Pennsylvania outdoors

Day Hike at the Van Buskirk Farm Preserve, March 27, 2021

March 29, 2021

Today our hike took place at the Van Buskirk Farm Preserve in the Pocono Mountains. We parked at the trailhead on the east side of Cranberry Creek and headed out onto the trail. Immediately, we were transported into an ethereal world of towering hemlocks, a roaring creek and huge boulders carpeted in thick green moss. It was beautiful here. And only a few steps away from the road. I wondered how many people drive by this place every day and don’t even notice the inconspicuous trail and the beauty that lies just beyond. We took time to explore the area and capture the morning sunlight that shone through the pines and sparkled on the clear waters of the creek. We crossed over a primitive wooden bridge to the other side where we found large trees taller than a building toppled over from a powerful windstorm. I can’t even imagine the force it must have taken to uproot them. Next we continued along the trail which paralleled the creek crossing over patches of mud, rocks and small streams flowing down from the mountain. The trail then turned west and made an ascent towards more downed trees that we had to to navigate around. As the trail leveled out we were treated to a path of soft pine needles that always feel so good on your feet after traversing rocky terrain. We passed through the middle of an old stone wall, left from days gone by. As we hiked along the wind whispered through the trees and gently moved cumulus clouds across the sky like soft puffs of white cotton. We made our way through more patches of mud and wet leaves before the trail became a pleasant mossy path passing through rows of young white pine. Soon we found ourselves at an open meadow and before us stood the ruins of an early 20th century farm. We observed some old farm equipment and the remnants of a stone structure. Below the ruins was an open field which I imagined may once have been an orchard abundant with fruit trees. After exploring the farm, we continued on our way. Next, the trail led us to an open area at the foot of a rock quarry surrounded by vernal pools. A chorus of wood frogs filled our ears. These pools must have been loaded with them. We made our way up to the top of the quarry where twisted pitch pines grew out from its rocky ledges. We took in the view and enjoyed the mountain breeze before heading back down to the trail. Soon we were back at the beginning of the loop that would take us back the way we came along the creek. By this time it was early afternoon and with the beautiful weather, we decided to sit aside the creek and enjoy a snack before heading back home.

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Exploring Paradise Price Preserve and Targa Falls on the Brodhead Creek, March 21, 2021

March 23, 2021

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.

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Sunrise on Mt. Wismer and an afternoon at Stony Run in the Delaware State Forest, Vernal Equinox, March 20, 2021

March 22, 2021

Today was the vernal equinox, a time when day and night are in equal balance. To honor the official beginning of spring, we set out for a sunrise hike to the top of Mt. Wismer in Monroe County. We parked at the trailhead just off the 447 to take the blue blazed trail. This is actually the easy route. There’s a more challenging hike from the trailhead off Gravel Road. Today we were interested in doing photography and catching the light of the sunrise. It was a crisp, cold morning and as the sun began to rise up over the mountain, we made our way down a wide open path which led to the blue blazed trail. The trail heading up had patches of hard snow and ice. As we hiked along the trail became a single track and I noticed large moss covered boulders above us dripping with melting ice. Spring surely is here. The trail was rocky and wet with leaves as it gently ascended through large rhododendrons and hemlock trees. We followed along the escarpment of the mountain, and as it curved to the east we were almost blinded by the blazing sun coming up over the horizon. At the top we were rewarded with wide open views. From here we could see Gravel Pond, Camelback Mountain and even more impressive, the obvious gap of the Delaware Water Gap. The light was absolutely brilliant. We meandered around the overlook enjoying the open landscape before heading north on an unmarked trail. We hiked along the path through hardwoods, and then found ourselves in a beautiful grove of hemlock. The sunshine shimmered through the towering trees, and I heard the call of a tufted titmouse. Soon we were at the close of the loop and back at the trailhead. It was still very early and neither of us were ready to head home, so we opted to take another hike. We decided to venture into the Delaware State Forest to Stony Run. We parked the car at an unmarked trailhead off Snow Hill Road and headed onto a wide grassy trail. The trail began to descend southward and became more rocky. As we hiked I spotted two white-tailed deer off in the distance who quickly disappeared into the woods. Soon the trees began to thicken with evergreens and I could hear the sound of fast moving water. A wooden bridge came into view and we were now at Stony Run. From the bridge I watched the run as it tumbled and danced over moss-covered rocks. We explored the area for a bit then found a comfy spot to settle in, have a snack and enjoy the scenery. After our little break, we started to make our way to the trailhead. We took a short off-trail adventure over to a large rock outcropping with some nice views. Three large black vultures sored high above us in the sky. By now the day had warmed up to about 55 degrees, but it was time to make our way back and head home. It was a beautiful way to kick off the first day of spring.

