Ashley Borough to Laurel Run North
Trail Planning extends into the Wyoming Valley!
The Delaware & Lehigh national Heritage Corridor and partners completed a planning study called the Ashley Borough to Laurel Run North Corridor Analysis in Winter of 2022. This plan explored what future trail could look like from Ashley Borough to the future Laurel Run North trailhead, also known as the Giant’s Despair Park in Laurel Run Borough, Luzerne County. It considers where the trail can physically fit, what amenities might be included, and identifies links to neighborhoods and community resources. The trail section is approximately 2 miles long and will connect to a soon to be constructed section of the D&L Trail on Wilkes-Barre Mountain that will lead to the Seven Tubs Recreation Area and Pinchot State Forest.
You can view the Ashley Borough to Laurel Run North Corridor Analysis here:
- Link to Final Report
- Link to Appendix A: PennDOT Maps
- Link to Appendix B: Opinion of Probable Cost
- Link to Appendix C: Public Engagement
- Link to Appendix D: Grant Information
Next steps for this project will include title research to clarify current landowners of the preferred trail route, design and engineering, and construction.
This trail section is part of the larger Luzerne Gap, a major trail gap along the D&L Trail that focuses on a connection through Luzerne County to downtown Wilkes-Barre. This gap includes over 20 miles of future trail and 7 trail projects that navigate historic railbed, scenic vistas, and community connections. When complete, this gap will connect the Black Diamond Trailhead to the D&L Trail’s northern terminus along the Susquehanna River in the City of Wilkes-Barre.
Partnerships with PennDOT
This study was developed alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Partnership 81 Project which is redesigning the I-81 and SR-309 interchange near the City of Wilkes-Barre for improved safety and mobility. Our trail study aims to provide PennDOT with a preferred trail alignment so they may accommodate space for the trail within their project scope.
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Projected Start Point: Giant’s Despair Park.
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Following the historic railbed west.
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Community connections already developed.
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Remains of a railbed.
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Views from a potential route.
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Following the historic railbed into Ashley Borough.
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Traveling through the I-81 and SR-309 Interchange.
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Remaining railroad ties underneath the bridges.
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Continuing through the interchange.
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A rough path remains through knotweed as we approach Ashley.
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One Projected End Point: Water-filled route at Ashley’s Main Street near the bridge at Cemetery Street intersection.
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For more information, please contact the Trail Stewardship Manager at [email protected], or 610-923-3548 x227
The Laurel Run North to Ashley Borough Corridor Analysis was made possible with funding support from a mini-grant from the Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape, managed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
