Hiking & Biking

Welcome To The Great Outdoors


Miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the mountains and valleys of Northeast Pennsylvania. Peddle along paved paths or rugged trails. Climb alongside roaring waterfalls or take a leisurely walk down a wooded lane.  Luzerne County is also part of the D&L Trail which stretches 165 miles from Britstol, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre. Whether on foot or on bike, there are plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors!



D & L Trail

Eastern Pennsylvania’s D&L Trail spans just over 140 miles through the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor from Bristol, in the Greater Philadelphia region, to Mountain Top, nestled in the Appalachians. Already the second longest rail-trail in the state, the trail will expand to 165 miles when complete, besting the famed 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage in the number one spot.

Comprised of a combination of former railroad routes and canal towpaths, the scenic and historical pathway crosses five counties along both the Lehigh and Delaware rivers. The D&L Trail is a National Recreation Trail and is also part of two regional efforts, the Circuit Trails, which will connect 750 miles of trail in Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey, and the East Coast Greenway, which will connect multi-use trails from Maine to Florida. As the trail is a work in progress, be sure to check the D&L Trail’s official website for the latest information on the conditions of the trail.

Luzerne County Trails


Get Out & Explore


Nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Luzerne County is home to trails for all skill levels. From paved paths along the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre to trails that wind up mountains, you are sure to find the perfect hiking or biking spot for your next adventure. Head out on one of our trails to soak in the beauty of nature in Northeast Pennsylvania!

Hiking-Biking Map 05-14-2020

North River Trails


Location Icon 1

Luzerne County Levee Trail

Crossing the Market Street Bridge from Downtown Wilkes-Barre you can access the Susquehanna Levee Trail and Kirby Park. Bring your bike or walking shoes for some urban riding and hiking.
Website


Length:  12 total miles
Trail end points:  Wyoming Ave
(Wyoming) and Flat Road (Plymouth)
Trail surfaces:  Asphalt


  Biking
  Skating
  Fishing
  Hiking

Location Icon 2Luzerne County National Recreation Trail

Almost two miles of the Luzerne County Rail-Trail is open with continued development in the works. Connecting with not only the boroughs between Old Forge and Wilkes-Barre, but also the nearby trails. The Luzerne County Rail-Trail will be a major regional asset.


Length:  1.8 total miles
Trail end points:  Pittston’s Riverfront Park and Port Griffith
Trail surfaces:  Cinder, Concrete, Gravel


  Biking
  Skating
  HA
✔  Fishing
  Hiking
  XC Skiing

Location Icon 3Seven Tubs

The Seven Tubs Recreation Area is directly off Route 115, Wilkes-Barre, approximately four miles from downtown. Continuously flowing water carves out pockets or tubs of water offering multiple views of natural beauty.
The Seven Tubs offer two different trails that highlight everything the area has to offer. The 1.8 Mile Audubon Loop starts by following Laurel Run and then loops back around through the forest, highlighting the different ecosystems of Luzerne County. The 0.3 Mile Main Loop Trail circles “The Tubs” to allow users of all skill levels to enjoy nature.


Website 


Length:  1.8 total miles
Trail end points:  Bear Creek Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Trail surfaces:  Dirt and Rock


  Hiking

South River


Location Icon 4Mocanaqua Loop Trail

Mocanaqua Tract hiking trails has a total of 15 miles of varying hiking terrain from easy to moderately difficult. Access the Trailhead from Route 11 to the Shickshinny Bridge (Route 239) and take the first left.
Website


Length: 15 total miles
Trail end points: Main Street, Mocanaqua
Trail surfaces: Woods Road, Mown Path through Fields, Rocky Trail


  Hiking
  Biking

Location Icon 5Susquehanna Warrior Trail

This Trail follows the scenic Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, on the old rail road bed of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western railroad, you can walk, bike, and run. Currently, there are 12.5 miles of trail completed. The trial is about 10 feet wide, and is adjacent to the old north branch canal, and other historical attractions. There is also an excellent opportunity of spotting bald eagles, deer, heron and multitude of other animals. Much of the trail is shaded, providing relief from the summer sun.  
Website


Length: 12.5 total miles
Trail end points: PPL Riverlands Park and Hunlock Creek Garden Drive-In
Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone


  Biking
  Hiking
  HA

Back Mountain


Location Icon 6Back Mountain Trail

Back Mountain Trail was originally built by lumber and ice king Albert Lewis 115 years ago and was acquired by the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1887. The Trailheads are located at the top of Perry Street in Luzerne or the corner of Carverton Road and 309 in Trucksville.


Length: 5 total miles
Trail end points: Parry Street (Luzerne) and Franklin Street (Shavertown)
Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone


 HA
  Biking
  Hiking
  XC Skiing

Location Icon 7Frances Slocum State Park

This State Park is five miles from Dallas and 10 miles from Wilkes-Barre. Take Carverton Road to 8th Street to Mount Olivet Road. This park consists of 1,035 acres. Frances Slocum Lake forms a horseshoe covering 165 acres.   Environmental educational programs are offered from March to November.
Website


Length: 13 total miles
Trail end points: Various Trails
Trail surfaces: Woods Road, Mown Path through Fields, Rocky Trail


