SHENANGO TRAIL

FRENCH CREEK COUNCIL

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

PROCEDURE FOR HIKING THE SHENANGO TRAIL

One copy of the Trail Program booklet is furnished free upon request to a unit.  Additional copies can be obtained at the cost listed on the pamphlet. Copies of the Canal History section should be made and distributed to each Scout hiker.

Unit Leader, in conjunction with his youth leadership, selects date to hike the trail, completes appropriate paperwork, and forwards to French Creek Council, 815 Robison Rd. W., Erie, PA, 16509.

The hike must be completed in one day.  It is recommended that you start before 9:00 AM.  Estimated time to hike the trail is 6 to 8 hours. You may begin either at the Kidds Mill Bridge terminus, just off Rt 18 at Reynolds, or you may begin at the Big Bend terminus not far from Rt. 258

Hikers must be in appropriate uniform, keep together as a group, respect property along the trail, observe good hiking manners, and be prepared to clear any overgrown or impassable sections of the trail along the way.

Upon completion of the hike, each Scout must write a 100 word essay about what he has learned about life in the days when the canals operated.  These are collected by the unit leader.  The unit leader then files the application for Trail Awards, along with the appropriate remittance, to the Council Service Center.

A patch and/or medallion is available for each person completing the hike and writing the essay.

Camping is available at the Big Bend terminus of the trail.  To camp there, you must first make reservations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Shenango Dam, Sharpsville, PA, 16150.