This is one of 20 historical caches along the Butler Freeport Community Trail, formerly the Butler Branch of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad.
THIS SERIES OF CACHES ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE VIA THE BUTLER FREEPORT TRAIL. There is plenty of parking at each trailhead. DO NOT DRIVE ON THE TRAIL, you may hike or bike to each cache.
A new beginning for an old rail, 1988 Buffalo Township along with Winfield and Jefferson Townships purchased the old Butler Branch of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1992, the Butler Freeport Community Trail Council, Inc. was formed to help maintain, promote, and preserve the old rail bed. It was one of the first 400 rail trails in the country and the only in Butler County. After many years of litigation, 2005 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court up held the lower courts decision. In 2009, a grant from Department of Conservation and Natural Recourses (DCNR) was awarded to Buffalo Township for the completion of the last 4 miles into Butler.
Like so many years ago, construction started in Freeport and proceeded to Butler. Total cost of the project for 21 miles in 1871 was $400,000. Today it costs $400,000 for 4 miles, talk of inflation and we are fortunate to have heavy equipment.
Now that we have completed the bridge into Butler, we are looking ahead to further improvements to the trail. the Butler Freeport Community Trail Council holds monthly work days. We are all just volunteers who love the trail. We take care of it as if it were our own; we are proud. You can meet new people, which you already have a common interest with. Sometimes the trail mysteriously gets mowed or brush gets removed from the trail; we don’t always know who they are but we appreciate their efforts.
Butler Freeport Community Trail Council holds quarterly meetings at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, 134 Marwood Rd., entrance #4, Feel free to join us as we discuss maintenance, activities, and the future of the trail. We have a good time; we are friends…..
The future of the BFCT is looking very bright; the dedicated lane that was included on the new Freeport Bridge for trail users opens possibilities to connect to the other side of the Allegheny River. River Forest Country Club is putting in a 1.5 mile trail to connect to the Tredway Trail, thereby, connecting you to the in-progress Pittsburgh to Erie Trail, and eventually the Great Allegheny Passage. In the future, you will be able to access the Armstrong Trail, Baker Trail, and Tredway Trail. Butler City has been improving on a bike route through the city connecting their schools and parks, with a through route via Alameda to Rte. 68 and possibly to Moraine State Park. Freeport Borough is interested in a city route. Trail users are able to bike from Freeport to Butler, enjoy lunch at one of many restaurants in Butler, maybe take in a Butler Blue Sox game, and bike back to Freeport, a very economical way to enjoy the day with your family.
Butler Freeport Community Trail offers, of course, geocaching, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, running, and for scouts, camping. There are many benches for you to stop, relax, and enjoy the scenery. And if you look carefully, near the 28 bridge, we have our own Eagle. Birding, photography, flora and fauna are just waiting for visitors to take it all in.