Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 11:00AM - 4:00PM
Weissport, PA,
Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley,
PA
This 10-mile out-and-back with a midpoint town loop showcases some of the most scenic miles of the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor trail. Our hike puts you on or adjacent to 200 years of historic transportation routes (active and abandoned): canal towpath to new D & L infrastructure to a piece of the famed Switchback Railroad to present-day railroads. Perhaps best of all, by leaving our cars in the Weissport lot, we avoid Jim Thorpe's $12 public parking fee. From the trailhead, it's 4 miles of secluded old towpath to bustling Jim Thorpe. You'll enjoy a mostly flat route that encompasses the remains of locks and spillways with unobstructed views of the Lehigh River and passages of wetlands rich with wildlife. In Jim Thorpe, we'll take you to locations where few go, including a remnant of the Switchback Railroad route, which carried coal (and, later, hordes of tourists) between Mauch Chunk and Summit Hill via gravity power and a system of incline planes till the 1930s. You'll also enjoy a taste of the fun of Jim Thorpe, walking along holiday-decked streets packed with enough curios, knickknacks, and other things to satisfy the cravings of the most ardent tourist. Speaking of cravings of an edible kind, we'll include a half-hour stop outside the town's train station for lunch. Brown bag it, or purchase a sundae, latte, or hot dog from local vendors and eateries: your choice. The hike will conclude with a return walk on the D & L to Weissport. The majority of our route surface is dirt and packed stone. You'll encounter a few hills including some steep street grades in Jim Thorpe. Restrooms are available at our start/finish in Weissport and in the Jim Thorpe train station. Save room for dessert? Back in Weissport we'll stroll a few additional steps to Chantilly Goods, a charming ice cream parlor with hand-dipped cones and soda fountain treats in the former town pharmacy. Meet at D & L trailhead in Weissport by 10:45 for an 11 AM start. Please dress for the day's expected temperature range and precipitation forecast and anticipate a four-to-five-hour activity. The hike is rated vigorous for distance, steady pace, and a few steep inclines. Crummy weather in any form resulting in unsafe travel or poor trail conditions could cancel. Phone/text/email leader by 8:30 the morning of the activity if status in doubt. L Welles Lobb 610-709-4455.
Free
