Butler Freeport Community Trail

I love this trail, but my bias may be due to growing up near the Herman portion of it and shopping at Dittmer’s General Store and Post Office. Herman is so small that once I forgot to put postage on a letter and the Post Master General (a third cousin) called me at home to tell me he noticed I put a letter in the letter box without postage on it.
As kids we played along the real railroad tracks using the tracks to flatten pennies. One of my very much older third cousins got killed playing with a detonation cap he found near the tracks.
Herman used to be called Herman Station because the train stopped at Dittmer’s General Store and Post Office.
Once the trains stopped running, a group of active folks got together to set up a non-​profit and turn the rails into a trail.
As a going trail, it’s popular with geo-​cachists; they sponsor a small race; bicyclists like it a lot and it’s getting better known with each year.
Herman is hilly, so expect this trail to be challenging. But it’s worth it. Herman is still rural, so you’ll be seeing wildlife along this trail. Bunnies, deer, quail (look near tall grass), hawks, and other birds.
The non-​profit has a website, so if this is your first visit, the website is worth a perusal.

The Buffalo Creek half-​marathon — this year it’s scheduled for October 15 — is a great event for runners and joggers. Plus, income from this event goes towards maintaining the Trail!
The course: After a mile of road running, mostly downhill, you’re on the Trail until about a mile from the finish. (Fair warning: that last mile is tougher than the rest!)
This is one of the most efficiently administered races I’ve ever run, despite that it’s a point A to point B course — which makes it far more interesting. And it’s very scenic, run mostly along the river. With more than 10 tof the 13 miles being run on the groomed Trail surface, it’s also less harsh on one’s joints.
At the finish, they even have hot cider for you, along with pizza, bagels, etc.

Please note that the address above is an approximation, based on Google Maps, of the trail’s parking lot. Anyway, the Butler-​Freeport Community Trail is another rails-​to-​trails conversion and it links its two namesakes. Its history dates back to 1869 when planning began for the Butler Branch Railroad. The company began running trains in 1871 and by 1903 it was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was last operated in 1986 by the Conrail Railroad Company and was abandoned the following year. Planning for the trail began right away and the first segment was officially opened in 1992. Further development of the trail was delayed for over nine years because of legal challenges. As my railfan – er «train enthusiast» husband explained, when a railroad abandons a line, there’s often the question of who owns what.
But I’m happy to report that as of earlier this year, the trail is now fully opened all the way to Butler, PA. So my friend Lisa and I loaded our bikes onto the back of my Malibu and headed out for a day’s bike ride. The trail itself is an easy ride, about 20 miles each way.
So Lisa and I will be your tour guide as we set out at Freeport and make our way north. Right away we notice that the trail begins an easy uphill grade. This is great because it’ll mean a slight downhill on the way back. We’ll be traveling thru the Buffalo Creek Watershed. For the a few miles we’ll be following the Buffalo Creek through the Buffalo Creek Gorge Forest. This area is highly scenic and it’s well worth stopping to admire the scenery if you can. If you have the time later on, there’s a spectacular view from Route 28 on the bridge, about a mile north of the Sarver-​Freeport exit.
We’ll then pick up the Little Buffalo Creek, which we’ll cross several times. Being in the woods and alongside the creek, the temperatures here can be a good 10 – 15 degrees cooler. Very refreshing on a hot and humid day! Also on the southern end of the trail, remnants of old stone quarries and brick kilns can still be seen. We’ll ride thru Sarver and then hit Cabot, which has a few points of interest worth stopping at. These include an old lumber mill and the former Saxon City Hotel, built in 1871. Upon leaving Cabot, we’ll mainly travel thru farmland, but the trail itself is wooded. This not only provides shade, but also helps prevent erosion. Next we’ll come up to Marwood. A lumber company will be on the left.
We’ll then hit Great Belt before coming into Herman. Herman was the one-​time northern end of the trail until earlier this year. A historical marker shows us the location of the Herman train station and the Ditmar Store. We’ll then pass thru Vogelville before reaching the end of the trail in Butler.
Butler’s a decent sized town however the northern trailhead is hard to find. It’s on a spur of Kittanning Street, near the B&T Auto Repair, which is why I suggest starting in Freeport.
I didn’t know what to expect when Lisa and I first hit the trail. But I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity this trail has to offer in its 20 mile length. So 4.5 stars from me! Just a few reminders:
1) There are some paved sections of the trail but most of it is crushed limestone and there are still a few dirt sections. I strongly recommend a good mountain bike or trail bike.
2) Be sure your bike is in good mechanical shape before you leave. Be sure to bring a tire repair kit, chain tool, and a small airpump if possible.
3) Be sure to have an adequate supply of snacks, water, & maybe a sack lunch. Freeport and Butler have grocery stores. The only other town en route with a convenience store is Sarver. I didn’t notice anything else. Also be sure to bring your cell phone.
4) Two simple words: bike helmet. Yeah girls, we get helmet hair from wearing one. Deal with it – it’s better than a head injury.
5) Enjoy your ride. Take your time and be sure to stop and take in the scenery & history a little bit.