and more
Spring Hikes in the Susquehanna River Valley
Spring
is a lovely season in the Susquehanna River Valley. The trees are
budding, flowers are blooming and the birds are singing as they wing
their way north. So, lace up your boots, hit the trails and rejoice in
spring’s arrival! The SRV has many trails popular for hiking.
Hiking Trails
The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area
offers a fun walking trail - While the majority of AOAA trails are for
off-road enthusiasts, there is also a 3.1-mile walking trail with
exercise stations and scenic outlooks. The trail is open to the public for free, year-round enjoyment. The trailhead kiosk is located at the AOAA Welcome Center and the trail will lead you through the wooded campground and across bridges over the swales. Enjoy the bench and picnic table at Sunset Ridge for an evening picnic. Stay for the sunset; the view is breathtaking.
The Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy maintains trails perfect for experiencing spring’s awakening. Visit their website to learn more about the Dale’s Ridge Trail and the Shamokin Mountain Trail both located just outside of Lewisburg as well as the Koons Trail in Mifflinburg at the historic Hassenplug Covered Bridge.
The Montour Area Recreation Commission manages parks, trails and outdoor recreational programming including the Montour Preserve
which offers trails in varying lengths from
the .2-mile Hummingbird
Trail to the 3.9-mile Chilisaugi Trail. Also find information on the North Branch Canal Trail and the Robbins Trail/Old Reading Line Loop Trail at the Hess Recreation Area in Danville.
The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
in Millersburg has beautiful trails open for those looking to
experience the splendor of a spring woods walk. Print a copy of the Berry Mountain Trail Guide before you head out to walk.
The Roaring Creek Tract in Weiser State Forest
offers a chance to get outside in Northumberland County. An eight-mile
shared-use trail runs through the valley for those who wish to take a
leisurely hike alongside the gurgling creek and reservoirs.
Easy hiking trails can be found at area state parks as well. Raymond B. Winter State Park
has over five miles of park pathways with connecting trails and roads
on surrounding state forest land. Or amble along the riverside trails at
Shikellamy State Park and Milton State Park. Of course, for the experienced hiker more difficult trails can be found at each of these mentioned sites.
Located near the town of Troxelville, Tall Timbers and Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Areas host lovely picnic spots and a 3.4-mile hiking loop to an extensive stand of old-growth hemlock, along Swift Run in Bald Eagle State forest. Tall Timbers is noted as having one of the tallest trees in the state, an eastern hemlock, at 145.5'. The 660-acre area is covered with second growth forest of oak, white pine, hemlock and hard pine. Snyder-Middleswarth is a 500-acre tract containing virgin white pine, hemlock and pitch pine. The hiking trail follows the grade up Swift Run through a steep hollow lined by truly virgin white pine and eastern hemlocks. Some of these trees are over 150 feet high and over 40 inches DBH. One downed tree along the trail counts 347 rings. After hiking through this section, you can continue through "Tall Timbers", a bordering old second-growth forest, and turn left or south on Middleswarth Tower Trail to climb to the top of Tick Mountain, a total distance of 1.6 miles.
Watsontown Towpath Trail
Length: 1.2 miles
Trail End Points: Canal Street Riverfront Park and West Milton State Bank
Trail Surface: Natural, Red Clay
Trail Activities: Walking, Mountain Biking
Description:
The
Watsontown Canal Towpath is a 1-mile hiking trail that parallels the
West Branch of the Susquehanna River. With some recent extensions, the
trail now runs from the southern end of Elm Street to the West Milton
State Bank parking area. Users who plan on biking the trail should be
prepared with a mountain bike, due to the uneven surface and tree roots.
A couple steep inclines make this a fun and energetic walking/biking
path. The trail also serves as a history lesson on the railroad and
canal system that used to run through town. The walking path was
originally used by horses which pulled canal boats along the canal.
Parking and Trail Access:
Public parking is available at the riverfront park next to Canal Street in Watsontown, on the east side of the river bridge. The park has a boat-shaped pavilion, as well as a primitive boat launch. Informational panels about the trail can be located next to the pavilion. The trailhead can be accessed by walking the path from the park down and under the West Brimmer Ave Bridge. Additional trailheads are located on West 5th Street and West 10th Street.
Information Courtesy of Susquehanna Greenway:
The White Mountain Ridge Trail is located within the Penns Creek Wild Area of Bald Eagle State Forest.
The trails in this area include 4- and 9- mile loop trails with amazing vistas in one of the most remote areas in Bald Eagle State Forest. The popular Chimney Rocks lookout offers determined hikers a spectacular view of Penn's Creek. Bald Eagles, Osprey, and other birds of prey can often be spotted flying up and down the creek.
Purple Lizard Maps highlights these trails in their Purple Lizard Adventure Blog, providing detailed descriptions of the trails and how to find the trailheads. Make sure to purchase Purple Lizard’s Bald Eagle State Forest map before you head out to hike this isolated yet beautiful area of Central PA.
Purple Lizard produces beautifully designed, durable and waterproof, easy to read topographic maps featuring contour lines, elevation data, shaded relief, and all the key details you need to plan your adventures: backroads and trails, trail use designations, road surfaces (paved/gravel/4wd), parking access, campsites, public lands, historic sites and more.
Hiking Resources
You can find Purple Lizard maps and a wealth of other resources for hiking including nature field guides, trail maps, park maps, books and more in the retail store at the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Center. We also offer free PA state park guides, maps and trail guides. If you would like more information about the resources available here, call 800-525-7320, send us an email at [email protected], stop by our visitors center or visit our online store at: VisitCentralPA.org.
Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau
81 Hafer Rd.
Lewisburg PA 17837
[email protected]
800-525-7320
570-524-7234
