It was a glorious Sunday morning. The air was crisp and the sun was gleaming in hues of orange and gold as we set out on the loop trail to hike to Targa Falls from the western side of Paradise Price Preserve. The trail started out in a forest of hardwoods scattered with eastern white pine. As we walked along the wide, rocky path heading east into the bright morning sunlight, the song of an eastern bluebird filled the air. We passed by vernal pools, wetlands and observed various types of fungi attached to fallen logs. Soon we came upon a picnic table along the side of the trail. We sat for a moment to enjoy the quiet of the peaceful forest. When we were ready, we continued along the path which was now starting a descent towards the Brodhead Creek. We passed by large boulders and crossed over tributaries that were flowing down from the ridge. We then turned onto the spur trail that took us directly to the large horseshoe shaped Targa Falls. This is the only natural waterfall on the Brodhead Creek. It’s not a tall waterfall, but its waters roar and move swiftly. We climbed down to the falls where I sat on some large boulder slabs to take in the scenery as the creek crashed and roared downstream. A cool mist from the falls brushed against my face. It felt so refreshing in the warm sunshine. I dipped my hand in to feel the cold, sparkling water. It was a lovely place to sit for a while, enjoy a snack and take in the beauty of nature before continuing. Once back on the loop, the trail took us above the Brodhead offering us lovely views of the rapids along the way before turning west and taking us back in the direction of the trailhead. It was a gorgeous day and the more time I spend hiking the trails here in northeastern Pennsylvania, the more the landscape is starting to grow on me. I’m finding so many gems right here in the Pocono Mountains, and I can’t wait to continue exploring all that this area and beyond has to offer.
The first stop on our Sunday adventure was Targa Falls, a natural waterfall found on the Broadhead Creek. The waterfall is easily accessible from a parking area just off the 447, or you can hike to it from the Paradise Price Preserve. I wanted to see and photograph it in the very early morning sunshine, so we chose the easy drive up access for today. Someday I plan to return to hike in from the west side of the preserve. We parked the car and as I stepped out I could hear the loud rushing waters. Just a few steps more and there it was, this incredible flowing creek roaring past me over large, rocky boulders. The early morning sunlight danced on the white foaming rapids, and the tall hemlocks swayed in the breeze on the banks. It was a beautiful sight just a stone’s throw away from the road. At that moment I honestly felt a little guilty having such a natural wonder within such easy reach. Being used to the rugged mountains of Southern California, I’m not used to having this kind of quick and easy access to something so beautiful as a roaring waterfall. I got my hiking legs out west where you have to earn your views by trekking miles into the wilderness and climbing to precarious mountain tops to view such spectacular places; no cell service, no wifi and only your two legs to rely on to get you there and back. Pennsylvanian’s are so very lucky in this respect.
After enjoying the waterfalls, we hopped back in the car and headed to the trailhead for the Red Rock Loop and Mt. Sophia. The Red Rock Trail is part of the Mount Airy Trail Network and sits on lands protected by a conservation easement held by Paradise Township. At the trailhead there’s a helpful map laying out the topography of the hike, and the trail begins just beyond the kiosk. It starts out on a gravel path leading up stone steps. Right away I noticed the beautiful oak trees and not far into the trail we arrived at a vernal pool. I imagined it would soon be filled with salamanders, wood frogs and other critters. The trails here seemed to be very well kept (save for some downed trees), and they were so pleasant to walk on. So much so that I forgot how rocky the Pennsylvania terrain usually is. We soon arrived at a well-marked junction for the Red Rock Loop and decided to continue northwest directly towards the junction for the top of Mt. Sophia. Along the trail there were large stands of mountain laurel which I am so excited to see bloom in late spring and early summer. This will be my first spring on the east coast in over 20 years. Soon the trail became covered with patches of icy snow and we reached the junction for Mt. Sophia. The trail took us up gently graded switchbacks and as we continued upward, there were helpful wooden steps peeking out from underneath the snow. As we approached the summit, an impressive forest of large pine and hemlock came into view. The sunlight radiated through the majestic trees. I spent some time exploring the summit and the views. From here I could make out the ski runs on Camelback Mountain to the south and more views to the north. We followed the trail a little further as it looped us around in a circle with a convenient “Exit” sign pointing back to the direction in