AJ News

Joan Mead-Matsui Abington Journal Correspondent

ABINGTONS - Before the temperature drops and nightfall arrives earlier in the evening, enjoy a last blast of summer during the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. An evening paddle at Lackawanna State Park, a family hike or a bike ride on regional trails, weather permitting, are a few outdoor activities available, in addition to barbecues and visits with family and friends.

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Shown is Maureen McGuigan, mountain biking in March 2010 on the Dick and Nancy Eales Preserve at Moosic Mountain, also known as Moosic Mountain Conservancy.

Photo courtesy Brian Gilboy.

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Shown Saneholtz Family at Adams Falls, on one of their family hikes, are shown from left, Dylan, Jordan, Marta and Paul Saneholtz with Chloe.

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Want to hike?

Hikes below, suggested by Paul Saneholtz, are listed with a nearby town, distance of hike and elevation gain.

* Back Mountain Trail, a Rails to Trails bike trail linking Luzerne with Trucksville

2 miles, 200 ft.

* Bloomsburg Railroad Bed, Bloomsburg, easy walk along an old railroad grade, 3.5 miles, 0 ft.

* Boulder Field, hike to a National Natural Landmark Area, White Haven, 3 miles, 400 ft.

* Brady Lake, Pocono Lake, walk around a lake with good fishing once the work is completed, 3.5 miles, 100 ft.

* Butternut Trail, Forksville, hike through a beautiful forest with a vista in the end, 1.9 miles, 900 ft.

* Canyon Vista, Forksville, hike in Worlds End State Park with a great vista and rock formations, 3 miles 1600 ft.

* Choke Creek Nature Trail Loop, Gouldsboro, walk in a Pa. State Forest, 5 miles, 500 ft.

* Dark Hollow, Duncannon, walk through a State Game Lands #256, 2.5 miles, 500 ft.

* Eagles Mere Lake, Eagles Mere, walk around a beautiful lake, 2.5 miles, 100 ft.

* Evergreen Trail, Benton, hike by a spectacular, yet often missed waterfall, 1 mile, 100 ft.

* Fern Rock Nature Trail, Eagles Mere, nature trail for families with children, 2 miles, 400 ft.

* First Resident Trail, Forty Fort, walk along the river, walking, biking, rollerblading for exercise, 5 miles, 0 ft.

* Francis Slocum Trail, Wyoming, short family hike with rocks to scramble on, 0.7 miles, 200 ft.

* Geisinger Trail Yellow Loop, Danville, exercise trail, 2 miles, 800 ft.

* High Rock Trail, Forksville, steep climb with an overlook, state park to picnic 1.4 miles, 500 ft.

* James Cleveland Memorial Centre Hall, aggressive climb, 2 miles, 600 ft.

* Larch Tree Trail, Francis Slocum, Wyoming, a walk through a forest, 1.5 miles, 300 ft.

* Lee Hill, Dalton, relaxing walk in Lackawanna State Park, 2.5 miles, 300 ft.

* Lehigh Gorge, White Haven, hike along a scenic river, 22 miles, 0 ft.

* Mount Nittany, Lemont, vigorous hike to an overlook of the Penn State University campus and Beaver Stadium, 4 miles, 1,800 ft.

* Mullens View, Nanticoke, hike to a lake and a view, 2.5 miles, 600 ft.

* Old Timers Trail, Wyoming, 1.5 miles 100 ft A nice walk around some interesting stone walls

* Pulpit Rock, Hamburg, hike to a view, 5 miles, 900 ft.

* Ricketts Glenn Fall Trail, Benton, waterfalls, hike in the woods, some tricky areas, 7 miles, 1,000 ft.

* Rock with a View, Moosic, hike to a view, 1.5 miles, 400 ft.

* Shades of Death Trail, White Haven, walk along a stream in a rhododendron forest, 1 mile, 300 ft.

* Shikellamy Overlook, Sunbury, simple walk with a view in a small state park, 1 mile, 100 ft.

* The Pinnacle, Hamburg, hike on portions of the Appalachian Trail, 8.5 miles, 1,200 ft.

