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The Stony Valley Railroad Grade (SVRG) is a rail trail that stretches along 21.5 miles through Dauphin, Lebanon, and Schuylkill County for 21.5 miles, from Ellendale to the Lebanon Reservoir, traveling through 44,342 acres of state game land. The Appalachian Trail crosses through the SVRG at Rausch Creek, which is located near what used to be the town of Rausch Gap. Trail visitors can expect to see a plethora of wildlife as they travel through nearly 22 miles of land. Horseback riding, fishing, biking, hunting and hiking are all available to visitors. Also, cross country skiing and snowmobiling is possible during the winter months. Unique to trails in Pennsylvania, the Stony Valley Railroad Grade is available for use by motor vehicles one day out of the year. Minimal traffic can be expected on the trail as travelers make their way through a densely wooded path. The trail is open seven days a week from dawn until dusk, however, the trail is closed to horseback and bicycle riding during hunting season. == Historical development == Historical significance The Stony Creek Valley was originally settled in 1824 after the discovery of coal and due to the availability of fresh waters from Cold Springs.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.traillink.com/trail/stony-valley-railroad-grade.aspx )〕 The abundance of coal in the valley led to the creation of the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad during the 1850s. The railroad was also used to bring tourists to the valley in search of fresh mineral waters. A 200 room resort was built at this time which later burnt down as the regions resources depleted. The towns that once rested along this stretch such as Rausch gap, now considered a ghost town, have long been gone. Trail’s history and evolution The land on which the Stony Valley Railroad Grade rests upon was purchased by the Pennsylvania Game Commission in 1945. The Game Commission converted the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad corridor into one of the nation's first rail-trails. Since that time, the trail has yet to evolve. The occasional upkeep of washouts and clearing of blockages provides the only attention to the trail. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Stony Valley Railroad Grade」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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