Explore Wyoming County’s Parks & Trails will host two public hikes in September. The first hike will feature three options at Camp Lackawanna and the Endless Mountains Nature Center at Vosburg Neck (above) on Saturday, Sept. 8. The second hike will take place in State Game Lands 57 south of Forkston on Sunday, Sept. 30.
Rebecca Lesko of the Endless Mountains Nature Center will lead a nature walk on rambling trails along the banks of the Susquehanna River (top), starting at 9 am on Sept. 8. Highlights will include searching for aspects of animal life in the river forests and identifying seasonal plants. The relatively easy walk will take about an hour and a half.
Bird enthusiasts might prefer a leisurely stroll with local birding expert Joe DeMarco, who will seek out and identify resident birds and those starting an early migration. Bird watchers should bring their own binoculars and a bird guide book. A few sets of binoculars will be available to borrow. This hike too begins at 9 am and will last until about 11:30.
The third option is to strike out on your own with a Vosburg Neck trail map on miles of well-marked trails that reach summits that provide beautiful vistas. The longer walk that can include stops at the overlook and the Howland Preserve will take participants about three to four hours.
Though leashed dogs are welcome on other days and times, organizers of the Sept. 8 hike are requesting that dogs be left at home. All participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch to enjoy after they are done exploring. To help organizers plan for your arrival, reservations are suggested by calling 570-836-3835. The Endless Mountains Nature Center Lodge is located inside Camp Lackawanna at 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. Directions posted at www.EndlessNature.org are more reliable than GPS settings.
On Sept. 30, outdoor recreation enthusiast and author Jeff Mitchell will lead a moderately difficult hike in State Game Lands 57 of the Scouten Brook/Emerald Forest Loop with a side hike to Zion Rocks and the vista. The six-mile walk will involve a long gradual uphill climb, a long period of level hiking, wet lands, and a descent that does get steep in places.
Highlights of the Sept. 30 hike will include waterfalls, a rare spruce, hemlock and mossy area known as the Emerald Forest (below), mansion-size rock outcrops, and beautiful views. Hikers should drive out Windy Valley Road (SR 3001) and park in a parking area just inside the game lands. The hike will begin at 9 am. Registration is recommended by calling the Dietrich Theater at 570-996-1500. Participants of any of these hikes should wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring a bottle of water.
Explore Wyoming County Parks & Trails was created for the Wyoming County Cultural Center with funding from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau and Wyoming County Room Tax Board, and the Wyoming County Planning Commission. Explore Wyoming County Parks & Trails brochures, which are full of detailed maps and outdoor recreational information are available at the Dietrich Theater and the Endless Mountains Visitors Center, both in Tunkhannock.