which we came. We took our time hiking down enjoying the views through the beautiful pines and the sunshine. We then arrived at a junction for Red Rock Spur #1. It led us to the site of an old car from the 50s that was flipped upside down and settled into a ditch. It made me wonder what its story was and how it even got up there. There were some old logs that looked like they’d make a perfect place to sit down and enjoy the fresh mountain air, so we sat down and took a break. It was a windy day and I was enjoying listening to that groaning, creaky sound the trees make when they sway against each other in the wind. After our break, we continued along the trail and the winds started kicking up even more. We reached a junction for Red Rock Spur #2 (another outer loop) and began a gentle ascent. We passed by some interesting rock formations before noticing a vintage car graveyard nestled below us, deep in the woods. Had this been summer, we would have never even seen it since the trees would have concealed it with their leaves. We decided to move in closer to explore. There were three rusty cars who had clearly been here for a long time; their final resting place nestled into the forest. We took some photos and then got back on route, enjoying more views to the south as we hiked. The trail made its way down some lovely switchbacks until finally we were back at the junction for the Red Rock Trail on which we had started. This was a wonderful day hike. I really enjoyed my time here and again, it felt like wilderness even though we were so close to civilization. I’d like to come back again and explore more of the spurs and see it when the mountain laurel is in full bloom.
I’m finding some really great nature preserves here in the Keystone state. This past Saturday we ventured off to explore the Nothstein Preserve located in Paradise Township in Monroe County. The hike took us through a variety of different terrain, along the ravine of Cranberry Creek and up to a red rock quarry with views extending from east to west across the ridge to the surrounding preserves. We started at the trailhead off Cranberry Creek Road and headed north on a wide path in a counter clockwise direction. The forest was mostly hardwood dappled with tall hemlock trees. Immediately my ears were filled with the pleasant harmony of morning birdsong. We passed by marshes, bogs and small tributaries until we reached a primitive bridge crossing over the pristine waters of Cranberry Creek. We took a moment to branch off and explore its banks and the surrounding feeder creeks before continuing on a single track where we began to ascend gently upward. The trail reached an intersection where we turned northwest. I spotted some train tracks above us running parallel to our path. We made several primitive creek crossings over the crystal clear waters flowing down the mountain and over thick, bright green moss. Now the trail began to descend southwest. The forest became dense with hemlock, and I could hear the sound of rushing water flowing just beyond the trees. The path opened up to reveal another bridge crossing over the fast moving Cranberry Creek. Lined with rhododendron just beyond the bridge, the terrain became a snow covered single track leading us upward above the ravine. We made our way up the trail being careful on the icy patches of snow until reaching a vista of the beautiful cascading waters below. I made sure to get some photos from above, but I wanted to take a closer look. We then backtracked and made our way to a section of trail following along the edge creek where we could enjoy a closer perspective of the sights and sounds of the waterfalls and tumbling cascades. Eventually, we backtracked crossing over the bridge once again and up through the hard packed snow back to the top of the ravine. Soon, the trail began to move away from the creek and the forest became even more dense with tall stands of hemlock and oak. We crossed over more small tributaries being careful not to slip on the moss covered rocks. I’m not sure if it was the tall stands of pine or the way the sunlight was shining through, but this section of trail reminded me a little bit of my beloved Angeles National Forest. It was another lovely section of trail. The path widened again and took us under a canopy of pine. The trail became a bed of soft pine needles beneath our feet. As we travelled up the slope we were led to an old stone red rock quarry. Two large ravens suddenly emerged from the trees and soared across the blue sky above. Again, I felt at home as I was reminded of my life in California where there were always ravens to accompany me along my hikes in the higher elevations. As we traversed along the edge of the quarry, we were treated with sweeping views across the gorge and the ridge beyond. I was awe struck at how a place so beautiful can be so close to civilization. We spent some time exploring around the quarry before moving on, back into the hardwoods and finally looping back down to the woodland path on which we started. It was an absolutely amazing day and a beautiful preserve full of wild, natural beauty to explore and admire.
