The small town of Bristol, PA, with its strategic location along the Delaware River, was once a bustling hub of transportation and industry. In 1834 a spur line of the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad opened. Prior to that, the town had numerous mills and was a stop along the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. With the addition of the rail line the town became a center for transporting goods to points far beyond. Today, this charming town offers an historic downtown area as well as the 2.5-mile Bristol Spur Line Park Trail (BSL). 

Traversing the corridor of the former railroad spur and portions of the canal towpath, the BSL connects local parks, fields, residential areas, and the historic downtown area along a flat, paved route that runs from Radcliffe Street, along the Delaware River, to Mill Street at Old Route 13. Stop to explore the town, see the canal (which still exists) or explore Bristol Marsh. Located near the southern end of the route, this sensitive freshwater tidal marsh is a unique environment that helps protect the waterfront by filtering water before it enters the river, as well providing a habitat for a wide variety of plants, birds and animals. 

Today the BSL is part of the East Coast Greenway and connects via a short on-road route along Jefferson Avenue to a section of the Delaware & Leigh Trail. For more information click here.

Photo: Traillink.com