West Branch French Creek Trail

The West Branch French Creek Trail begins at the small parking area along Route 8 near the village of Lowville in Venango Township. From the trailhead, the route heads away from the road on an easy, well-defined path through floodplain forest, loosely following the broad corridor of West Branch French Creek. After a short distance, the trail reaches a junction where hikers can take either direction to loop around past the creek and continue through low-lying woods shaped by seasonal high water. As the route continues, hikers pass oxbows, wetlands, and several scenic beaver ponds that support abundant birdlife, making this a popular option for birding and easy hikes in Northwestern Pennsylvania. A rough wooden boardwalk carries the trail across a wet section before it enters an old Christmas tree plantation that has naturally regrown with spruce and mixed forest. The route gradually curves back toward the starting point, returning to the Route 8 parking area. Wet or muddy footing is common during wetter months, and blaze orange is recommended during hunting seasons, but the gentle terrain and rich wetland scenery provide a relaxing and rewarding outing close to Erie County.