Union Dale: Elk Mountain, O&W Rail-Trail, and Stillwater Lake

Union Dale offers several clearly distinct points of interest for planning a trip: winter sports at Elk Mountain, the O&W Rail-Trail, and Stillwater Lake with its public boat launch. If you are looking for a hotel in Union Dale, these local features can help you tailor your stay to the purpose of your trip. It may come down to whether you want to focus your stay on winter sports, a trail route, or boating activities.

Winter Sports at Elk Mountain

Elk Mountain in Union Dale has 180 acres of skiable terrain and 27 trails. These figures describe different aspects of the ski area: the acreage indicates the skiable terrain, while the trail count indicates the downhill runs. Together, they offer a concrete overview if winter sports are a deciding factor in choosing a destination. The Winter Garden Restaurant is located on the slopes of Elk Mountain, adding a named dining option at the resort to this focus.

O&W Rail-Trail and Loop Routes

The O&W Rail-Trail passes through Union Dale and is 32.9 miles long in total. It is considered an easy trail. The total length describes the trail as a whole, while “passes through Union Dale” indicates its specific connection to the town. This makes it possible to consider the length of the entire trail and its route through town as two distinct points of reference.

The O&W Rail-Trail can also be used together with the D&H Rail-Trail for various loop routes. In addition to the O&W as a stand-alone route, this makes loops combining both rail trails an option. This distinction can help you separate the significance of the O&W’s total length from the option of taking shared loop routes.

Stillwater Lake and Boat Launch

Stillwater Lake in Union Dale is an 83-acre reservoir of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Lackawanna River. Under an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission operates and maintains a public boat launch at the lake. If you are considering boating activities when choosing a destination, the launch is a specific point of reference at the lake.

The acreage figures for Elk Mountain and Stillwater Lake refer to different things: skiable terrain and a reservoir. By contrast, the O&W Rail-Trail’s 32.9 miles indicate a trail length. These measurements answer different questions and can accordingly be read as indicators of different points of interest.

Another Railroad Connection

An original D&H pusher caboose is also located in Union Dale. While the O&W Rail-Trail is a route through town, the caboose adds to the railroad theme as a single object in Union Dale.

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