Northern Panhandle Rail Trail

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The Northern Panhandle Rail Trail, located in the city of Weirton and Brooke County, is a part of the West Virginia and U.S. Federal rails to trails program. It is secured by a 99-year lease by the city of Weirton through the Weirton Board of Park & Recreation Commissioners, which receives administrative, operational and maintenance assistance from the Weirton Rail Trail Committee.

The Panhandle Trail is one of the most popular recreation outlets in the Tri-State Area. Not only does it serve the residents of Weirton, but many biking, walking and running enthusiasts travel across both the Pennsylvania and Ohio state lines to utilize this 4-mile trail that is tucked away beautifully in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Panhandle Trail connects with the Washington County Trail as part of the Rails To Trails Conservancy (RTC) network, which is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works to create a nationwide network of trails by converting former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.

Open from dawn to dusk, the Panhandle Trail provides a safe and well-maintained outlet for those who love to walk, run or bike and enjoy the outdoors as they do so.

The Weirton Park Board has received multiple West Virginia Department of Highways Transportation Alternatives Program (WV DOH TAP) grants over the last two decades, most recently completing a $125,000 enhancement to the crushed limestone surface in 2018. The Park Board was recently awarded a $90,000 WV DOH TAP grant to engage in an asphalt paving project for the trail, which is expected to begin in late summer 2022. The Panhandle Trail has been serving people of the region for 30 years.

For more information on the Panhandle Trail, call the Park Board's main offices at (304) 797-8520.

For more information on how best to partner with the Rail Trail Committee, or volunteer for a work detail, email committee representative David Cline at dcline1712@frontier.com.
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