SOUTH BETHLEHEM GREENWAY;
BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: August 06, 2025
Length: South Bethlehem Greenway; 2.4 miles
Steel Stacks Trail; 1 mile Loop
Hoover-Mason pedestrian Trestle; 0.3 miles
Difficulty: South Bethlehem Greenway; Easy. Flat paved & stone-dust rail trail.
Steel Stacks Trail; Easy. Flat, paved trail.
Directions:
To access the trailhead at S New Street [Western End]; You may access the trail from the D&L Trail; Southern Lehigh Canal; Easton-Allentown Section in Bethlehem .
To start from Saucon Park [Southern End]; From I-78 take exit 67 to Route 412 and head right (north). Turn left on Commerce Center Blvd, then left on Millside Dr. Park is on your right. Exit the park and head right on Dearborn Ave, then left to Auburn St to Traveler Ave. Straight ahead will bring you to the trailhead.
The South Bethlehem Greenway is a linear park that follows the former Norfolk Southern rail line, from S New Street Southeast, to Saucon Park. The trail passes the former Bethlehem Steel Corporation site, where steel stacks tower over the park's treetops. Future plans call for continuing the trail South, another 0.9 miles, where it will connect into the SAUCON RAIL TRAIL in Saucon Township.
Starting from S New Street; Future construction will extend the trail West, out to W 3rd St.
Note; You can access the D&L Trail, on-road from here. Travel North, along S New St and across W 3rd St. Here, a separated path will take you over W 2nd St and the Fahy Bridge across the Lehigh River to W Lehigh St in Bethlehem. Head left, West, on-road, passing by the old Historical Bethlehem Central Railroad of New Jersey Station & Freight House to Main St and turn left, South. Cross the RR tracks and Lehigh Canal to reach the Lehigh Canal Towpath for the D&L Trail; Southern Lehigh Canal; Easton-Allentown Section in Bethlehem after 0.8 miles
The paved South Bethlehem Greenway travels East, through an urban corridor with lights, benches and iron rail fencing. A gazebo and artwork are also located along the trail as well. Multiple street crossings (name of streets painted on trail) which have been narrowed to slow down traffic. At 0.7 miles cross *Hayes Street, next to Daly Ave. Across the street are the huge remnants of the former Bethlehem Steel mills.
Note; You can do a short detour from here to check out the old Bethlehem Steel mills. I haven't checked this out. Cross Daly Ave and head left along a sidewalk to Founders Way, where you'll pick up the wide, paved Steel Stacks Trail. Not an official name. This is the Steel Stacks complex, an arts and entertainment district built on the former site. The trail (along both sides) follows Founders Way (lots of steel sculptures) to E 2nd Street at 0.2 miles.
Note; Heading North, the trail continues along Founders Way (both sides of the road) past **ARTS QUEST to E 1st Street after 0.3 miles.
Note; Heading right, East, the trail follows E 2nd Street, quickly ending at a parking lot.
To create a Loop, head West, the trail follows E 2nd Street (both sides of the road) past old brick mill buildings and re-purposed buildings. Pass by the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY on your left, before passing by a parking garage and coming to Polk Street after 0.5 miles. Right, a narrow trail will bring you to E 1st Street. The Steel Ice Center is on your left and a large RR yard is across the street behind a parking lot. If you continue right, East, along E 1st Street, a narrow paved trail will bring you to Founders Way & **ARTS QUEST after 0.8 miles.
Note; On your left is the Hoover-Mason Trestle, a 0.3 mile elevated pedestrian trail that takes you past 5 old blast furnaces from the former mill. The trestle is 46 feet high and was originally an elevated narrow gauge rail line for raw materials, built around 1905. Railcars carried coke, limestone, and iron ore along the trestle from the Lehigh River to the blast furnaces, where their contents were then dropped. Also located here is the Levitt Pavilion. The pitched lawn around the outdoor stage seats 2,500 where the observer can view the illuminated furnaces.
From here you can Loop back to *Hayes Street & the South Bethlehem Greenway after a 1 mile Loop.
The South Bethlehem Greenway continues alongside Daly Ave, coming to the Steel Ave parking lot at 1.2 miles.
Note; You'll find a crosswalk over Daly Ave that leads to the WIND CREEK CASINO which was also once part of the Bethlehem Steel mills.
The trail then passes by the Bethlehem Skate Plaza. This is as far as I've checked out. The now stone-dust trail, travels under 4th St and the Lynn Ave Bridge as it turns South, past the rail yards. Just before a bridge over Saucon Creek at 2.1 miles is a Spur Trail on your left.
Note; This Spur Trail travels North, along a boardwalk, to a paved trail past ball fields, bringing you to the Southside Little League parking lot after 0.25 miles.
Cross a wide, grass covered bridge over Saucon Creek and Millside Dr before traveling through an open wooded corridor. Come to the end of the trail, just off Auburn St and Traveler Ave after 2.4 miles.
Note; If you head West, out to and along Auburn St, it will bring you to Saucon Park.
Future plans call for continuing the trail South, another 0.9 miles and connecting to the 7.5 mile SAUCON RAIL TRAIL in Saucon Township. I have not checked out this trail.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR TRAILLINK SOUTH BETHLEHEM GREENWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR STEEL STACKS TRAIL MAP
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