Lehigh Gap Nature Center and State Game Lands 217, PA

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Lehigh Gap Nature Center - lgnc.org

A.T. Reroute Opens in Pennsylvania - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.784222, -75.609287

Lehigh Gap Nature Center Parking

TRAIL MAP: 

Lehigh Gap Nature Center Trail System - lgnc.org

HIKE DISTANCE: 9.4 miles

THE HIKE: 

For reference, I last hiked here in February 2012.  The trails are the same but the Appalachian Trail was rerouted to the scenic side of the mountain.  The Devil's Pulpit is now closed but it was open in 2012 so the pictures are at the link, above.  

Starting on the Prairie Warbler Trail from the parking lot.

Right on the Woodpecker Trail.

This leads to the Appalachian Trail where we turned right to head south on the AT.

Outerbridge Shelter

Until 2022 the AT went left and the blue North Trail went right.  Since 2022 it has been reversed with the AT to the right and the blue Bypass Trail to the left.  We took the Bypass Trail.

There is still an occasional faded AT blaze on the blue Bypass Trail.

Crossing the access road for the communication towers.

Coming up on the first communication tower ...

... the blue Bypass Trail ends at the Appalachian Trail where we turned right now heading north on the AT.

Just a few steps after the trail veers to the right ...

... views begin that make it feel like you could walk off the edge of the earth.

The Lehigh River with I-476 to the left.

Coming up on the other two communication towers.

Some old blue paint of the former North Trail peaking through.

Here the AT turns right and that would take us back to where we had come off of the Woodpecker Trail.  We turned left here on the orange Charcoal Trail.

Note the sign stating that the Devil's Pulpit is closed.

Just before this sign is where the trail to the Devil's Pulpit used to be.

Now getting views going in the opposite direction.

This trail is VERY rocky at times.

Leaving all of that rockiness behind turning left on the yellow Prairie Grass Trail.

Smooth and flat on this trail.

The Chestnut Oak Trail is to the left.  I believe that is the way I went the last time.  We continued right on the Prairie Grass Trail.

The Prairie Grass Trail ends at the LNE Trail where we turned right for a short distance ...

... to a right on the Three Ponds Trail.

Either left or right here; we went left and returned from the right.

The Three Ponds Trail comes out on the D & L Rail Trail briefly ...

... before leaving to the right.

After finishing the loop, left on the LNE Trail all the way back.  Here I stopped at that bench to change into sneakers but not before stepping into a big ole pile of dog poo with my hiking shoes first.  Some cursing was in order - not directed at the offending dog rather the lazy owners.

Towards the end the trail becomes narrower and gravelly.

There is a split where a viewpoint is to the left

From the Discovery Tour for this stop:  This is one of the ruins of the LNE Railroad bridge that once connected the east and the west slopes of the Lehigh Gap. Completed in 1912, this railroad transported coal from the mines to markets as far away as New England for about 50 years.

Taking the left fork, the trail climbs up above the Lehigh River.

The D&L Rail Trail is visible below.

The trail continues all the way back to the parking lot.

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