A new connector trail, announced today by Thrive Allen County, will link the popular 6.5-mile Southwind Rail Trail with the new Lehigh Portland Trails system.
The new 0.4-mile trail segment will follow an old railroad spur eastward from the Southwind Rail Trail, passing beneath the State Street Bridge, paralleling Elm Creek for a short distance, then connecting to Washington Avenue through the City of Iola’s Elm Creek Park South. The western trailhead for the new Lehigh Portland Trails will be located at Washington Avenue. The Lehigh Portland Trails will offer both wide gravel-surfaced trails and natural-surface singletrack trails for mountain biking, trail running, and nature hikes.
The new link will provide people walking or biking a safe passage between the two trails, allowing them to avoid having to travel on or across busy State Street.
The new connector trail is shown below in green, with the Southwind running north/south on the west, and the Lehigh Portland Trails east of Washington Avenue:
Volunteers are still needed to help clear the new trail corridor, finish up the Lehigh Portland Trails, and assist with ongoing maintenance. If you can help, please contact Thrive Allen County at 620-365-8128.