  Hiking
  Skating
  XC Skiing

Location Icon 8Ricketts Glen State Park

Located off of Route 118, is home to the challenging Falls Trails named “Best Hike in PA” as part of Backpacker Magazine’s Readers Choice Awards. The Falls Trail is located in the Glens Natural Area comprised of 21 free flowing waterfalls ranging from just over 11 feet to its highest resident waterfall of 94 feet; Ganoga Falls. Falls Trail is 7.2 miles long when doing both the upper and lower sections and is rated as difficult. An easier and shorter route of 3.2 miles is available and allows hikers to view most of the waterfalls including Ganoga Falls. This trails runs directly alongside the waterfalls, so picture taking is plentiful and the vistas are spectacular. Good hiking shoes are strongly recommended.
Website


Length: 26 total miles
Trail end points: Various Trails
Trail surfaces: Dirt and Rock


  Hiking
  Skating
  XC Skiing
  Snowmobiling

Location Icon 9Moon Lake Recreation Area

Moon Lake Recreation Area has approximately 30 miles of moderate single track mountain biking. Moon Lake is located off of Route 29 in Plymouth Township..
Website


Length: 30+ total miles
Trail end points: Deerwood Drive Plymouth Township,
Trail surfaces: Dirt and Rock


  Hiking
  Biking
  Fishing

Southern Crossroads


Location Icon 10Hazleton Rail Trail

Hazleton Rail Trail occupies the former corridor of a railroad line that supported the local coal mining industry. The route is 4 miles and it is best to consider it an 8-mile ride out and back until the planned trail extensions are complete. The trail-head is located at the intersection of Routes 424 and 93.
Website


Length: 7 total miles
Trail end points: SR 93 & SR 424 and D&L Trail
Trail surfaces:
Crushed Stone


 HA
  Biking
  Hiking
  XC Skiing

Pocono Plateau


Location Icon 11Black Diamond Trail

The Black Diamond Trail is a 10 mile stretch from Middleburg Road near White Haven to Route 437 just below Glen Summit in Mountain Top. An additional one mile segment begins by the Mountain Top Fire Company on Route 437, just off of Route 309, traveling towards Glen Summit. Currently, there is approximately a one mile gap that requires riding on the road. Once in White Haven, you can load up on trail snacks and drinks or stop to eat at one of the restaurants. Continue riding a few blocks through town to the White Haven Shopping Center and to the entrance of the Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail ending in Jim Thorpe, PA, another 26 miles.
Website


(Mountain Top-White Haven)
Length: 9.2 total miles
Trail end points: Near the N. end of Main St. (White Haven) and Lake Rd. at Pine Ln. (Mountain Top)
Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone


  HA
  Biking
  Hiking
  XC Skiing

Location Icon 12Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail

The Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail has 26 miles of Rails to Trails and begins in White Haven. This scenic trail follows the Leigh River the entire way to Jim Thorpe. The Park offers multiple Trailheads:Glen Onoko, JimThorpe, Rockport, Tannery, White Haven.
Website


Length: 25.7 total miles
Trail end points: Lehigh Ave. near the Carbon Co. Courthouse (Jim Thorpe) and East of Main Street (White Haven)
Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone


  Biking
  Fishing
  Snowmobiling
  Hiking
  XC Skiing

Location Icon 13Nescopeck State Park

Located in the southern part of Luzerne County and offers 19 miles of hiking trails. The Educational Environmental Center offers many programs throughout the year including free fishing clinics in the spring and summer and free snow shoe rentals in the winter.
Website


Length: 19 total miles
Trail end points: Various Trails
Trail surfaces: Woods Road, Rocky Trail


  Hiking
  XC Skiing
  Snowshoeing
  Hunting
  Fishing


 Parks Location Icon14Bear Creek Preserve 

The 3,412-acre Bear Creek Preserve is a vast expanse of forests in the Lehigh River Watershed. The Preserve is home to a number of lookout points perfect for observing birds of prey. Three streams run through the Preserve adding to the beautiful scenery. Parking and trail access can be found along White Haven Road and Rt. 115.
Website

Length: 9+ miles
Trail end points: Various Trails
Trail surfaces: Dirt, Rock

  Hiking

Parks Location Icon15 Goeringer Preserve

Explore the 390-acre preserve that was once used as a source of ice blocks that were exported to Philadelphia. Today, the property connects with parcels owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, the Natural Lands Trust and the Wildlands Conservancy.
Website


Trail end points: Hollenback Road (White Haven)
Trail surfaces: Dirt, Rock

  Hiking
  Hunting


Nearby Neighbors


Parks Location Icon16Lackawanna River Heritage Trail

The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail (LRHT) and its companion trail, the Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail (D&H), form a 70+ mile multi-use trail system along the Lackawanna River from New York State through Susquehanna, Wayne, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties to the Susquehanna River in Pittston, Pennsylvania. The trail is popular with walkers, runners, bicyclists, cross country skiers, snowmobilers, and equestrians.
Website


Length: 70 total miles
Trail end points: Depot Street (Taylor) and D&H Rail Trail (Carbondale)
Trail surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone


  Biking
  Hiking
  XC Skiing

Excursions


Valley to Summit, LLC

1528 E. Montgomery Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
Phone: 215.543.6171
Website 

Guided wilderness adventures, including winter waterfall ice hike excursions to Ricketts Glen State Park to explore the magical ice formations.

Ice Hiking at Ricketts Glen

Explore More!


Check out our blogs to learn more about some of our trails:

Running Trails  Opens in new window

Grab Your Sneakers & Get Ready to Run

 Lace up your sneakers and check out these spots for a great run surrounded by beautiful scenery!

Bear Creek Preserve Green Trail

Easy-To-Reach Trail Leads to Beautiful View

Tucked just off Route 115, explore the scenery and flowing waterfall on this easy-to-reach trail at the Bear Creek Preserve.