Karl Boyes Trail (Pennsylvania) Weather Forecast & Planning Guide

Karl Boyes Trail, Erie County, PA, 13.54 miles

Trail Facts

Length14 mi

Elevation575 to 580 ft

Grade0.0% average

Shade cover38%

SurfaceAsphalt

Activities

E-bikingBikingWalkingRunningHikingBirdingCross-country skiingand more

Connects To

Numerous trails in Presque Isle State Park

Managed By

Pennsylvania DCNR

Trivia

Presque Isle is a recurved sand spit formed during the last glacial period, and longshore drift is still slowly moving the whole peninsula to the northeast.
Commodore Perry's Lake Erie fleet, including the 110 foot brigs Lawrence and Niagara, was built on these shores beginning in September 1812.
When the fleet was built, Erie was a village of about 400 people and 100 homes, and supplies had to be hauled overland from Pittsburgh and Buffalo.
The Presque Isle Light was constructed in 1872 and first lit on July 12, 1873.
Presque Isle hosts over 4 million visitors a year, more than any other Pennsylvania state park.
The peninsula was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1967.

About This Trail

The Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose National Recreation Trail makes a 13.5 mile paved loop around Presque Isle State Park, the sandy peninsula that curls off Erie into Lake Erie. The ride circles the whole spit, passing the Perry Monument, the 1873 Presque Isle Lighthouse, the old Waterworks, and a string of swimming beaches, with Presque Isle Bay and views of Erie on one side and open lake and sunset views on the other. The grade is dead flat, and most of the loop is a dedicated path, though a few stretches share the low-speed park road on a wide shoulder. Expect company on summer weekends; this is the busiest state park in Pennsylvania.

RailTrailWx TIPS

Karl Boyes Trail

Your comfort. Prognosticated.

The Karl Boyes Trail is technically not a rail trail, but it’s too good for RailTrailWx to ignore. It makes an extremely scenic and beautiful trek out onto the Presque Isle peninsula with views of the city of Erie on one side and sunset views over Lake Erie on the other. It’s very bike and pedestrian friendly, flat, and makes a closed loop with historic stops and views along the way.
There’s no way to sugarcoat this, but the wind bites on this trail. It’s very exposed to Lake Erie, so there’s literally no terrain at all to block or weaken the prevailing westerlies which will hit the island (and its riders) at full strength. That said, the months of the year with the weakest winds are actually the warmest months: July through September.
If you are riding, feel free to ride on the main stretch of road if you wish to avoid slower on-foot pedestrian traffic. You and they will both appreciate this. Just stay right on the road to let cars and road cyclists go by.
Much of the loop is slightly inland from the lakeshore, so there are trees to offer shade. If you prefer full sun, park your bike and walk 100 feet to the sandy beaches.
Gull Point, at the eastern tip beyond the trail, is closed to all public use from April to November to protect migrating and nesting shorebirds.
In winter only a few miles of the loop are plowed, and the park grooms the rest of the peninsula for cross-country skiing, so plan a short out and back rather than the full circuit.
Sunset Point and the western shore beaches face the open lake to the west, so an evening ride counterclockwise puts the sunset in front of you on the return leg.
This park can be packed with visitors at high season and weekends. Go on a weekday evening to avoid the crowds and enjoy a sunset.

-Cory

RailTrailWx Comfort Scores, for your activity.

Plan your visit to this trail. Get the best windows for a comfortable outing.

View the forecast

Enjoy the Karl Boyes Trail!

Climate

Excellent biking days per month, 2011-2025 climatology

History

There was never a railroad here. Presque Isle is a recurved sand spit that formed after the last glacial period, and longshore drift has kept it creeping northeast ever since. The peninsula's big story is the War of 1812. Its sheltered bay was the only protected harbor on the American side of Lake Erie. Beginning in September 1812, Daniel Dobbins and shipbuilder Noah Brown built the Lake Erie Squadron on these shores, including the 110 foot brigs Lawrence and Niagara. Oliver Hazard Perry took command in March 1813 and sailed that fleet to victory at the Battle of Lake Erie. A century later, from 1908 to 1949, a waterworks on the bay side pumped Erie's drinking water. Pennsylvania made the peninsula a state park in 1921. The loop trail came much later. State Representative Karl Boyes of Erie championed a paved path around the peninsula, and with funding secured and environmental concerns addressed, construction began in 1994, threaded carefully around the park's sensitive lagoons and wetlands. After Boyes died in 2003, the completed loop was renamed the Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose National Recreation Trail in honor of his advocacy, and it now carries a National Recreation Trail designation.

Trailheads

Feather Observation PlatformMILE 1.1Directions
Ferry DockMILE 2.8Directions
East PierMILE 4.6Directions
Perry MonumentMILE 5.8Directions
Thompson CircleMILE 7.4Directions
Sunset PointMILE 7.9Directions
Presque Isle LighthouseMILE 9.3Directions
WaterworksMILE 10.8Directions
Park EntranceMILE 13.5Directions

Nearby trails

Corry Junction Greenway Trail

5.8 mi·PA

Explore Forecast

East Branch Trail

5.2 mi·PA

Explore Forecast

Ernst Trail

6.5 mi·PA

Explore Forecast

RailTrailWx TIPS

Karl Boyes Trail

Your comfort. Prognosticated.

The Karl Boyes Trail is technically not a rail trail, but it’s too good for RailTrailWx to ignore. It makes an extremely scenic and beautiful trek out onto the Presque Isle peninsula with views of the city of Erie on one side and sunset views over Lake Erie on the other. It’s very bike and pedestrian friendly, flat, and makes a closed loop with historic stops and views along the way.

There’s no way to sugarcoat this, but the wind bites on this trail. It’s very exposed to Lake Erie, so there’s literally no terrain at all to block or weaken the prevailing westerlies which will hit the island (and its riders) at full strength. That said, the months of the year with the weakest winds are actually the warmest months: July through September.

If you are riding, feel free to ride on the main stretch of road if you wish to avoid slower on-foot pedestrian traffic. You and they will both appreciate this. Just stay right on the road to let cars and road cyclists go by.

Much of the loop is slightly inland from the lakeshore, so there are trees to offer shade. If you prefer full sun, park your bike and walk 100 feet to the sandy beaches.

Gull Point, at the eastern tip beyond the trail, is closed to all public use from April to November to protect migrating and nesting shorebirds.

In winter only a few miles of the loop are plowed, and the park grooms the rest of the peninsula for cross-country skiing, so plan a short out and back rather than the full circuit.

Sunset Point and the western shore beaches face the open lake to the west, so an evening ride counterclockwise puts the sunset in front of you on the return leg.

This park can be packed with visitors at high season and weekends. Go on a weekday evening to avoid the crowds and enjoy a sunset.

-Cory