Trail Overview

Lost Reactor Trail offers a historic 8-mile drive through Pennsylvania's dense forests. This unpaved dirt and gravel route climbs roughly 1,100 feet to a peak elevation of 2,037 feet. Rated a 2 for difficulty, it is accessible for stock SUVs and high-clearance 4WD vehicles. The trail features tight forested turns, a scenic ridge overlook, and a shallow, bypassable river crossing. It ends near the historic, abandoned Quehanna nuclear jet engine testing complex, a Cold War research site operated by Curtiss-Wright.

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Difficulty

There are a few tight corners and a shallow river crossing that can be avoided if you wish.

History

The north end of this trail lies near the abandoned nuclear jet engine testing complex at Quehanna. Born out of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1953 "Atoms for Peace" initiative and officially created by Congress in 1954, the facility was operated by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation to research nuclear-powered aircraft engines.

Technical Rating

Jason Fleming

Sep 14, 2025

2005 Nissan Titan

Open

Normal

Not difficult. I'd take my Nissan Altima on it. Just a dirt road.

David w

Apr 03, 2025

Open

Muddy/Wet

Unfortunately they came in with a grader and completely flattened this trail. There is zero difficulty to this trail now

andy thomas

Mar 13, 2025

2015 Chevrolet Silverado

Open

Snow/Ice

I've done this route before and it's a beautiful drive through moshannon forest. today I made it a mile into the fsr and found a icy section leading into the valley. I gave it a shot and ended up sideways almost off the side of the mountain. lots of winching later and I was back up the hill. I'd give it a few more weeks to thaw before giving it a go.

Mike Walker

Sep 13, 2024

Open

Normal

Santino DePalma

Aug 04, 2024

2022 Toyota 4Runner

Open

Normal

T.J. Powell

Apr 19, 2024

Open

Normal

andy thomas

Apr 06, 2024

2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Open

I took the trail from south to north. it has a nice flow to it and is in very good shape to just cruise along. many of bridges near streams were crowded with first day of trout fisherman. there is a nice vista not far into the trail and an optional water crossing that was pretty deep and flowing when we crossed.

Brian Dumas

Sep 21, 2023

2015 GMC Sierra

Obstructed

Other