s Kitchen and General Store, Riegelsville
• Homestead General Store & Coffee Roasters, Upper Black Eddy

Visit delawareandlehigh.org/trail-friendly-business for locations, phone numbers, and websites of participating businesses.

Trails and trail users are the economic engine that run the outdoor recreation economy. Bikers, walkers, runners, and paddlers are potential customers that bring money to local towns and businesses. In Pennsylvania, outdoor recreation generates $29.1 billion in annual consumer spending, 251,000 direct jobs and $1.9 billion in state and local taxes. The D&L Trail is part of this success, producing more than $19 million in annual economic impact.

Other businesses interested in applying to be a certified D&L Trail-Friendly business can find more information online by clicking HERE.