Hiking at Nescopeck State Park, 7/10/23017

West of White Haven, PA, is the 3,500-acre Nescopeck State Park. Mount Yeager is on the southern border and Nescopeck Mountain on the northern border of the park. There are diverse habitats here including wetlands and rich forests. 

Our first stop at the park was the Visitor and Environmental Education Center. 

The area was used by the Delaware Tribe for centuries and there was a village named Nescopeckan downstream from the park. Settlers used the area for farming and timber-related industries. Coal mining was prevalent in the nearby, but this valley was cut off from the anthracite coal fields thereby preserving the natural habitats. 

The Visitor Center had lots of taxidermies on display of animals indigenous to the area. 

Here are a few: beaver, otter, bobcat, and fox. A table of animal pelts is also shown. 

We picked up a map to check out the 19 miles of hiking trails. We began at the Lake Trail located near the Visitor Center.

There are several springs flowing into Frances Lake (9 acres). I loved these beautiful flowers we saw along the trail. 

There were lots of water lilies on the lake. And, of course, Sadie had to jump in for a swim. 

Fishing for trout, bass, and panfish is a popular activity in the park and can be done from locations along the Lake Trail.

We picked up the Nescopeck Trail for a longer hike (than just the Lake Trail). With the use of the map we picked up at the Visitor Center and signs on the trails, we were able to find our way on various trails during the afternoon.

Sadie had a great time at this park: barking up a tree (for a squirrel) and going for another swim in the Nescopeck Creek. 

The Nescopeck Creek contains brown trout and native brook. The Visitor Center has a loaner program for fishing poles for the convenience of park visitors.

From the Nescopeck Trail we picked up Woodland Way that follows the banks of a second lake. I haven't seen so many cats tails in the wild in a long time!

Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular in the park in the winter. Hunting for deer, turkey, black bear, rabbit, and gray squirrel is permitted during established seasons. 

The highlights for us here were the hiking trails and the two lakes. There are other areas of the park to be explored, but be sure to check out the displays in the Visitor Center if you go to this park. For additional information, go to www.visitPAparks.com.