River runs: Drake's Creek a haven for scenery-hungry hikers
One of our largest State Game Lands, Number 141 in Carbon County, consists of 17,000 acres along both sides of Lehigh Gorge. With this much space, the area fits a great deal for hikers to appreciate.
The game land's northeastern edge abuts Hickory Run State Park and is known locally as Millstone Mountain. Its southwestern section consists of Scrub Mountain above the eastern side of the Lehigh River and Broad Mountain directly across the river. Both of theses mountains have an elevation of 1,700 feet above sea level and form dramatic, steep bluffs rising 1,000 feet above both sides of the Lehigh River to create the famous gorge.
The upper slopes and tops of the game lands are mostly oak forests, with some pitch pine and white pine and shrubs such as mountain laurel, huckleberry and lowbush blueberry. A few streams drain these upland forests and form small waterfalls that cascade through "hollows" down into the Lehigh River. Tank Hollow, Maple Hollow and Butcher Hollow are three of these small ravines that can be seen from the river or from the 26-mile biking/hiking path that extends from Jim Thorpe up to White Haven.
A more beautiful, impressive and accessible tributary of the Lehigh River drains the game lands' northeastern section from Millstone Mountain. It's called Drake's Creek, and a dirt road follows it all the way down to the Lehigh River.
This road can be driven in warmer months, and there are several small parking areas along the way, mainly for fishermen. There's a larger parking area at a cul-de-sac at the top where the asphalt road (Drake's Creek Road) ends and the rough, dirt road enters the dense forest. By parking here, a pleasant, scenic walk of about a 1¼ miles (each way) is possible down to the Lehigh River.
The first thing that impresses a hiker starting down this road is the amount of rhododendron. It forms thick, impenetrable walls of greenery along the slopes of Drake's Creek — a beautiful display of white flowers in July.
Rising above the rhododendrons are big hemlocks, white pines, yellow birches, American beeches and red maples. Because of the cool shade and dampness, Canadian shrubs such as mountain maple (our smallest maple) and hobblebush (a northern viburnum) are also common, as is wild hydrangea which produces dense bunches of white flowers in summer. There are also many evergreen ferns and mosses that thrive in the moist humus and leaf litter.
The general atmosphere along this dirt road as it parallels Drake's Creek down to the river is a damp, earthy fragrance — so unlike the drier, open conditions at the ridgetops of this game lands. The overall impression is very much like that of a ravine in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, with the big hemlocks and thick rhododendrons and the constant, soothing sound of the flowing creek.
In spring, several species of woodland wildflowers bloom before the forest canopy closes and darkens the forest floor. Many songbirds that spend winters in the rainforests of Central and South America return in May to raise their young in the lush forests along Drake's Creek: scarlet tanager; veery; red-eyed and blue-headed vireos; hooded, black-throated blue, black-throated green and Blackburnian warblers; ovenbird; Louisiana waterthrush; and many others. Porcupine, black bear, mink, red-backed vole, raccoon and woodland jumping mouse are just a few of the mammals inhabiting this area.
The creek forms several picturesque, small waterfalls on its way to the Lehigh River, and small bridges span the creek to allow vehicles and hikers to cross the water as it meanders downstream. Drake's Creek finally flows below railroad tracks at the end of the trail and enters the river through a tunnel. Here is a magnificent view of the Lehigh River and Gorge both upstream and downstream, with steep slopes densely covered with both deciduous and evergreen trees and rhododendrons.
Bald eagles, ospreys, ravens, turkey vultures and common mergansers can sometimes be seen from this vantage point — a great place to sit, relax, have a picnic and then return for the pleasant, gradual uphill walk back to the top.
Trail: Drake's Creek Location: State Game Lands 141, Carbon County, near Unionville and Hickory Run State Park Directions: From Route 115 in Blakeslee, drive south to Route 903 and take this 8½ miles to "Unionville" sign; turn right. Bear left at next sharp bend and then turn right after ½ mile onto Schoolhouse Road. After 1 mile, turn left onto Drake's Creek Road and drive to cul-de-sac. Length: About 1¼ miles each way. Highlights: Fragrant, damp atmosphere of the shaded, evergreen forest; lots of rhododendrons and summer songbirds; scenic Drake's Creek and spectacular Lehigh Gorge