* The Stack, Noxen, short intense hike, 3 miles, 600 ft.

“Plans for an ‘Evening Paddle’ are to allow folks to relax and unwind as we say goodbye to summer, via kayak. Our kayaking programs are meant to get people to enjoy a passive recreational experience that allows you to see the park from a new perspective. We basically have a short introduction to kayaking, safety and guidelines and head out on the water to listen and look for any birds and wildlife that might present itself. Holding some of the programs during dusk or on a moonlight night intrigues people who spend more time in daylight or under electric light,” said Angela Lambert, Environmental Education Specialist for the Bureau of State Parks and Lackawanna State Park Complex.

The Sunset Paddle, one of the programs scheduled at Lackawanna State Park for Labor Day Weekend, will be held Friday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. and is mainly targeted for adults and children 12 or older. An adult must accompany children. While the park has a limited number of boats available for the program, people who have their own boats are welcome to join in as long as they have current launch permits and floatation devices. The fee is $5 per participant to use a park boat. To register to hold a park boat, visit www.visitPAparks.com; go to calendar, then to Lackawanna State Park. To use a private boat, call 945.7110 so event organizers will know how many people will be paddling. The park does have a boat rental concession and hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Other programs planned at Lackawanna State Park include a video Saturday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. at the park campground amphitheater, according to Lambert.

She said, “Butterflies and Moths a Delicate Balance” is a Pennsylvania produced documentary “by our Wild Resource Conservation Fund that shows some stunning videography of the intricate life cycle of these incredibly beneficial insects.” This video will be a precursor to a program Monday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. that looks at the Monarch Butterfly and its life cycle; this program will also include a field search for monarchs. These are appropriate for any ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. In the event of rain or thunderstorms, call 945.7110. The Saturday evening video will be shown in the Environmental Learning Center in case of rain. There are no fees for the video or the Monarch Program.

For those not interested in the Sunset Paddle, there are numerous hiking trails, plenty of room for mountain biking and fishing opportunities. Park maps are available on line at www.visitPAparks.com or a more extensive list of hiking and biking trails throughout Pennsylvania may be accessed at www.explorepatrails.com.

Mountain biking enthusiast, Maureen McGuigan has been mountain biking since 1998 and started bicycling in California where she rode mostly on desert terrain. She said her favorite trails at Lackawanna State Park and Countryside Conservancy lands are Northwoods Trail, Basset and Kennedy Creek Trail.

McGuigan said, “The trails at the state park are wonderful because you can ride for a long time and you have a great variety in a beautiful setting. We’ve sometimes gone on three-hour rides at the State Park. There are some fast and ‘flowy’ single-track trails, rocky sections, some great downhill switchbacks and streams as well as some tough climbs. But what’s nice is there is something for everyone. Beginners can enjoy the trails as well as experts. There is a group of volunteers led by Joe Tierney who really upkeep them. I try to get out when I can to help because it’s important to keep them maintained.

Learning to ride in northeastern, PA was challenging. There are more rocks and roots and constant ups and downs,” said McGuigan.

Paul Saneholtz of Forty Fort is an avid hiker and contributes his comments about various hikes he has taken on the Web site, localhikes.com. Some of his favorites are Ricketts Glen Falls trail which, according to Saneholtz, “is a bit strenuous but great waterfalls.” Worlds End and Lackawanna State Parks have some great trails according to Saneholtz, who said he enjoys getting outdoors with his family.

He said, “We live in a great area for hiking and outdoors, lots of state parks very close and not far to the Delaware Water Gap and the Appalachian Trail. All hikes I go on are suitable for family. I really do not go on overnights or in less populated areas.”

Saneholtz discovered these trails mostly through state park systems; local hikes web site, and a couple of books written by local author, Jeff Mitchell.

He said, “Funny story, my kids gave me one of his books for Father’s Day a few years back and I was reading it at Worlds End State Park. I look to the side and the author was sitting beside me, he came over and signed the book. Pretty cool for me and I think he liked it also.”

To read Saneholtz’s comments regarding regional hiking trails, visitlocalhikes.com.