Tiadaghton State Forest has a planned closure of the Whitetail Access and Recreational Parking Area of the Pine Creek Rail Trail beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday July 17, lasting up to March 2024 for a construction and renovation project. The area will be reopened after the completion of the project.

The driveway from PA-44 into the parking area, the parking area in its entirety, as well as both ramps joining the parking area to the Pine Creek Rail Trail will be closed. There will be no access to the trail at this site. However, the Pine Creek Rail Trail itself will remain open through this area. Users along the rail trail itself in that area will not be impeded, and there will be zero affects to any users on Pine Creek. The Torbert Canoe Launch just south of the Whitetail Access Area will remain open as well.
The work to be done at the Whitetail Access & Recreational Parking Area is as follows:
– Demolish existing abandoned, dilapidated building onsite.
– Raise the entire site ~4ft to satisfy County floodplain requirements for use.
– Improve/add parking area to accommodate more vehicles and trailers/RV’s.
– Addition of a new CXT concrete bathroom facility (the same ones as are currently found along the rail trail)
– Addition of a new stone trailhead structure/information pavilion to provide maps, messaging/other relevant information to users and provide some seating/shelter for users.
– Addition of a new 3-bay cold storage garage for DCNR use in storing equipment/supplies for maintaining the southern portion of our Rail Trail and access areas (Tiadaghton Elm, Jersey Shore, Phelps Mills Canoe Access, Torbert Canoe Access, Whitetail Access, Bonnell Flats Camping and Comfort facilities and Ramsey Access.

Users should expect to see construction ongoing throughout the summer and fall, with final touches taking place weather depending over the winter months. The site has the possibility to reopen before the posted March 2024 date should everything work favorably (weather, etc.). The site will reopen once construction is completed.

Pine Creek Rail Trail users who typically use this parking area and access should redirect to the southern terminus at the Jersey Shore Trailhead on Railroad Street, or to the Waterville Recreational Parking Area along Pine Creek in Waterville.

Please contact the Tiadaghton Resource Management Center (10 Lower Pine Bottom Road Waterville, PA 17776) at (570) 753-5409 with any questions.