Places to Hike around Bucks County Council

By: Bob Beck

In order to give the number of places that I have, I have omitted a lot of information. State and county parks are usually listed in the local telephone books, and are shown on many maps. The list is most helpful in that it gives a lot of choices to consider when you are saying "where can we go?" Once you have narrowed down the list to a few places that seem to best meet your troop's needs, then secure detailed information, before making your final plans. Now let's see where we can hike.

1. The "Towpath Trail" in Easton. Hike up from Raubsville, or start at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Take a ride on the "Josiah White" canal boat. Visit a restored locktenders house. Camping in Hugh Moore Park by special permission.
2. Camp at Raven Rock, N.J. at Bulls Island State Park. Divide your group. Half hike (or bike) while half canoe the Raritan canal. Swap positions at Washington Crossing and return to camp. Note: New Jersey requires that helmets be worn while bicycling.
3. Wissahickon Gorge Day Hike - Roxborough to City Line - This is so remote that it is hard to believe that you are completely within Philadelphia City Limits (Fairmount Park).
4. Hike the Valley Forge Trail for the Historical Trail Medal.
5. Hike the eastern end of the Horse-shoe Trail at Valley Forge.
6. Learn local history at Fort Washington State Park. Day hike. Camping by permit.
7. Lehigh Gorge (Rails To Trails) valley, and Broad Mountain Loop Trail on mountain top with views are great biking, or hiking trails. White Haven to Jim Thorpe Area.
8. Glen Onoko - A short, but beautiful hike. Steep upgrade with two large waterfalls, one you can go behind, and many, many smaller falls and rapids. Indian Legend. Spectacular views from the top of the falls. Jim Thorpe.
9. Washington Crossing to Bowman's Hill - Preparation for the Battle of Trenton - Blackbeard the pirate - Easy hike along the towpath - Stony Run Aqueduct - Wildlife abundant.
10. Ringing Rocks County Park - Boulder Field - High Falls - All three major rock types (Igneous, Sedimentary & Metamorphic) - With prior permission, you can hike down Falls Creek to the Delaware River - Large fossil plates of mud cracks and ripple marks.
11. Hike, or bike, the trail around Lake Galena in Peace Valley county Park. There are also miles of hiking only trails and a bird blind in the Nature Preserve. A good place to learn plants and animals. Occasional astronomy programs.
12. Lake Towhee has camping, a nature center, and a trail around the lake, among others. A Bucks County Park.
13. You can sleep at the Weisel Youth Hostel and enjoy acres of woods, meadow, and lake at Nockamixon State Park. There is also a Nature Center and interpretative programs.
14. Evansburg State Park also has a Youth Hostel, trails, and a lake with many waterfowl.
15. Core Creek County Park has camping, hiking, Lake Luxembourg, and the headquarters of our Bucks County Park System, and they are a good place to start collecting information about any of our County parks.
16. Tyler State Park is a frequently used take out point for canoe trips down the Neshaminy Creek. There are hiking trails, history, and wildlife in abundance.
17. Rancocas State Park, N.J. is still close enough to consider.
18. Devil's Teatable is a hard climb, rewarded by spectacular views of the Delaware River Valley and the oldest continuously used Boy Scout Camp in this country, Treasure Island (Private land - must secure permission in advance). The geological formations for which it is named seem small when viewed from River Road, but huge when you are standing along side of one of the tables. While you are there, go just down river and view Tumble Falls.
19. A frequent stop for packet boats in the days of the canal was Durham Cave. It was a cool place to hold dances before air conditioning. Learn a history lesson about the Iron Industry and Durham Furnace. It is smaller and there are restrictions due to the cave housing the second largest hibernating area for the Indianna Bats. The Durham locks show how boats were raised and the canal offers canoeing when there is water in it.
20. State Game Lands No. 56 has some good hiking and Lake Warren.
21. Another Private Location are the rock caves at Tylersport. Many a Scout from Camp Hart, and Delmont have worn out the seat and knees of their uniforms crawling through hundreds of feet of underground passages, and we have camped in the caves (no tents) in -20 weather and we were comfortable. It is not easy to get permission to use these caves, but worth the effort. Visit nearby Devil's Potato patch, a boulder field.
22. Devil's Postpile is another boulder field and I can't even remember where it is and how to get there.
23. Several of the State Fish Hatcheries in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey have hiking trails, and a field trip to the hatcheries are enjoyed by Scouts. Some allow fishing with barbless hooks.
24. Hickory Run State park is noted for it's big, flat, boulder field, but there are many miles of trails, camping, and many near-by things to see such as Tannery, High Lock Ruins on old Lehigh Canal, railroad tunnels, coal mines and a lot more.
25. Bicycles And Bridges - Bike to some of Bucks Counties many covered bridges. Note different construction. Truss - Arch - etc.
26. VanSandt Airport - Hike in - Many interesting aircraft. Rides available with advance notice and written permission from parents, or guardian.
27. Towpath Hike overnighting at Tinicum County Park. Beaver Colony. Two Covered Bridges, River & Canal for tubing, rafting, canoeing, swimming, fishing and a lot more.
28. Rock Climbing and Rappeling (vertical hiking) is for older, experienced Scouts (over 14 suggested) and must be done with experienced instructors. Ockanickon Scout Reservation, Ralph J. Stover State park, and Tinicum County Park offer a base nearby to High Rocks and the Palasades of the Tohickon. Stover's park has cabins, Ockanickon and Tohickon offer both tent and cabin camping.
29. Lenape Park at Sellersville offers the use of the Scout Cabin, or tent camping. Hiking, ice skating (winter), canoeing (summer), fishing, and more. It joins with Menlo Park in Perkasie, where there is an island and two bridges across the creek. The park is also home to the Old South Perkasie Covered Bridge, and many sports fields and picnic pavilions. Horseback riding is available here.
30. Honey Hollow (Audubon) Nature Center has many nature trails. Permission required and there may be fees.

