Looking for Things to Do Outside this Spring? Take a Spring Hike on NEPA's Trails
As another NEPA winter gives way to those first glimpses of early spring, life returns to our waking forests. Plump, green buds sprout from the fingertips of weary trees. Birdsongs echo over soggy meadows. Cool, clear streams, wide with the March thaw, run high within their rocky banks. Ponds bubble as frogs and yearling trout dart about in the shallows. The long-dormant sights and sounds of NEPA’s natural spaces beckons us back to the trails.
Let’s pack away those snow pants and puffy jackets and get outside for long, weekend hikes, cascading waterfalls, picturesque mountain views and a little soul rejuvenation. Here’s a handy list of awesome places in NEPA where you can do just that with a spring hike.
Bear Creek, PA
Bring along your binoculars and maybe a camera for a hike at this Luzerne County favorite. Keep an eye out for a variety of songbirds, waterfalls and a stunning overlook at the Bear Creek Preserve.
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Wright Twp., PA
This almost-secret and peaceful roadside trail runs along Big Wapwallopen Creek and through the dense forest of Penobscot Mountain. keep your eyes open for the perfect fishing spot along the certified Class A Wild Trout stream.
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Dalton, PA
Make room in your calendar this season for a hike at the Davis Crossing Preserve. This serene, Lackawanna County nature preserve is best known for its short, easy trails, plenty of wildlife watching, birding and a popular beaver pond.
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Honesdale, PA
Stroll nearly 600 acres of green meadows, quiet forests and several ponds at this peaceful preserve Honesdale. You can combine many of the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary’s short trails to make a continuous loop of the whole property.
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Dunmore, PA
Enjoy waterside views of Little Roaring Brook and the expansive reservoir mixed with the dense forest backdrop along the shoreline on this popular trail. The Dunmore Reservoir #1 Nature Trail often serves as a convenient escape from nearby Scranton.
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Foster Twp., PA
The ponds and wetlands come alive in springtime at this North Branch Land Trust nature preserve. Watch closely for turtles, frogs, salamanders and more along the rugged trails at the George and Lillian Picton Wildlife Preserve.
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Kempton, PA
Catch the spring raptor migration featuring osprey, eagles and many other birds of prey at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary North Lookout. No beautiful birds, no problem. The amazing 70-mile view of the valley below easily makes up for it.
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Lake Ariel, PA
The trails at the tranquil Lacawac Sanctuary nestled in the northern Pocono Mountain lake region feature wetlands, wildlife, meadows, forests, ponds and the massive Lake Wallenpaupack.
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North Abington Twp., PA
Take your pick from roughly 18 miles of trails at the popular Lackawanna State Park. Enjoy dense forest and lakeside trails, a stunning waterfall and plenty of wildlife.
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Auburn, PA
The Landingville Marsh Trail is located near the Auburn Desilting Basin. Along this flat loop trail around the Schuylkill River, you can find the remains of the oldest transportation tunnel in the United States. Home to 211 species of bird, it is an ideal bird watching location.
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Factoryville, PA
Take in the picturesque views of the deep, natural gorge and swirling potholes on the easily-accessible .5-mile creekside trail at Little Rocky Glen Preserve. Don’t forget to pack a lunch and stop at the picnic pavilion.
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Barnesville, PA
Choose from three hiking trails of differing lengths at the beautiful Locust Lake State Park in Schuylkill County. Enjoy gorgeous Locust Lake, several streams and quiet, dense forests.
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Berwick, PA
Explore the riverbanks at the Susquehanna Riverlands on this peaceful, 2.8-mile trail in Columbia County. Keep an eye out for abundant river wildlife and plenty of unique migratory birds returning for spring.
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Greentown, PA
Watch for the famous bald eagles at Promised Land State Park. Choose from plenty of forested and lakeside trails, or check out the park’s unique Conservation Island.
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Benton, PA
Spring is the optimal time to check out the popular Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park. Outside of the park’s 22 beautiful waterfalls, you’ll also find incredible trails with unforgettable mountain vistas.
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Montrose, PA
Take a waterside hike along the Gorge Trail and Fall Brook Trail at Salt Springs State Park in Susquehanna County. And don’t forget to check out the famous Salt Spring and the Penny Rock.
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Hanover Twp., PA
Experience unique, landscape views of the iconic Wyoming Valley and an old railroad bridge along the 3-mile, out-and-back Sugar Notch Ridgetop Trail just outside of Wilkes-Barre.
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Blakeslee, PA
Check out the vibrant marshlands and towering spruce forests along the 2.2-mile trail that runs through the expansive 2,500-acre Thomas Darling Preserve in the Poconos.
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Barnesville, PA
Bring the camera along to capture cool wildlife pics at the peaceful Tuscarora State Park. Enjoy miles of trails through dense forests, along vast, open meadows and Tuscarora Lake.
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Union Dale, PA
Embark on an epic hiking journey, or take a simple stroll along the Lackawanna River on this extensive trail stretching from Simpson to the New York border. The relatively flat, crushed stone D&H Rail Trail extends from Lackawanna County through rural Susquehanna and Wayne Counties.
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The vibrant colors of NEPA return as we welcome the spring season in full bloom. Explore all the outdoor activities and diverse events that make spring an exciting time to be in NEPA.
Article Updated from its Original Version Published on 04/07/2021.