Today our adventures took us to Hickory Run State Park. The last time we were here it was fall when the leaves were showing off their vibrant autumn colors. I was excited to see how it was going to look in winter covered in snow. We got an early start so we could avoid the crowds. This area has become quite popular over the years, and can be very overcrowded on weekends. The parking area for Hawk Falls off route 534 was empty when we arrived. We parked the car, geared up in our microspikes and made our way onto the icy trail. Light snow showers began just as we started the hike. The trail was packed down into a hard sheet of ice. But the path was wide and not very steep, so it was safe to travel with just light traction. A foot bridge crossed over Hawk Run, and we continued past steep rock walls lined in hemlock and rhododendron. We followed a short use trail to a rock outcropping that gave us a nice view of the top of the falls tumbling down the side of the rocky ledge. It looked so beautiful as soft white snowflakes fell from the sky. In just a short .6 miles we arrived at the bottom where the 25 foot Hawk Falls plunged into a clear pool of cascades. We spent some time here enjoying the magnificence of this natural waterfall. Near the falls, we noticed some ice formations along the high cliff walls and decided to explore them. The moss covered ledges and large icicles dripped with melting water. We then got back on the trail and followed along Mud Run until we reached the junction for the Orchard Trail. We turned east and made an ascent up a hill and onto a ridge with nice views that continued through a hardwood forest. Eventually, the trail dropped us down again on some switchbacks into a windy thicket of rhododendron. It led us to a large rock outcrop just above Mud Run where spectacular cascades tumbled over large rocks and boulders. There were many use trails branching off to offer closer views of the beautiful water flow. The trail then turned northeast and we started to ascend moving away from the creek. Now higher above Mud Run the trail was a mix of patchy snow and muddy pools of water flowing down the mountain. Our waterproof boots came in handy here. Eventually, the trail looped west and back into the hardwoods where it was mostly snow. We closed the lollipop loop and made our way back over the ridge and down to the Hawk Falls trail to return the way we came. By this time many people were starting to arrive. We saw several large groups slipping and sliding on the ice attempting to make their way to the falls on the icy trail. When we arrived back at the parking area, there were at least 20+ cars with more lining up to get a spot. I was grateful to have been able to enjoy a quiet morning in solitude along this beautiful trail.
We tried to beat the rain on Sunday and take a short hike around Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary. I haven’t been here since fall and today the forest was covered in snow. With the weather having been warmer this past week and the snow starting to melt, I wasn’t expecting to need snowshoes. But the snow was still deep and we ended up putting them on. As we made our way along the trail, we were accompanied by the soft sound of rain falling on the trees and the snow covered forest floor. Despite the gray skies, it was a lovely day; very peaceful and relaxing to be in this serene place on a rainy winter morning.
February of 2021 brought the Lehigh Valley 38.8 inches of snow, the highest amount for the month to date. The days have been dark and gloomy, but today the sun made a glorious appearance. It was bound to be an amazing day, so we gathered our gear and headed out on the road into the Pocono Mountains. Our destination was Natural Lands Bear Creek Preserve. The early morning temperature was 19 degrees and the parking turnout at the trailhead off White Haven Road was still frozen. We suited up and hit the trail. We started out by following the purple trail south which took us through a hardwood forest scattered with mountain laurel and moss covered boulder formations. The beech trees still holding onto their autumn leaves glistened with a warm orange hue. We passed by a ravine with a waterfall now frozen into a striking 10 foot flow of ice. Sunlight danced on the frosty boughs of hemlock that still hung heavy with snow. As we meandered along the winding trail we began to descend closer to Shades Creek. We then connected to the gray trail as we reached the swinging bridge and crossed over the rapids. The winter landscape looked so amazing as we followed along the snow covered banks. We made our way in and out of rhododendron tunnels stopping every few feet to admire the fast flowing cascades. Sparkles of snow glistened in the sunlight as they fell from the trees like fairy dust. Before we knew it it was already getting to be late afternoon. As much as we wanted to stay, we knew we should start heading back. When we reconnected with the purple trail, we decided to make a quick side trip and follow it south. It crossed over Bear Creek on a primitive bridge and from here we went off trail to continue a little further along its edge. It was a beautiful section of trail, but we didn’t go too far since it was too late in the day to explore. We turned around making note to save that adventure for another time. We ascended steeply back up the hill, back into the hardwood forest and past the frozen waterfall. By this time, the sun had shifted lower on the horizon illuminating the landscape with its radiant afternoon light. When we arrived back at the trailhead, the frozen parking lot was a swimming pool of melted ice. We loaded up the car and headed home after another amazing winter’s day.