    31. Dark Hollow Park follows the Neshaminy Creek for miles, starting at U.S. Route 611 and going south (downstream). The County has a canoe launching area at Bridge Valley and many paddle to Tyler State park every year. Some hiking trails and much bushwacking to follow along the creek on foot.

31. Tamenend Community park at Southampton has a nature center as well as our Cub Scout Day Camps.
32. Churchville County Park has a nature center, in Indian village (Lenape), many trails, a reservoir for fishing and watching waterfowl, bird blinds to watch other birds and several unconnected sections where you might plan other activities.
33. Chickenfoot County Park - I know little about what is offered at this park.
34. Five Mile Woods in Lower Makefield is a forest preserve and has a nature center and hiking trails.
35. Oxford Valley park has Lake Caroline. I am not familiar with this park, but imagine you could hike there.
36. Queen Anne County Park in Levittown is another unfamiliar one.
37. Mill Creek Valley park and Frosty Hollow County Park are also ones that I am unfamiliar with, but probably offer hiking trails.
38. Silver Lake County Park offers many naturalist led programs about many natural subjects. It has lakes, trails, pavilions, picnicking and an excellent nature center.
39. Take a lower Delaware canoe hike, or motor boat ride. Teach the rules of the road. Water ski. Neshaminy State Park Marina to the Delaware River Access Area run by the County.
40. A hike on the Horse-Shoe Trail near French Creek State park with a side trip to Hopewell Village Restored Iron Making Village and Furnace is a great hike, or backpack trip camping overnight at a shelter, or tent campsite in French Creek State park. It's fun to cross Three Penny Creek on the cable bridge with a full backpack on, after you get the hang of it. See the Trail Guide to the Horse-Shoe trail which is available for a nominal fee at the Valley Forge State Park Visitor Center Store.
41. The Brandywine offers some fine culture (artist liked area), as well as some excellent hiking, and canoeing.
42. Lost River Caverns at Hellertown is a great place to hike to, and around, in addition to visiting the cave (fee), and rock shop. On the hike in you might find some Vera Cruz Jasper, which was valuable to native Americans for making stone tools and arrow heads, as well as being a semi-precious gem stone.
43. The Batona Trail, a patch through the pine barrens of New Jersey is well traveled by Boy Scout hikers and backpackers. Get an up to date guidebook and you should not have any trouble. The old Route 536A has been renumbered. Camping and fire permits are required and available at Batsto, Atsion, or other ranger stations in the area. A real contrast to the rocky Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.
44. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the one with the name recognition. The venerable old Appalachian Trail. Wind Gap to Delaware Water Gap is a good overnighter, camping at the Kirkridge shelter & tent site. What views from Mt. Minsi. The New Jersey side also has great hiking. A hike to the Glacial Sunfish pond (no camping at pond anymore), camping at either of the nearby campsites (tents only), and returning by another trail is a great loop hike.
45. The Mason Dixon Trail is another one I belong to and goes from Pennsylvania, down into Maryland, then back into PA. See Pennsylvania Hiking Trails booklet for this one, and where to write for guides and information on many of the other trails mentioned here. The Keystone Trail Association has added to and revised this guide many times. Try to use current information in your planning.
46. The Daniel Boone Homestead has miles of trails, but also several orienteering groups use it regularly and there are great maps available for map & compass instruction as well as Orienteering competitions.
47. I mentioned the Historical Trail Medal and Horse-Shoe Trail at Valley Forge State Park, but there are many other hiking and biking opportunities in, and around this park. There is no camping in the park, but the Scout Troop at the Fire House in Valley Forge Village allows camping. Look for their sign (flag of troop). It is visible from Route 23.

Back to the Bucks County Council's Home Page