By Bill Deaton
The abrupt shift from balmy summer to mid-autumn-like weather two weeks before the fall equinox certainly has sent some trees into the seasonal shift mode. While several sources that track and predict the fall foliage still say October 12th ish for the peak, My gut says we’ll probably see the apex about a week earlier if it’s not a spotty show to begin with.
Lacing up your boots is a great way to take in the prismatic palate and there are plenty of pathways to get you into the woods to see the sights. Vistas can be found at Tusten Mountain and High Knob, among others in the Poconos, while trails such as Bruce Lake and Pinchot will take you deep into the forest.
- Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry: 12 miles. Easy to Moderate.
- McDade Trail, Milford to E.Stroudsburg: 31 miles (sections.) Easy to moderate, mostly.
- High Knob, Blooming Grove: 3.4 miles round trip. Gravel road with moderate incline.
- Pinchot Trail, Thornhurst: 23 miles (sections.) Moderate to difficult in places.
- Thunder Swamp Trail, Southern Pike Co.: 45 miles (sections.) Moderate.
- Tusten Mountain Trail, Tusten NY: 3.2 miles. Moderate w steep parts near summit.
- Bruce Lake Trail, Blooming Grove: 5.0 miles. Easy
Of course, that’s just a smattering of great locations to check out by foot. More trails can be found at our local state parks and state forests, municipal recreation areas, and on federal lands managed by the National Park Service and the US Forest Service