Traversing terrain with imprints of ice-age glaciation, the trail passes through the lush bottom lands of French Creek Valley. With 66 species of fish and 27 species of mollusks, French Creek is Pennsylvania’s most biologically diverse body of water. From the creek to the end of the trail’s completed portion, the landscape is pastoral with varied environments of meadow and marsh, hardwood stands and hemlock thickets.

The proposed segment from Route 19 to Conneaut Lake parallels Conneaut Marsh, an ancient river valley infield with glacial debris, and home to nesting bald eagles and migrating waterfowl. The paved trail is five miles long, located from the Park Avenue Plaza in Meadville to Route 19, a distance of five miles.