Trexler Nature Preserve, Lehigh County, PA

ABOUT THE PARK:
Trexler Nature Preserve - Lehigh County, PA
Texler Nature Preserve - Texler Nature Preserve website
Schlichers Covered Bridge - The Morning Call
Lehigh Valley Zoo - lvzoo.org

DIRECTIONS:
Trexler Environmental Center Parking
GPS Coordinates 40.655541, -75.614718

View Larger Map

TRAIL MAP:
Trexler Nature Preserve Map
This is a PDF file of the map in GoogleDocs.  Click the "Download Original" button in the upper right corner to save to your PC so you can enlarge and print.  There are many kiosks throughout the park but most map holders are empty.

HIKE DISTANCE:  8 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Mill Hill - Peakery.com
Schantz Hill - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:
Click here for a written description.

Head towards the Trexler Environmental Center with views of the rolling hills of Pennsylvania along the way.

Even if the Environmental Center is closed, an outside ramp leads to a rooftop deck for more views.

Roof top views from the Trexler Environmental Center.

Expect similar views throughout most of this hike.

The teal-blazed Trexler Nature Trail to Jordan Creek Ford.

The double blue-blazed Elk Viewing trail at kiosk #15.

Elk in the field to the right of the blue-blazed Elk Viewing Trail.

At the top of the blue-blazed Elk Viewing Trail at a picnic table, a view of the Lehigh Valley Zoo below.

The original Schlichers Covered Bridge built in 1882 to be replaced with a replica in 2013.

Inside Schlichers Covered Bridge, closed to traffic since 2009.

Rock hop over a feeder stream to the white-blazed Fireman's Trail from Schlichers Covered Bridge - rocks are about an inch under water so be sure to wear waterproof hiking shoes!

A view of Jordan Creek from above after ascending the white-blazed trail.

Hiking over hilltop meadows.

The green-blazed Teardrop Trail

Hiking along turnip (?) fields.

The yellow-blazed Hunsicker Valley Trail along an old roadbed.

The red-blazed Trexler Border Trail.

Panoramic views on the red-blazed trail in the northwestern corner of the preserve with the Blue Mountain on the horizon, atop which runs the Appalachian Trail.

Horses on the red-blazed Trexler Border Trail.

The red-blazed Trexler border trail touches on the corner of the bison area but you will most likely need to leave the trail and walk paved park roads to where the bison are.

They don't budge when people (or dogs) pass by.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]    Follow gravel road to Environmental Center crossing over red-blazed Border Trail
[  0.15]    Rooftop views at Environmental Center; retrace to red-blazed Trexler Border Trail
[  0.25]    Turn right on the red-blazed Trexler Border Trail and keep straight when double teal-blazed trail comes in from right
[  0.30]    Turn right on teal-blazed trail at bottom of hill as the red trail bends to the right
[  0.65]    Cross paved road, rock hop over creek, veer left
[  0.75]    At paved area at Jordan Creek and bridge, turn right on double blue blazed trail keeping right uphill beyond kiosk #15
[  1.05]    Watch for various unmarked side trails to the right for elk viewing depending on where elk are
[  1.45]    Keep left on double blue before wooden fence at park road to picnic table and bench with view of zoo below; continue on double blue to left at kiosk #13
[  1.60]    Keep straight on double blue when pink (not on map) goes right
[  2.05]    Double blue trail switchbacks down to covered bridge on right and pedestrian bridge on left; turn right leaving double blue trail, cross road in front of covered bridge, hop guardrail and rock hop over creek; continue left on white-blazed trail at kiosk #9
[  2.35]    Turn left on orange-blazed trail when the white-blazed trail ends at T-intersection
[  2.60]    Turn left on green at kiosk
[  2.65]    View to the left
[  2.70]    Make sharp right turn on green at kiosk #4 when green also goes to the left
[  2.85]    Keep straight on green at kiosk #5 when blue goes left
[  2.90]    Come out on mountaintop meadow keeping straight on green with the other side of the green trail comes in from the right
[  3.10]    Keep straight on green at kiosk #2 when orange comes in from the right
[  3.35]    Keep straight on green when green/white (on map, only a green blaze on trail) goes left at kiosk #1
[  3.75]    Turn left on red at kiosk #7 when green ends
[  3.80]    Turn left on yellow as red goes right
[  3.85]    Keep left at unmarked fork (not on map)
[  4.25]    Turn right on red at kiosk #6; rock hop over creek
[  4.95]    Panoramic view at top of ascent at bench
[  5.25]    Keep left on red when yellow goes right
[  5.30]    Keep straight on red at kiosk #7 when green goes right
[  6.05]    Keep straight on red when white comes in from right; cross paved road and continue on trail parallel to road
[  6.20]    Follow red trail on paved park road to the right between two pillars at kiosk #11
[  6.40]    Red trail leaves paved road to the left
[  6.75]    Red trail comes out on paved road at corner of bison area, turn right on paved road continuing beyond camping area to view bison; retrace to red trail
[  7.30]    From paved road continue back on red trail as it veers left at a small brown building
[  7.35]    Keep left on red at unmarked fork (not on map)
[  7.70]    Keep straight on red as unmarked woods road goes right (not on map)
[  7.95]    Keep straight on red as double teal trail goes right; at gravel road turn left to parking lot
[  8.00]    Back at parking lot

NOTE:
I had intended to do this hike a little differently but ran into a snag and had to reroute so you might want to avoid this section of trail.  The red-blazed Trexler Border Trail crosses over Jordan Creek below kiosks #4 and #3 on the left side of the map.  Although the trail continues on the other side, it is not possible to ford the creek.  The water looked to be at least waist deep, if not deeper in the middle. 

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