The D&L Blog

Best of the Rests?

Written by Robert Ostry, DLNHC Volunteer & Member

It has been said that the public bathrooms at the Slatington Trailhead are the best in the entire Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Just recently I rode my bicycle north of Allentown for the first time and I had the opportunity to stop by those bathrooms in Slatington, PA. Yes, the facility is beautiful and optimally positioned at the trailhead with sheltered picnic tables and a regular food truck. Looking both new and sympathetic to the regions history, the convenience is a great accomplishment. However, as an avid cyclist of the Corridor in Bucks County, I must offer the 1799 House located just north of Yardley, PA as a contender for such an auspicious title.

Two weeks after my first expedition north of Allentown I rode from Yardley to Bristol and on my return I stopped by the 1799 House. A beautifully executed conversion of a historic fieldstone home, the lavatories are surely a contender for best in the Corridor. (Perhaps an annual contest for the best of the rests would encourage a little healthy competition?)

Inside and out, the planning and execution of the facility is near perfection. A new bridge connects the canal towpath to a paved path leading up to the house. Circling around the building near the entrance is situated both a bicycle repair station and bike rack. Upon entering, the heated and air conditioned interior highlights the original exposed rafters and fireplace. ADA compliant restrooms, drinking fountains and a filtered water bottle filling station round-out the amenities. The 1799 House is an excellent comfort station for walkers, hikers, runners and cyclist of the Delaware Canal.

Located where Woodside Road crosses the Delaware Canal towpath, the renovated facility was opened to the public on November 25th, 2019 concluding a 4-½ year campaign. A project of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, not only does the 1799 House provide services to users of the towpath, the equally impressive Scudder Falls Toll Bridge walkway descends to the same location. This opens up another loop option for users of D&L (Pennsylvania) and D&R (NewJersey) trails.

While it’s great year-round, a perfect time to visit this section is during the annual Yardley Canal-O-Ween event (usually late-October into early-November). I suggest arriving early during the week of the event and walking from downtown Yardley out to the 1799 House. Walking north for just about 1-½ miles you can see the historic white house with black shutters just west of the canal towpath. Make sure you arrive before dusk which is the closing time for the 1799 House. Then upon returning to the center of Yardley you can taken in the sights of nearly 500 hand carved jack-o-lanterns.

Canal-O-Ween is just one of the many local events that makes Yardley a great community along the D&L Trail in Bucks County. Make sure you check out some upcoming events and be sure to visit this vibrant historic town within the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.