South Mountain Preserve, Emmaus Pa. TR
Dec 15, 2014 10:57:15 GMT -5
Post by hoosier on Dec 15, 2014 10:57:15 GMT -5
Saturday December 13, 2014
South Mountain Preserve, Emmaus Pennsylvania
Early this past Saturday morning I decided to take a short trip to Emmaus Pennsylvania. And hike the trails located in the South Mountain Preserve. The south Mountain Preserve consist of 340 acres of woodlands at the northeast side of Emmaus. Found out about this park while looking at a hiking meet-up groups web page of upcoming hikes. A little bit of research on the internet brought me to the Wildlands Conservancy web site, which includes a trail map which I printed off. There are six trails in the park as follows:
Uplands Trail (1.2 mi)
Robert Rodale Trail (0.7 mi)
Trout Run trail (1.3mi)
Alpine Street Trail (1.6 mi)
Mountain Top Trail (0.9 mi)
Bug Trail (1.0 mi)
Trail head map board
Parked at the end of Alpine Street and the trail head for Alpine Street Trail. After reviewing the trail map. I decided on doing a loop hike using all of the six trails within the limits of the park. This did require walking portions of some trail more than once.
Low light of the hike has to be the Robert Rodale trail which follows a high tension power line right of way. Before climbing uphill on an eroded road under a second set of power lines. Finally turning right onto a footpath, back into the woods. There is a viewpoint on the lower side of the Trout Run trail at a power line clearing. But it’s mainly obscured with all of the wires running down the clearing.
Highlights have to include the large rock outcropping on the Trout Run Trail just past the junction with the Alpine Street Trail. And some nice boulder areas along the lower end of the yellow blazed Mountain Top Trail. The grey blazed Bug Trail may just be one of the windiest one miles of trail I’ve followed in a long time.
Some of the trail sections were moderately rocky underfoot. While the trails down on the lower portion of the mountain tended to be muddy. At least this past weekend.
Great little park with just under seven miles of wooded trails. But keep an eye out for mountain bikers, if you happen to hike the preserve. As mountain bike are allowed on all the park trails. Also a good place to hike during hunting season. As not hiking is allowed on the preserve’s lands.
Large rocky outcrop along the Trout Run Trail
Rocky section of the Trout Run Trail
Start of climb on the Alpine Street Trail
kr
On the Alpine Street Trail
House sized boulder on the Trout Run Trail
South Mountain Preserve, Emmaus Pennsylvania
Early this past Saturday morning I decided to take a short trip to Emmaus Pennsylvania. And hike the trails located in the South Mountain Preserve. The south Mountain Preserve consist of 340 acres of woodlands at the northeast side of Emmaus. Found out about this park while looking at a hiking meet-up groups web page of upcoming hikes. A little bit of research on the internet brought me to the Wildlands Conservancy web site, which includes a trail map which I printed off. There are six trails in the park as follows:
Uplands Trail (1.2 mi)
Robert Rodale Trail (0.7 mi)
Trout Run trail (1.3mi)
Alpine Street Trail (1.6 mi)
Mountain Top Trail (0.9 mi)
Bug Trail (1.0 mi)
Trail head map board
Parked at the end of Alpine Street and the trail head for Alpine Street Trail. After reviewing the trail map. I decided on doing a loop hike using all of the six trails within the limits of the park. This did require walking portions of some trail more than once.
Low light of the hike has to be the Robert Rodale trail which follows a high tension power line right of way. Before climbing uphill on an eroded road under a second set of power lines. Finally turning right onto a footpath, back into the woods. There is a viewpoint on the lower side of the Trout Run trail at a power line clearing. But it’s mainly obscured with all of the wires running down the clearing.
Highlights have to include the large rock outcropping on the Trout Run Trail just past the junction with the Alpine Street Trail. And some nice boulder areas along the lower end of the yellow blazed Mountain Top Trail. The grey blazed Bug Trail may just be one of the windiest one miles of trail I’ve followed in a long time.
Some of the trail sections were moderately rocky underfoot. While the trails down on the lower portion of the mountain tended to be muddy. At least this past weekend.
Great little park with just under seven miles of wooded trails. But keep an eye out for mountain bikers, if you happen to hike the preserve. As mountain bike are allowed on all the park trails. Also a good place to hike during hunting season. As not hiking is allowed on the preserve’s lands.
Large rocky outcrop along the Trout Run Trail
Rocky section of the Trout Run Trail
Start of climb on the Alpine Street Trail
krOn the Alpine Street Trail
House sized boulder on the Trout Run Trail
