A Little Dose of Nature Goes A Long Way on NEPA's Scenic Walking Trails
As NEPA shakes off the last signs of winter, its hiking trails, parks, and forests are bursting back to life. The birds are back, the buds are blooming, and there’s no better time to stretch your legs and reconnect with nature. Whether you’re craving peaceful lakeside views, quiet wooded paths, or a sunny stroll through a nearby state park, you don’t need to break a sweat to enjoy it all.
These scenic walking trails offer an easy, accessible way to take in NEPA’s springtime beauty—no hiking boots required. Flat, well-kept, and family-friendly, they’re perfect for a leisurely afternoon or a quick walk between errands.
We’ve rounded up a dozen of NEPA’s best walking trails to help you get out there this season. Take a look and start planning your next stroll.
Wyoming, PA
Even though it’s considered one of the park’s easier routes, the 1-mile Evergreen Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park leads to an incredible view of Adams Falls, with sights of grottos and evergreen groves along the way.
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North Abington Twp., PA
This 2-mile hike delivers on both tranquility and a little sweat-inducing hill climbing. Enjoy lake views and long stretches of quiet forest along the Frost Hollow Trail at Lackawanna State Park.
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Bear Creek, PA
The 2.1-mile Green Loop trail at the Natural Lands’ Bear Creek Preserve carries you through dense forests of Mountain Laurel and along a cool, clear waterfall. And if you’re vigilant, you might even spot a bald eagle.
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Scranton, PA
With the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail’s 30 trailheads across Lackawanna County, this easily accessible, hiker- and cyclist-friendly trail is perfect for a bike ride, a jog, or a leisurely stroll.
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Scranton, PA
The Lake Scranton Walking Trail is an easy 3.5-mile loop that offers scenic views of the lake and surrounding woodlands. The smooth, paved surface makes the path both wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
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Tobyhanna, PA
Just over 5 miles, the Lakeside Trail at Tobyhanna State Park winds its way around the beautiful, scenic Tobyhanna Lake at this popular state park in the heart of the Pocono Mountains.
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Weatherly, PA
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the rolling whitewater of the Lehigh River along the mostly flat, easily walkable, 26-mile Lehigh Gorge Trail at Lehigh Gorge State Park stretching from White Haven to Jim Thorpe.
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Blakeslee, PA
Keep an eye out for wildlife on the 2.2-mile Loop Trail at Thomas Darling Preserve through one of the largest spruce forests and one of the most scenic nature preserves in the Pocono Mountains.
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Wyoming, PA
The Luzerne County Levee Trail offers 12 miles of paved pathways with scenic views of the Susquehanna River and easy access from multiple trailheads across Forty Fort, Kingston, Plymouth and Wilkes-Barre.
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Barnesville, PA
Look for the legendary Spirit Tree on the 4.5-mile Spirit of Tuscarora Trail at Tuscarora State Park. The path carries you along Tuscarora Lake, through a wetland meadow and stunning old Hemlock forests.
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Montrose, PA
Be on the lookout for industrious beavers and bring your birding binoculars for a walk on this diverse and secluded Wetland Trail through Salt Springs State Park.
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Nescopeck, PA
The easily-accessible Woodland Way Trail at Nescopeck State Park winds through dense forest, up and down moderate hills and along a seemingly hidden swamp. Look for turtles, frogs and beavers.
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Shake off winter and hit the trails this spring in NEPA, where scenic hikes, state parks and peaceful lakes are just waiting to be explored.
Article Updated from its Original Version Published on 3/24/20.