Today we ventured out again to take advantage of the abundant snowfall in the Pocono Mountains. This time our destination was the Delaware State Forest. We parked at the trailhead for Egypt Meadow Lake off Route 390 just north of Promised Land State Park. From here we donned our snowshoes and headed out into a winter wonderland. The snow was even deeper than what we had experienced yesterday at Nescopeck State Park. But it was light and powdery and such a delight to walk on. We traveled east along a wide path through a hardwood forest. Soon enough Egypt Meadow Lake came into view. Egypt Meadow Lake was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. It’s one of the few undeveloped lakes in Pennsylvania that can only be accessed by hiking. Today it was a sheet of solid ice covered in a veil of pure white snow. As we followed along the main path we came upon a side trail that looked like it would take us in for a closer look. We decided to explore. As we approached the icy shores we saw tracks made by humans leading out across the frozen lake. Ice thickness needs to be at least 4 inches to support the weight of a person up to 200 lbs. It appeared solid enough, so we made our way out onto the lake slowly and carefully. As we ventured further towards the center, expansive views opened up in all directions. It was such a thrill to be standing out there on top of the frozen water and enjoying the lake from this perspective. After taking it all in, we made our way back to the trail and continued following across the outlet of the dam. We then began to ascend on a single track into an exquisite forest of pine. The snowy path undulated gently along the shores of Egypt Meadow Lake and meandered in and out of giant hemlock trees. We passed by rhododendron, mountain laurels and rock formations that were almost hidden by the deep drifts of snow. It was an absolutely beautiful trail. At about 2 miles we came to the bridge that would cross over Egypt Meadow Lake and begin the second half of the loop around its western shores. This section of trail was equally as beautiful as the first half of the loop. We took our time as we snowshoed atop the magical white blanket covering the earth enjoying the beauty of the forest on this incredible winter day.
It’s hard to believe we’re moving closer and closer to spring with all of this snow around. The days are getting longer, but the temps are the coldest they’ve been so far this winter and we’re still receiving snowfall. We took advantage of the latest accumulation and headed up to Nescopeck State Park for a day of snowshoeing. Nescopeck is a beautiful area that we’ve returned to quite a few times since we’ve been on the east coast. We started our day enjoying the views around frozen Lake Frances which was now blanketed in a layer of snow. We turned south onto the Nescopeck Trail on a single track through a hardwood forest in the direction of Mount Yeager. The trail then widened and we made sure to stay out of the cross country ski tracks that were already laid. The snow was powder fluff and over a foot deep; perfect for snowshoes. We continued south until we reached the Creekside Trail. This trail is my favorite in the park. It looked exceptionally beautiful today. Its pristine waters were now mixed with patches of ice and a light dusting of snow. We stopped to admire its beauty and listen to the sound of the quiet forest as delicate snowflakes fell from surrounding Hemlocks. We continued following the creek westward until reaching a crossing where the bridge has been out since summer. We didn’t see a way of getting around it without having to make a water crossing, so we backtracked the way we’d come until reaching the junction for the Nescopeck Trail. From here we continued northeast and onto the Woodland Way Trail which circles around a pond. In the summer you can enjoy watching the turtles sunning themselves here on the rocks. We closed out our day at 5 miles. I’m really enjoying taking advantage of spending time outdoors during these beautiful winter days. I can feel the earth stirring beneath my feet, and life is beginning to awaken. I know soon enough the cold winter days and gray skies will give way to the warmth of the sun. The bare, leafless trees will burst forth in hues of green and the soil will make way for the first of blooms of spring flowers.
