Darling Run to Blackwell through Pine Creek Gorge

From the Darling Run access area near Ansonia the old Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo Railway follows Pine Creek south into the gorge, passing below the two state parks on the rim and the foot of the Turkey Path, which climbs to Leonard Harrison. It continues past Tiadaghton to Blackwell, where you turn and ride back the same way.

It is 52.3 km (32.5 miles) there and back with 107 m of climbing; allow about 3½ hours of riding. The grade is Moderate. The surface is hard-packed stone, the gradient about 2%, gently downhill on the way out and so gently uphill coming back.

There are no road crossings between Darling Run and Blackwell; take food and water. The gorge is more than 800 ft deep below the state parks and has been a National Natural Landmark since 1968. The railway carried trains until 1988; the trail opened in 1996.

Darling Run has parking and toilets, and Tiadaghton, halfway, has toilets and picnic tables. Blackwell also has a car park, off Routes 287 and 414, so a lift from one end makes a one-way ride possible.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.