Not every trail needs to be an adventure. Sometimes you just want to get on a bike, ride on a flat path through pleasant scenery, and end up somewhere with a cold drink. The Saucon Rail Trail delivers exactly that: seven and a half miles of easy, peaceful riding through some of the nicest small town landscape in the southern Lehigh Valley.
The Route
The trail connects Hellertown, Lower Saucon Township, Upper Saucon Township, and Coopersburg, following the bed of the old North Pennsylvania Railroad. The surface is wide gravel, mostly flat with a gentle one percent grade running north to south. It is smooth enough for road bikes but wide enough for side by side riding with a friend or a child.
The scenery transitions from small town neighborhoods to open farmland to wooded stretches. In spring, the wildflowers along the trail edges are worth slowing down for. In fall, the canopy sections light up with color. Even in the dead of summer, there are shaded stretches that provide relief from the heat.
Who It's For
The Saucon Rail Trail is the people's trail. Families with young kids on training wheels. Retired couples on leisurely morning walks. Dog owners getting their daily exercise. Runners who prefer a smooth surface to broken sidewalks. Mountain bikers use it as a warm up or cooldown. Casual cyclists use it as their primary ride.
The gentle grade and wide surface make it accessible to virtually everyone. Strollers and wheelchairs can navigate it without difficulty. There are no steep sections, no technical challenges, and no moments where you question your fitness level. It is a trail designed for enjoyment, not endurance.
The Communities
One of the trail's charms is how it connects the communities along its route. You can start in Hellertown, ride through Lower Saucon, and end up in Coopersburg for lunch at one of the local restaurants. Or you can start in Coopersburg and ride south to Hellertown for a pizza at the Crossroads Hotel. The trail turns four separate towns into one connected neighborhood.
The communities along the route have embraced the trail. Benches and rest areas provide stopping points. Parking is available at multiple trailheads. Local businesses benefit from the foot traffic, and the trail association keeps everything well maintained.
Connections
The Saucon Rail Trail connects to the broader network of Lehigh Valley trails, including the D&L Trail. As the regional trail system continues to expand, the connections between these paths create an increasingly comprehensive car free transportation and recreation network.
For now, the Saucon Rail Trail is a destination in its own right. Seven and a half miles of flat, scenic, uncomplicated riding in a part of the Lehigh Valley that deserves more attention than it gets. Grab your bike, pick a trailhead, and ride.