Jacobsburg State Park got about 31” of snow in the latest Lehigh Valley snow storm earlier this week. Saturday we were up and out early to catch the morning sunrise and do a little snowshoeing. We parked at the main parking area and headed into Henrys Woods. The giant hemlock forest was quiet and still. The snow was already well traveled from the past few days which made it hard packed and icy. The early morning temperature was below freezing, but with the lack of wind the crisp winter air was refreshing and quite pleasant. From Henry’s Woods, we crossed the bridge over the creek towards the Boulton Historic site on the Blue Blazed Trail. We then continued onto the Homestead Trail through some open fields with views of the Pocono Mountains off in the distance. The snow here was deep in spots and less packed down making for a great leg workout. There were also some really great sections of trail that were a little less soft, and I was able to enjoy gliding on top of the snow. We took our time, enjoyed the sunshine and continued on the Homestead Trail until we arrived back at the Environmental Center making it about a 5 mile loop. It was such a beautiful morning, so we took another short walk back through Henry’s Woods to enjoy the change of light and the sunshine that was now sparkling on the creek and its frozen icicles. It was such a great day and I was happy to get out for a bit between storms since the weather service was calling for more snow on Sunday.
My husband and I ventured out Sunday morning to check out the Rockport Area of Lehigh Gorge State Park. I’ve not seen much of the Lehigh Gorge besides the Bald Mountain Loop which we’d hiked last year and really enjoyed. We decided to check out a more popular area of the gorge and take a short walk on the D&L Trail to see Buttermilk Falls. I’m not much for hiking popular or crowded hikes, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give it a go. Getting to the falls is an easy walk on a flat gravel surface. From the parking area, the trail takes you upstream to the beautiful, 50 foot waterfall in less then half a mile. I’ve never had a hike to a waterfall be this easy! The forecast had been calling for snow, but not until later that afternoon. As we drove to the gorge, we were in and out of snow showers, but nothing too significant yet. When we arrived at the trailhead, it had started to snow very lightly. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was only one other car parked in the lot at this very popular destination. I guess we were the only crazy people out braving the potential weather that was yet to come. We made our way down to the D&L Trail that would take us to the waterfall. The gorge was so still and peaceful. That kind of stillness you only get to experience in the middle of a forest just before a snowfall when no one else is around. I could hear the whispers of falling snowflakes as we walked silently along the trail. The fast moving waters of the Lehigh River below us carried large chunks of ice downstream. As we walked I was mesmerized by the towering walls of the gorge which were adorned with icicles. They looked like gigantic swords protecting its high cliff walls. We continued onward being very careful not to slip on the ice that was hidden by a dusting of snow. In no time we arrived at the waterfall. Its icy cold waters tumbled down a 50 foot rocky ledge into a crystal clear pool below. Surrounded by snow and ice, it looked incredibly beautiful, especially with the snow that was falling. By this time it was starting to snow more heavily so after taking it all in, we made our way back to the car and were soon on our way back home to enjoy a nice, hot cup of coffee. It was an easy day, but well worth it to see so much beauty in just a quick walk.
It was another bitter cold morning, but I wasn’t about to give up a perfectly beautiful day outdoors. Today we headed to Schuylkill County to visit Locust Lake State Park. Temperatures were in the 20s again and the winds still hadn’t let up much since yesterday. We parked in the lot on the south east side of Locust Lake which was frozen solid. There were a couple of ice fishermen in the lot getting ready to head out onto the lake to try their luck. We geared up and headed west on the paved bicycle trail that would take us to the trailhead and into the woods. As we walked, we passed by the campground which I imagine would be absolutely beautiful (and also very crowded) in the summer. As we approached the trailhead I could see Locust Creek coming into view. There was a dusting of snow on the ground and the water shimmered in the morning sunshine. We crossed over a foot bridge and onto the Oak Loop Trail which followed along the beautiful Locust Creek. The sunlight cast a warm evergreen glow on the hemlocks above us and the icicle covered cascades sparkled as we hiked along the edge of the creek. This was a beautiful section of trail. I must have stopped every 5 feet to snap a photo. The trail had interpretive signs pointing out the trees and different vegetation. At about 1.7 miles the trail started to lead us up and out of the evergreen forest and into the hardwoods. It then made a beeline up the east side of Broad Mountain on a fairly steep grade. I was happy for the climb to keep the blood flowing on this chilly winter day. Along our route we passed an interesting rock outcropping. We stopped here to check it out before continuing. The trail eventually looped back east, and we descended down some switchbacks until we arrived back at the creek. Before leaving we decided to walk around the lake on the Bicycle Trail. By this time there were a few more people out braving the cold. It was a beautiful day and this was a very beautiful trail.
