No Frogs At The Frog Hollow Nature Center , But It Was Still A Nice Place To Hike In Schuylkill County

I decided to make my first visit to Frog Hollow in Wayne Township, Schuylkill County last  Sunday. I had seen article on the internet about the vernal pools  here. Frogs mate and lay their eggs in vernal pools in early Spring.  And a  friend has been telling me for some time how  it is a nice place to hike.  Located just outside the small town of Friedensburg it is about an hour drive from my home in Luzerne County.

I was going  to visit Saturday but I  didn’t think there would be much frog activity because of the frigid temperatures in the low 20’s. . Instead I hiked in  my favorite Susquehanna Wetlands. Despite the cold I ws surprised to hear spring peepers and other wood frogs active in the wetlands.  So I decided to visit the Frog Hollow Nature Center on Sunday.

It was sunny and cold again when I arrived at Frog Hollow with temperatures in the  upper 20’s.  Frog Hollow  is a  28 acre forested wetland which   Elsie Krammes gave  in trust to the South Schuylkill Garden Club on her death.   A local church took ownership from the Garden Club who  conveyed it to  the Schuylkill County  Conservancy and  Schuylkill County. It became the second Park maintained by the County.

I was not familiar  with the trails  in the nature center  so I followed the Wildflower Trail down a ridge. It took me through a woodland of  oak,tulip, birch and maple trees.

It was too early in the Spring for wildflowers, but I did see some domestic crocuses in bloom,

and many daffodil flowers ready to bloom.   It didn’t take long for me to like this place.

The trail took me to clearing  with an  amphitheater,

and fireplace and chimney with a large cedar- like tree.  I learned this was once  the  homestead of Ms. Krammes which was  razed    because of it’s deterioration.

I  am not sure but I believe the tree is a sawara cypress tree.  These trees are not native.  It was very old and must have been planted  next to the house a long time ago.

There was also a large black walnut tree growing  in the clearing.  These trees were often planted near homes in the 19th century.

I left the homestead clearing and followed the Creek Way Trail which took me along the upper Little Swatara Creek.

This small creek is a tributary of my favorite river, the Susquehanna. Growing along the creek were more ancient tulip, sweet birch , red and white oak and shagbark hickory trees.

Although it was too early to see the many wildflowers that grow here I did see a few species of moss growing along the trail including fan club-moss,

shining club-moss,

and flat-branched tree   or princess pine club-moss.

Informative signs post along the trail provided insights to the flora, fauna, natural features  and  history of the hollow.

I came to two large stones in the creek and wondered, as I often do, on my hikes why they were there, who put them there and when they were placed their. On of the  informative signs gave  me the answer. Boards were placed between the stones in the Summer to dam  the creek and create swimming hole. I  imagined the local children, and maybe their parents after work and on Sundays, swimming in the creek before social media, the internet, television and radio. Wonderful day they must have been.

After about 3/4 of a mile the Creek Way Trail brought me to a pavilion with a large fire place.

I learned there was once a Summer cottage here. Once again my imagination went to work  re-creating the many wonderful Summer’s spent in this almost magical place along the Little Swatara Creek.

The Creek Way Trail ended and I continued on the Pavilion Trail   up ridge where there were no more eastern hemlock and white pine trees mixed in with the other hardwood trees.

Here I first heard. then saw,  a red breasted  nuthatch singing in the morning sunshine. 

These pretty birds are less common in our woodlands than their white breasted cousins,

one of which I saw nearby.

They are often seen climbing down  tree trunks searching  for  lichens and insects. .

The trail ended here, and I walked back to the pavilion ,where,

I crossed a wooden bridge over the creek and walked on  the Pinesap trail.

I was a little disappointed I wasn’t seeing more birds and other wildlife on my hike. And I hadn’t’ heard or seen  a single frog.

The Pinesap Trail was wet and muddy. I found some skunk cabbages sprouting here,

and their were hundreds of trout lily leaves sprawling on the ground along the trail. Their fleeting  yellow flowers will soon  cover the ground. They are called day lilies since their bloom only last for a day.

As I  continued on the trail I soon came to some vernal ponds. Here I found out why I wasn’t hearing the spring peepers and wood frogs. They had already mated and laid their eggs.  I found masses of the wood frog eggs in the ponds,

they were everywhere.

And I also found other egg  masses in the ponds, I am not sure but I believe these are spotted salamander eggs.  I am sure on warm Summer evenings there will be a lot of frogs croaking in  these woodlands.

I followed the Pinesap Trail which looped back to the pavilion.  It wasn’t along trail, maybe  3/4 of a mile.  I then followed the Creek Way Trail back to the amphitheater.

Here I hiked on, and  explored, the Fern, Woodland and Skunk Cabbage Trails. Many hemlock, tulip and oak trees towered over the trail.

There were ferns on the Fern Trails,

deep woods on the Woodland Trail ,

and a lot of skunk  cabbages on the Skunk Cabbage Trail.

The area I took this photo will be covered with bright green skunk cabbage leaves in a few weeks.

Near the Skunk Cabbage trail I saw a flock of golden crowned kinglets,

and this brown creeper. This small birds scamper up the trunks of trees.

These  trails weren’t long here either,  maybe another 1/2 mile total. I usually hike 5 miles, and I had only hiked about 2 miles at this point so I  decided to hike  on the trails again hoping to see some more wildlife.

I didn’t, it was a quiet morning, probably because of the cool temperature.  It wasn’t  until I was hiking back on the Pinesap Trail again , when  I saw one of my favorite birds, a pileated woodpecker.

I love seeing this bird, the largest of the seven woodpeckers found in Pennsylvania.

I also saw this male northern cardinal feeding on the ground. This was unusual, I usually see the males perched high on tree tops, singing,  especially in the Spring.  Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-site with some more photos of the birds I saw on my hike. Frog Hollow Nature Center Schuylkill County  birds March 29 2026.

By following the  the trails again I had hiked 4 miles and  I decided to end my visit.to this enchanting place.  I was a little disappointed I did  not see more frogs, birds and other wildlife but, I know I will on future  visits. And  I plan to return soon to see the many Spring wildflowers that bloom here. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-site with some more photos from my hike. Frog Hollow Nature Center Schuylkill County   March 29 2026.

“I find the act of searching for, catching and releasing frogs to be awesomely rewarding, and really one of my favorite activities to do since I was young, scouring my backyard with my brothers. They make for fascinating creatures, and I think catching frogs will always be something I find relaxing.”
― Aesop Rock