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Dick and Nancy Eales Preserve at Moosic Mountain, Blueberry Trail, Stonehenge Trail, Conglomerate Trail, 6 Miles RT, March 7, 2021

March 11, 2021

Today our adventure took place at the Dick and Nancy Eales Preserve at Moosic Mountain. Pennsylvania has some very beautiful preserves, and I was super excited to see this one. I’d been waiting for the right day to visit and today was the day! The sun was shining, the skies were blue and while the temperatures were still below freezing, the winds were fairly low. The Eales Preserve is noted as being one of the best places in the northeastern United States to experience a ridge-top heath barrens. What is a ridge-top heath barrens you ask? I didn’t know either. A heath barrens is a dwarf shrubland or shrub-savanna which can also have stunted trees such as pine and oak. Barrens are great habitats for a wide array of birds, butterflies, moths and other wildlife. The rare sallow moth and barrens buckmoth have been observed at this particular preserve. The Eales preserve was once slated to become a business park. Thankfully, this did not happen and the land is now protected by the Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit. As we arrived at the trailhead, I immediately noticed the expansiveness of this place. I also saw two ravens playing on the wind and calling back and forth to each other. I knew this was going to be a great hike. We grabbed our packs and cameras and headed out onto the Blueberry Trail. Right at the start of the trail I was immediately awe struck by the beautiful white birch trees and the incredible, stunted pitch pines. I followed along the narrow broken path making my way carefully through the ice, hard packed snow and large post-holes where others had walked. Along the trail there were also patches of exposed rock slab where the snow had completely melted. The varying terrain made it a challenge to walk. Snowshoes would not have worked here, so we used microspikes for added traction. The trail gently gained elevation and quickly opened up to expansive views of the ridges and valleys below. These are the most impressive views I’ve seen since I’ve been in Pennsylvania, and I was loving every moment. As we hiked along the trail we passed by low-lying shrubs such as blueberry and huckleberry. Stunted oak trees still holding to their autumn leaves rattled in the wind. As we reached the high point on the mountain I noticed wind turbines off in the distance. I later learned this was the Waymart Wind Farm in Wayne County. The trail then turned northwest and began to descend along hilly undulating terrain. We then reached a wide open road surrounded by beautiful white birch until connecting with the Stonehenge Trail. Once again on a narrow trail, we meandered through a hardwood forest lined with impressive, massive rock formations. We crossed a small stream and were again surrounded by the openness of the barrens. From here it got a little confusing. We wanted to connect to the Conglomerate Trail, but with the large snow drifts covering the rocks that had the blazed trail markers we ended up slightly off trail. After a quick navigation check with map and compass we began to make our way in the direction of where the actual trail would be. After post-holing through the deep snow drifts, we were again back on route. That was exhausting! By this time the day had warmed up to 26 degrees which to me really didn’t feel that cold. (This California girl must be getting used to the Pennsylvania winters already!) This was an absolutely beautiful and unique preserve and not something I would have ever expected to see in Pennsylvania. As we made our way back to the trailhead I was already making note to add this magical landscape to my list of places to return to during all seasons.

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Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, Snowshoeing in the Rain, February 28, 2021

March 08, 2021

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.

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Snowshoeing Nescopeck State Park, 5 Miles, Nescopeck Trail, Creekside Loop, Woodland Way Trail, February 13, 2021

February 15, 2021

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.

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Snowshoeing Jacobsburg State Park, 5 Mile Loop, Henry's Woods, Blue Blazed Trail, Homestead Trail, February 6, 2021

February 09, 2021

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.

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Locust Lake State Park, 5 Mile Loop on Another Chilly Day, January 24, 2021

January 25, 2021

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.

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Wildlands Conservancy Maple Tract Preserve, 6 Miles RT, January 17, 2021

January 19, 2021

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.