It was a bitter cold morning, but despite the weather we headed out for a short hike along Sobers Run in Jacobsburg State Park. It was somewhere in the 20s and the winds were blowing steadily which made it feel even colder. We Parked in the turn out just off Jacobsburg Road, crossed the bridge and headed south on the service road that would take us to the creek. We then turned north onto a one track trail which follows along Sobers Run. The trees here are mostly hardwoods and the forest looked completely different from when we had hiked this section of trail over the summer. At about 1.5 miles we reached Keller Road where we crossed a footbridge and circled back south on a long stretch of paved trail until it intersected with the dirt track that would take us closer to the creek. Along the way we discovered some large tree carvings which appeared to be either tikis or jack o’lanterns. I’m not really sure what they were supposed to be. It was a sunny morning and although it was quite chilly, it felt good to get out in the fresh winter air.
We were back at it again today exploring another nature preserve. This time we drove back to the Pocono Mountains. There are so many great places to see in this area that aren’t too far off the 115. The Thomas Darling Preserve is another preserve that’s part of the Wildlands Conservancy Land Trust. It was named after conservationist Thomas Darling Jr. This area has one of Pennsylvania’s largest spruce forests, and boy was I excited about that! I love me some conifers! The preserve is made up of 2,500 acres with glacial wetlands, meadows, bogs, and forest. Two Mile Run traverses the preserve before spilling into Tobyhanna Creek. The hike around the preserve is a short 2.5 mile loop, but it really packs in the scenery! After leaving the trailhead just off Burger Road/T551, the trail takes you along a boardwalk and through the wetlands. You are then transported into a beautiful evergreen forest. It was about 30 degrees in the morning today and being we were walking through wetlands, the trail was icy under the light dusting of snow that was covering the ground. I couldn’t get over how pretty it was walking through the snow covered conifers. At about .7 miles we reached Two Mile Run. We took a moment here to enjoy the beauty of the cascading pools. Next we headed on a long section of boardwalk that traversed an expansive wet meadow. There were more evergreens and also birch trees with their white bark. I’m not sure which part of the trail was my favorite, this section or the spruce forest. The boardwalk going through the meadow made us feel like we were transported into some other land… and really, if you think about it, we were. After this section of trail we headed into a hardwood forest and it began to flurry with some light snow. It was such a beautiful scene. As we arrived back at the trailhead, the snow flurries picked up and we were soon on our way headed out for a hot cup of coffee after a really wonderful day.
Pennsylvania has a good number of nature preserves to explore. Today we headed back up to the Pocono Mountains to the Maple Tract Preserve located near the 115 in Long Pond. The preserve is part of the Wildlands Conservancy Land Trust, and there are about 8 miles of hiking trails within its 680 acres. The area is made up of glacial wetlands, forest, mountain laurel and rhododendron which is so commonly found along the creekside trails of Pennsylvania. We started on the red trail heading southwest which took us past a frozen pond and along a carpet of soft pine needles. The day was mostly cloudy, which I’m learning is pretty typical of a Pennsylvania winter. As we continued we came up on another frozen pond. It seemed pretty solid so I got brave and ventured out onto it. It’s been years since I stood on a natural, frozen body of water. I remember ice skating on them as a kid many moons ago. We then continued along the trail through more forest of hemlock, spruce, larch, rhododendron and mountain laurel. I’m finally starting to be able to identify some of the trees and plants here on the east coast. It’s still very foreign to me since being out west all these years. As we hiked, we came upon some sections of trail that were on boardwalks to get across the wet marshes that were mostly frozen over. At about 2.5 miles we found Tunkhannock Creek. We walked down to the banks to get a better view and take some pictures. From here we followed the red trail west a bit further to enjoy more views of the creek before backtracking and heading north to explore the blue trail. I was really impressed with the scenery at this preserve. I loved the hilly ups and downs of the trail and the varying terrain. We hiked about 6 miles and didn’t see another person the entire day. This preserve is located close to the 80 and also the Pocono Raceway. I would imagine it might get a little noisy in the summer when the raceway is open. Nonetheless it is an incredibly beautiful area to explore.
