Stepping out into nature

Local trails beckon

By FRITZ MAYER

REGION — John Muir, the famous American naturalist and author, once said of hiking, “In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks.”

In a more prosaic moment and on the same subject, Alfred Wainwright, a British author of guide books, said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

Well, whether you’re seeking transcendence or just a day in the elements, there are plenty of hiking opportunities in and around the Upper Delaware Valley.

What follows are a few examples of trails available to the public.

Neversink River Unique Area, Towns of Forestburgh and Thompson, NY. 518/402-9428, dec.ny.gov/lands/22616.html

This river gorge is comprised of 4,000 rugged and pristine acres of forest that were once part of the private game preserve of Ambrose Monel, who was president of International Nickel in the early part of the 20th century. The property was sold to the Wechsler family in 1939.

Much of the land was acquired by the state over decades, in sometimes contentious legal battles with the family, and the courts awarded Benjamin Wechsler $2 million in 2004 for improper actions of the NY Department of Environmental Preservation.

This is strictly a pack-in, pack-out area, with no rest-rooms or other facilities other than parking areas. But if you’re looking for seclusion and a largely unspoiled landscape where a river careens through a forest gorge, this is the place to be.

Minisink Battleground Park, County Road 168, Barryville, NY, 12719. 845/807-0261; co.sullivan.ny.us/?TabId=3195 .

The park, which is listed on both the National Register and the Revolutionary War Heritage Trail, is dedicated to the men who fought and died at the “Battle of Minisink,” in which nearly 50 New York and New Jersey militiamen lost their lives. It was the only battle of the Revolutionary War to take place in the Upper Delaware Valley.

The park encompasses 57 acres and includes picnic areas, restroom facilities and trails. The Battleground Trail begins at the Visitor Interpretive Center and circles in a loop that crosses the battleground. Two other trails are also available: the Woodland Trail and the Old Quarry Trail.

The park is open daily from April through October, from dawn until dusk.

Delaware & Hudson Canal Linear Park, Route 209, Town of Mamakating, NY. 845/807-0261; co.sullivan.ny.us/Website/tabid/3191/default.aspx .

From its opening in 1828 to its demise in 1898, the D&H Canal ran 108 miles from Honesdale, PA to Kingston, NY, and transported millions of tons of coal to from Northeast Pennsylvania to New York City and elsewhere. The canal was considered the first great engineering feat in the United States and cost more than $1 million to build. It was propelled forward by Maurice and William Wurts, whom the Village of Wurtsboro was named after, and the Mayor of New York City, Philip Hone, whom Honesdale was named after.

Sullivan County began to acquire land for the park in 1969, and with donations from Orange and Rockland Utilities, along with various grants, the county now has acquired a total of 83 acres.

The park is located along the former canal and consists of about 45 acres of land. There about 3.5 miles of trail that run along the canal. Remnants of the original locks and related relics can be seen from the trail and interpretive signs are located in the park.

The park is open year round and admission is free.

Bushkill Falls, Route 209 Bushkill, PA 18324. 570/588-6682: visit bushkillfalls.com .

Bushkill Falls, known as “The Niagara of Pennsylvania,” has been open since 1904, when Charles E. Peters first opened the falls to the public, with a single path and a swinging bridge over the head of the main falls. Bushkill Falls is still owned by the Peters family.

The facility now features eight waterfalls, miles of nature trails as well as wildlife exhibits, gift and souvenir shops, a fudge kitchen and a snack bar.

Hikers can take a trip to Bridal Veil Falls, where the trail passes Pond Run Stream, which flows into the Little Bushkill where the mountain path leads deep into the forest. Spring-fed waters tumble down the mountainside in a series of three falls whose mists evoke the image of a bridal veil.

The facility is open seven days a week from April through October or November depending on the weather. There is free parking and a picnic area.

Promised Land State Park, 100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown, PA 18426. 570/676-3428; dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/promisedland.aspx .

The approximately 3,000 acres of land that ultimately became Promised Land State Park was initially a hunting area for the tribe of the Lenni-Lenape Indians. Early settlers to the area repeatedly clear cut the land to keep their sawmills busy. Pennsylvania purchased the land in 1902, and began to restore the wildlife habitat within its boarders.

Promised Land State Park provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities including hiking. There are some 50 miles of hiking trails in the park and the surrounding state forest, providing access to many scenic places, including a glacial lake and waterfalls.

Tusten Mountain Trail, Ten Mile River public access, Route 97, Town of Tusten, NY. 570/685-4871; tusten-narrowsburg.org/TustenTrail.htm .

This trail is located on the sprawling Ten Mile River Boy Scout Camp, but this trail is open to the public. In July 1999, the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River entered into an agreement with the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America to provide public access to one of its trails along the Delaware River and up Tusten Mountain.

Along the trail are signs of life in the 1850s. A hiker can view foundations and remnants of a sawmill, a gristmill and a tannery, which were businesses that made use of the local natural resources.

One of the highlights of the trail is a stone arch bridge which was built in 1857, when lumbering and bluestone quarrying were major industries.