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Delaware State Forest, Egypt Meadow Lake, Bruce Lake, Promised Land, 6 Miles RT, December 27, 2020

December 28, 2020

Beautiful day in the Delaware State Forest. We started the day by stopping off in Promised Land to check out the Little Falls trail along East Branch Wallenpaupack Creek. It was 18 degrees in the morning, and as I walked I could feel the ice underneath the frozen leaves cracking beneath my boots. The creek was moving fast and there were icicles clinging to the trees. I took a few photos and headed out to the trailhead for Egypt Meadow Lake off the 390. We started the trail heading east in a clockwise direction, but soon came upon an area where the water from the lake had breeched the trail making it impassable. There’s been so much rain over the past few days that it’s caused the snow to wash away and the rivers and creeks to swell. We backtracked and took the trail in the opposite direction. It was a beautiful walk through the forest with rock outcroppings lending spectacular views of frozen Egypt Meadow Lake. The trail undulated gently up and down over the typical rocky Pennsylvania terrain until we reached the junction for Bruce Lake. From here we continued eastward on a wide road with a lot of icy sections that were easy enough to navigate around. We arrived at Bruce Lake which was also frozen over. I tested the water with my boot and it felt solid. I could see footprints of a person and their dog who had ventured out onto the icy lake. We took a short break here to enjoy the scenery, but with the below freezing temperatures we didn’t stay too long before we needed to get moving again. On the way back we took the Panther Swamp trail to reconnect with the Egypt Meadow Trail and returned to the trailhead. The parking lot at the trailhead was still a sheet of ice. It didn’t go above freezing the whole day, but there were no winds which made it a perfect day for winter hiking.

First Snowshoeing Day in Pennsylvania, Jacobsburg State Park, 3 Miles RT Loop, December 19, 2020

December 22, 2020

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.

Bear Creek Preserve, Red Trail, Gray Trail, Red/Green Trail, 7 miles RT, December 13, 2020

December 15, 2020

Beautiful creekside hiking at Bear Creek Preserve this weekend! This has been my favorite hike in NEPA thus far. We started from the trailhead at Rabbit Run Lane on the red trail and connected to the gray tail heading south along Shades Creek. This section of trail was just beautiful with many cascades flowing into deep, clear pools, waterfalls and undulating trail through rhododendron jungles, in and out of hemlock forest and mossy wetland. Before reconnecting to the red trail and heading back north, we crossed over Shades Creek on a really cool suspension bridge. The terrain for most of this hike was rocky and slippery with wet leaves, but I'm getting used to my feet taking a beating on these east coast trails and learning to slow down a bit and take my time. East coast hiking is very different from out west. There may not be much elevation to gain, but I’m starting to find some locations that feel a little more remote where we can track some decent mileage. We followed the red trail back to the trailhead and closed the loop at about 7 miles RT. Absolutely beautiful place to explore.

Hopewell Furnace, French Creek State Park, Horseshoe Trail, Ridge Trail, Boone Trail, 8 Miles RT, September 27, 2020

September 30, 2020

Today I got up much later then I’d wanted to. It just feels so comfortable here on the east coast as the seasons are starting to change. Nevertheless, I knew if I didn’t get up and out I’d regret wasting the day. I decided to go back to French Creek State Park and explore more of the trails. This time I parked at the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site so I could walk through the old iron plantation and take in a bit of history before heading off on the Horseshoe Trail. The Horseshoe Trail is a 130 mile trail that runs from Valley Forge to the Appalachian Trail in Harrisburg, PA. Part of this trail passes through French Creek State Park with stops along Hopewell Lake and Scotts Run Lake. I followed the trail west until I reached a junction for the Boone Trail which would take me to the Ridge Trail and the Hopewell Fire Tower on top of William’s Hill. Not far from the junction I came upon some empty cabins. The cabins were not locked, so I went inside to take a look. Each cabin had some old metal bed frames, but nothing else. It was fun exploring around and even a little eerie. To add to my woodsy macabre adventure, I could heard gunshots off in the distance. However I knew those shots were coming from a nearby firing range and there was no need for alarm. After checking out the cabins, I continued on to the fire tower. I hiked up the Ridge Trail to the top of William’s Hill. There was a parking area here, but to my disappointment, I was unable to see the tower because it was blocked by all the trees. I found what looked like a use trail and followed it for a short while, but it was severely overgrown. I’ll have to come back in the winter when the trees drop their leaves and hopefully, I’ll be able to get a better view. The fire tower was built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps/French Creek Recreation project. Oh well. Better luck next time. I headed back down the Boone Trail which seemed a little more rocky then the way I’d come up and looped back to the Horseshoe Trail passing by Scotts Run Lake then back to Hopewell Furnace. It was lovely, overcast day and an enjoyable hike coupled with some sight-seeing.

Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, July 25, 2020

July 27, 2020

I recently learned about Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary which is located not far from where I live. I’ve been doing short hikes and nature walks early in the mornings and sticking close to home because it’s been too hot and humid this summer to do any long mileage or strenuous hiking. This was my first time visiting the sanctuary which is part of Natural Lands, a non-profit organization preserving open space in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Mariton is absolutely lovely. It sits on top of Bougher Hill and overlooks the Delaware River. There is a small trail system that took me through the woods and along the slopes of Bougher Hill to the River Lookout which on a clear day may have provided views of the Delaware Canal below. The woods were thick with morning mist and being the first on the trails so early in the morning I was breaking through spider silk from the previous evening. The forest was so still and quiet. The kind of quiet that almost hurts your ears. Who knew such a place existed so close to home! I kept my walk short today and didn’t bother to record any mileage. I simply enjoyed the scenery and took these wonderful photos. I will most definitely be back to do more exploring.

Monocacy Way Trail, Heritage Trail Section 26, Illick's Mill to Schoenersville Road, 2 Mile Nature Walk Out & Back, June 26, 2020

June 27, 2020

It had been a long couple of months locked away in a city apartment with the Covid pandemic looming over the world. On top of everything I was preparing for a move to eastern Pennsylvania. I was able to get in a few short, local hikes in Griffith Park before I left California, but no wilderness or desert hiking for months. Being away from the backcountry took a toll on my mental and physical well being. It broke my heart to cancel all my plans in Joshua Tree, Idyllwild and the Eastern Sierra, and I was not able to bid what I loved most about California, which were its high-elevation trails, wilderness and desert backcountry a proper farewell. But now I have arrived on the east coast and as the world is beginning to return to what people are referring to as “the new normal”, I am finally starting to feel more like myself again.

Tonight my husband and I began our journey to exploring nature on the east coast. Even though I grew up here, seeing Pennsylvania as an adult is seeing it with a new perspective. We started off with a short walk on a nature trail not far from our home called the Monocacy Way Trail. I used to walk this trail when I lived here over 20 years ago. It has now become part of Historic Bethlehem’s 10.9 mile long Heritage Trail which was designed to give Bethlehem city explorers a taste of Bethlehem history from its Moravian roots to its industrial heyday of the Bethlehem Steel.

We started at the trailhead at Illick’s Mill* across from Monocacy Park. The trail begins as a paved walkway but quickly turns into a proper dirt track. The first thing I noticed is how much greener everything is compared to Southern California. It’s quite a different color pallet. As I walked the trail became a symphony of birdsong; Gray Catbirds, Wood thrush, Carolina Wren and American Robins. There are many use trails along the path if you want to veer off the main trail and walk along Monocacy Creek. Wildflowers are plentiful here with Forget-me-nots, Honeysuckle, Day Lily, Milkweed and Aster. The trail winds along the creek and eventually crosses over the train tracks. I then passed by an open grassy meadow full of thistle and grazing bunnies. At about .8 miles I arrived at Schoenersville Road. If you cross Schoenersville Road, you will continue on past the Burnside Plantation. It was already dark by this time, so we headed back. As we did the fireflies started to light up the trail, just as I remembered from when I was a kid. This is a nice little nature walk bursting with wildlife such as deer, rabbits, box turtles, birds, etc. Great for a quick dose of nature any time of day.

*A little history about Illick’s Mill: The grist mill was built on the Monocacy Creek by John Peter and his son Joseph in 1856. At that time it operated as a flour and feed company. The Mill changed hands many times over the years opening and closing its doors. In 1935, the Bethlehem Water Authority took over the Mill and the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration constructed Monocacy Park. Then in 1965 the Mill was restored and reopened as a music venue appealing to Lehigh Valley teenagers. It closed its doors again in 1973. Over the years, the Mill continued to change ownership. But what I remember most about Illick’s Mill were the years it hosted a haunted house attraction run by the Bethlehem Jaycees in the 80s and 90s. In the year 2005, the Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. As of today the Mill is home to the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Mid-Atlantic Conservation Office and is available for meetings and events through the City of Bethlehem.