Today we explored some of the trails in Lackawanna State Park. Lacka-wanna is Native American for “the meeting of two streams”. We parked at the trailhead just off Cole Road on the north side of Tunkhannock Creek, crossed the bridge and headed east onto the South Branch Trail. The trail first took us through an open field covered in snow. It looked so magical with the icy snowflakes blowing off the trees like glitter against the blue sky. It was a sunny day, and the snow covered ground sparkled in the morning sunlight as we followed the path. The temperatures were in the mid 20s, but no wind and the sun felt warming as we hiked. The trail then moved closer to the creek entering a beautiful forest of hemlock trees. It followed along the edge of the creek on a narrow track before ascending upward to a wider path. We continued along this track about 2 miles to Messimer Preserve where we found a sign stating, “Sorry We’re Closed”. At this point we turned around and headed back in the opposite direction. On our way we found a spur trail that descended to the creek where we spent time exploring the area and enjoying the small cascades. After our side adventure, we continued back to Cole Road where we crossed and headed west on the Bassett Trail. The trails here were a mix of mud and ice, but the scenery was beautiful nonetheless. We took the Abington Trail to the Lake Shore Trail to get some views of Lackawanna Lake which looked like it was mostly frozen over. We reached a junction for the Lee Hill Trail, took a sharp turn north and began to ascend into more beautiful forest. This trail is also used for mountain biking and I can see why. The trails here were undulating and very enjoyable to hike. Eventually, we met up again with the Bassett Path and closed out the loop. Lackawanna State Park is a beautiful area with many more trails to explore and also a number of preserves in the same vicinity. I’ll surely be back again to see more of this place.
We started out the year with a hike to Tobyhanna Falls in the Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area. Pennsylvania has so many waterfalls, I haven’t even scratched the surface of what there is to discover. The weather reports were calling for freezing rain later in the day, so we got up and out early so as not to risk it.
The Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area was once home to Harrison Amusement Park which entertained the community along the Tobyhanna Creek. What was then known as Toby Park had a carousel, skating rink, swimming pool, dining hall, penny arcade, sporting fields and a creekside beach. It was destroyed in a flood in 1955.
Today the area is open to hikers with a small network of trails that take the hiker along Tobyhanna Creek to the scenic Tobyhanna Falls.
We started at the trailhead off the 115 heading west along the Creek Trail. The first section of the hike takes you through a beautiful stand of tall spruce trees. A short half a mile walk then leads to the waterfall. The falls aren’t very tall, but they are mighty. It’s quite a spectacle to see. The fast moving water was tinted with an amber color which is caused by the tannic acid produced by hemlock and spruce along the banks of the creek. It was a beautiful site to start off the new year. After taking it all in, we continued west. At about .9 miles Tunkhannock Creek flows into Tobyhanna. We looped around north heading away from the creek on the Highland Trail and into a beautiful coniferous forest.
It was a wonderful morning and this is a beautiful area to explore in just a few short miles. We got back in plenty of time to beat the weather.
