Union Dale: Susquehanna Depot
57.1 miles | 3,317’ | 92% unpaved
Experience the best of the D&H Rail-Trail on this rewarding loop connecting Union Dale, Thompson, Lanesboro, Susquehanna, the Starrucca Viaduct, and quiet ridge-top gravel roads.
Ride the easy way north on the D&H Rail-Trail from Union Dale on one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of rail trail in Pennsylvania. Following the gentle railroad grade, the route climbs gradually to the high point near Ararat before descending through Thompson, where riders can stop for food, drinks, and supplies. Beyond Thompson, the trail reaches one of its most dramatic features at the former Buck Falls Viaduct. After the railroad bridge was removed, the trail was rerouted down a series of sweeping switchbacks into the valley before climbing back to the rail grade on the opposite side, creating one of the most memorable sections of the entire D&H. Continuing north, riders arrive in Lanesboro, where the towering Starrucca Viaduct dominates the landscape before reaching the Susquehanna River and the historic railroad town of Susquehanna Depot.
Susquehanna Depot, typically referred to simply as Susquehanna, was first inhabited by settlers in the late 1700s, though Native American communities called this valley home long before European settlement. The borough was incorporated in 1853, but its greatest period of growth came with the arrival of the railroad. In 1848, the New York and Erie Railroad constructed its line through the county, including the monumental Starrucca Viaduct, one of the oldest stone railroad bridges still in active use in the United States. The railroad established a major depot and locomotive shops in town, employing more than 350 workers and transforming Susquehanna into one of the region's busiest railroad communities.
While railroad operations gradually moved elsewhere by the late 1950s, Susquehanna has continued to reinvent itself. Today, visitors will find a revitalized Main Street with locally owned small businesses that celebrate the town's rich railroad heritage. After enjoying a meal, coffee, or brewery stop in town, the return journey takes on a completely different character. Rather than retracing the rail trail, the route leaves the corridor behind to explore a network of quiet gravel roads that crisscross the valley and repeatedly intersect with the trail, rejoining it at Herick Center for the final return to the red caboose at Cables General Store.
You won’t want to miss the views from the ridgetop on the way back, but remember you can always jump on the rail trail for the easier, more direct return journey.
