or description. The summary also indicates wheelchair access. Other possible uses include in-line skating, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. While most trails are off-limits to motor vehicles, some local trail organizations do allow ATVs and snowmobiles.
Trail descriptions themselves suggest an ideal itinerary for each route, including the best parking areas and access points, where to begin, your direction of travel, and any highlights along the way. The text notes any connecting or neighboring routes, with page numbers for the respective trail descriptions. Following each description are directions to the recommended trailheads.
Each trail description also lists a local website for further information. Be sure to visit these websites in advance for updates and current conditions. TrailLink.com is another great resource for updated content on the trails in this guidebook.
Trail Use
Rail-trails and multiuse trails are popular destinations for a range of users, often making them busy places to enjoy the outdoors. Following basic trail etiquette and safety guidelines will make your experience more pleasant.
Keep to the right, except when passing.
Pass on the left, and give a clear audible warning: “Passing on your left.”
Be aware of other trail users, particularly around corners and blind spots, and be especially careful when entering a trail, changing direction, or passing, so that you don’t collide with traffic.
Respect wildlife and public and private property; leave no trace and take out litter.
Control your speed, especially near pedestrians, playgrounds, and heavily congested areas.
Travel single file. Cyclists and pedestrians should ride or walk single file in congested areas or areas with reduced visibility.
Cross carefully at intersections; always look both ways and yield to through traffic. Pedestrians have the right-of-way.
Keep one ear open and volume low on portable listening devices to increase your awareness of your surroundings.
Wear a helmet and other safety gear if you’re cycling or in-line skating.
Consider visibility. Wear reflective clothing, use bicycle lights, or bring flashlights or helmet-mounted lights for tunnel passages or twilight excursions.
Keep moving, and don’t block the trail. When taking a rest, turn off the trail to the right. Groups should avoid congregating on or blocking the trails. If you have an accident on the trail, move to the right as soon as possible.
Bicyclists yield to all other trail users. Pedestrians yield to horses. If in doubt, yield to all other trail users.
Dogs are permitted on most trails, but some trails through parks, wildlife refuges, or other sensitive areas may not allow pets; it’s best to check the trail website before your visit. If pets are permitted, keep your dog on a short leash and under your control at all times. Remove dog waste in a designated trash receptacle.
Teach your children these trail essentials, and be especially diligent to keep them out of faster-moving trail traffic.
Be prepared, especially on long-distance rural trails. Bring water, snacks, maps, a light source, matches, and other equipment you may need. Because some areas may not have good reception for mobile phones, know where you’re going, and tell someone else your plan.
Key to Trail Use
Learn More
While Rail-Trails: Mid-Atlantic is a helpful guide to available routes in the region, it wasn’t feasible to list every rail-trail and multiuse trail in the Mid-Atlantic, and new trails spring up each year. To learn about additional multiuse trails in your area or to plan a trip to an area beyond the scope of this book, visit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s trail-finder website, TrailLink.com—a free resource with information on more than 30,000 miles of trails nationwide.
Delaware
US 13 crosses over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal along the Michael Castle Trail.
1 James F. Hall Trail
County
New Castle
Endpoints
Phillips Park to Delaware Technology Park at Wyoming Road (Newark)
Mileage
1.8
Type
Rail-with-Trail
Roughness Index
1
Surface
Asphalt
The James F. Hall Trail—a rail-with-trail—packs a lot into a short stretch: Its paved surface is great for bicycling, in-line skating, and strolling, and there are multiple playgrounds, picnic areas, and access points along the route. Best of all, this urban trail never crosses a road, so you can coast uninterrupted for its entire length from Phillips Park to Delaware Technology Park. The trail also offers alternative transportation benefits, connecting Newark neighborhoods with a regional transit station, the University of Delaware, and shopping centers.
Train aficionados are almost guaranteed to spot a train along the adjacent rail corridor, used by Amtrak, CSX, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). But you won’t get too close to the trains because a large fence separates the trail from the active line. Families with young children will especially enjoy this route, which passes three city parks (Phillips, Lewis, and Kells) that feature swings, slides, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields, plus basketball, handball, and tennis courts. The trail also crosses streams and wetlands and runs through a semi-forested area. Police call boxes are provided every 0.1 mile, and the trail is lit for use after dark.
A jogger heads east on the trail toward DE 72.
The