Today we spent the day exploring the Bald Mountain tract of Lehigh Gorge State Park near Rockport. Bald Mountain looked interesting to me because the access point isn’t located near any of the popular areas of the park. We found the turn off to the trailhead which wasn’t signed and if you blinked, you’d miss it. We parked the car and right away I heard the clack, clack, clack of the ravens above. I knew it was going to be a good hike. I have such a soft spot for these birds. They remind me of my hikes in California because they were always around when I was hiking in the higher elevations. We began the trek near Indian Run and crossed over the bridge which lead us into a beautiful forest of pitch pine and hemlock. The wide trail headed east with a steady incline up to the top of Penn Haven Mountain with the Lehigh River flanking us to the north, east and south. There was a junction here and signage for the Bald Mountain Loop. We followed the trail northeast in a clockwise direction being careful not to slip on the ice that was hidden under a thin layer of snow. It was about 30 degrees with about a 12 mph wind which made it seem much colder then it was. The loop dropped us down in elevation and eventually gave us a nice climb back up. It was a beautiful section of trail, although there was a lot of water we had to navigate around in addition to the ice. Once back at the top we found signage for the Vista Trail. The trail narrowed and lead us out to the rocky south facing cliff side of Bald Mountain. Here we had nice view down into the deep gorge and across to Scrub Mountain. We sat for a bit in the sun to warm up, but even in the sun it was still quite chilly. As we made our way back, the winds continued and we kept moving. The afternoon sunlight coming through the trees was absolutely gorgeous! I really enjoyed this hike. It was such a beautiful day despite the wind and I will definitely be back to explore more of this beautiful area.
It was Saturday morning, two days after the snow storm and it was time to test out snowshoeing in Pennsylvania. Not really knowing how well the roads would be plowed further north, I decided it was best to stay somewhat local. I checked the DCNR State Parks Winter Reports page for the conditions and snow levels at Jacobsburg State Park. The reports showed 11 inches of snow which was enough for snowshoeing. It was 7 degrees when I woke up. I wasn’t quite sure how that was going to feel. I’m used to Southern California weather. In SoCal this time of year the temperature might (and that is a big MIGHT) drop into the 30s, and then I’d drive to higher elevations for snow and colder weather. In Pennsylvania winter is right outside my door. I suited up in my winter hiking gear and headed out. When I arrived at Jacobsburg, I was surprised to see there were very few cars in the well plowed lot. I thought for sure since this park is so close to town that there would be families with children sledding and many more people enjoying the winter wonderland. There was hardly anyone, and I was not going to complain. I suited up and headed out along the blue trail to get the blood flowing. The snow was more of a hard pack because during the storm, it was mixed with sleet. I followed the blue trail which loops around the edge of the park. I passed a group of cross-country skiers which I’m learning is a popular sport here. I can see why with the wide trails and easy going terrain. I reached the junction for the trail that would loop me around to the bridge that crosses over Bushkill Creek and headed into Henry’s Woods. The creek was starting to freeze over with icicles clinging to the rock walls along the creek. The giant hemlocks towered above. It was just beautiful. I finished the loop with about 3 miles RT. It was a nice warm up hike and introduction of what to expect after experiencing my first Pennsylvania snow storm in 20 years.
The D&L Trail is a 165-mile multi-use trail running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. The northern terminus is located in Mountain Top, Luzerne County with its highest point being 1,785’. The trail follows the same route that the anthracite coal once took from mine to market and winds along the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. As you walk the towpath, there are interpretive signs that mark points of interest on the trail. Since the trail runs along the river, there’s lots of wildlife to be seen here. I walk this path some days in the early mornings and there’s plenty of species of birds including Bald Eagles which are making a comeback in the area. Bald Eagles are listed as protected and no longer considered endangered or threatened. Last week I happened to see one flying upstream along the canal. I didn’t see any Bald Eagles today, but I did catch a glimpse of a Red Fox making its way across the trail. I walked about 2 miles to Hope Road where there’s a washout apparently left over from Tropical Storm Isaias. It’s not impassable, but I made this my turnaround point since I was short on time this morning. The D&L National Heritage Corridor is full of history and is a great place to come for fresh air and exercise when you just need to get out for an easy walk on the trail.
Wednesday was the first snowfall of 2020 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and I was not going to let the beauty of it pass by without getting some local photos. The Monocacy Nature Trail is a place I sometimes like to come to in the mornings to take in the fresh air and enjoy the wildlife before getting my day started. I was so excited to see it covered in a fresh of dusting snow. While I’m not really sure what to expect here in NEPA, winter in SoCal was my favorite time of year to drive up to the mountains and enjoy the weather. I’m looking forward to seeing what the months ahead will bring and hopefully getting in some snowshoeing.
