Weissport Canal A Walk Along The Lehigh River

Last Sunday I hiked the Weissport Canal and haven’t had a chance to upload the photographs.  It was a perfect June morning with clear blue skies and bright sunshine. 

The trail starts in the historic town of Weissport. This town was the site of Fort Allen, built by Benjamin Franklin, yep, the  kite flying Benjamin Franklin after the Gnadenhutten Massacre in 1756. I’ll leave the history of this town for another post.

Last Sunday I hike north and west along the old Lehigh canal, built in the early 1800’s. There are still the ruins of many of the locks visible along the trail. In town the waters of the abandoned canal are homes to many ducks and geese.

The trail is lined with many old trees along the Lehigh River and smaller trees and shrubs along the canal.

I walked past a few fisherman, trying to catch one of the many fish I saw in the water.

There was also an abundance of dragonflies, butterflies and other insects, including mosquitoes darting and buzzing along the path. 

The path becomes more wooded as it weaves it’s way through the gorge made by the Lehigh River. The beautiful scenery was enjoyed by many walkers, runners and bikers I encountered on the trail. 

I hiked out to the bend in the river where the old and active railroad tracks crossed a bridge over the Lehigh River. The trail ends at the bridge but there are plans to extend it to Jim Thorpe. 

I walked back and encountered a snake that just had a meal. It was right in front of me but got into the brush before I could get some good photographs. Also encountered quite a few song birds but wasn’t able to get many photographs. Still it was a great hike on a beautiful day in Northeast Pa.

Here is a link to more photographs from my hike. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/photographs-5/nggallery/blog-photos/weissport-canal-june-14-2015

A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world. ~Paul Dudley White