Wildlands Conservancy – Get Out! For Wellness: Natural Lands' Bear Creek Preserve

Length: 3 or 5 miles (3 miles on Green and Yellow Trails, 2 extra miles on Red and Purple Trails) There are two parcels of Bear Creek Preserve. Our hike is in the Shades Creek Parcel. Shades Creek flows into Francis E. Walter Dam, near the headwaters of the Lehigh River. This 3,934 acre preserve was made possible by the Haas family in the 1980’s. Except for a 5-minute walk up a steep hill from the parking lot, our route is mostly flat. We’ll walk about a half mile to a scenic overlook on a narrow path through mountain laurel, red pines and blueberry bushes. We can walk another half mile to above a waterfall. The trail is rocky with roots covered by freshly fallen leaves. We’ll loop back to the parking lot for 1.1 mile walk. We also can walk another 2 miles round trip to a waterfall in the Shades Creek gorge we looked at from the overlook with rocky ledges. If it has rained, there are a few wet areas on the trails. No hunting allowed. Dress in layers appropriate for the weather. Bring hiking poles! Wildlands will provide some for your use. Dogs on leash are welcome—be ready to carry out their poop!  A portable bathroom for humans is about 10 minutes into our hike at the (closed) “Preserve Center.” A nearby site to visit afterwards is Buttermilk Falls on White Haven Road. This walk is part of the Get Out For Wellness series, in partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network. ADDRESS: 47 Rabbit Run Lane/ Rt. 115, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702 GPS: 41.18251, -75.70361 DIRECTIONS: From Route 22, PA 18702. From I-476 N (toward Scranton), take Exit 105 for PA-115 South. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for PA-115 S/Stroudsburg for 300 feet. Merge onto PA-115 S/Bear Creek Blvd for 5.7 miles. Turn right onto Rabbit Run Lane and into the parking lot. Do NOT go up the hill to the Preserve Center. Park snuggly! Questions: Arianna Kohler, AKohler@wildlandspa.org