Mileage: 7 miles
Elevation: ~just over 1,000ft?
Wildlife: turkey vultures
Section on Appalachian Trail: Somewhere between mile markers 1249-1252 I believe.
I hadn't done much hiking in Pennsylvania aside from a few short walks in the Poconos area with family. A road trip to see the folk musician Peggy Seeger perform was the primary reason for a drive out to PA. Every road trip should include a hike or exploration though, so I picked out this small section on the Appalachian trail as a side trip. It was well worthwhile.
The starting point was the Lehigh Gap Nature Center to begin on some exploratory trails that connect to the Appalachian trail within a short distance. The center has restrooms and an easy to read map that you should definitely pick up.
Map Here
There are a number of loops you can do. This is the route we did.
Woodpecker Trail until you reach the Appalachian Trail which you turn right on.
The trail is appropriately named as you will see along here and on the AT as well, many trees with holes in them where the birds peck their food from.
This area of PA is known for coal mining and hence the land surrounding here has been degraded quite a bit due to zinc smelting from 1898-1980. You will see this sign posted as well as some photographs inside the nature center that display the slow restoration of the land.
Once you've made the right onto the white blazed AT continue on up until you reach the George W. Outerbridge Shelter for a snack break. It is a nice shelter with a firepit and view looking out.
Here you are walking southbound on the AT and hence the trail is gaining elevation for awhile until you reach the South Mountain. Keep hiking past the first blue blazed intersection. It is when you reach a tower with the ridge line nearby at the second intersection with the scenic blue blazes that we made a right turn onto this scenic blue-blazed route.
I'd recommend taking this scenic route having hiked both ways. The entire trail was on a ridge line overlooking the town. Lots of photos below.
We came upon this animal spine somewhat off the trail.
Keep following the blue blazes and you can either link back to the Appalachian trail or link to the trails at the nature center to return back. We took the Charcoal trail back, but the trail leading between the North trail and Charcoal trails was hard to spot to the left and was not well maintained at all. The worker at the nature center warned us that the trails are not as maintained in the winter season. But with some bushwhacking and an adventurous spirit we decided on keeping with the originally planned route. I'm glad we did as a little rock scrambling in a hike is always a bit of fun. I also realized why Pennsylvania acquired the nickname Rocksylvania.
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| A great view! |
Since it was getting late we hooked this trail back to the Prairie Grass trail and then to the LNE trail that leads to the parking lot. The rest is all easy downhill and level hiking back.
Below are the trip details and map. Starting point was a little late. Remember to turn your gps on!
Links:
Nature Center
Recommended Music in the tradition of Appalachia folk music:
Where have all the flowers gone?
Worried Man Blues
Seeger, Cash, Carter
Folk music is a recently discovered musical treasure of mine and I hope it doesn't disappear as newer generations come along. Keep it alive; along with the protection of the beautiful forests and wildlife around us.
