Doggin'
The Poconos: Best of the Best
As the temperatures drop, you may notice
your dog getting friskier. Autumn is the best time of year to
get out and exercise with your dog on Pennsylvania trails. Maryland
is a great place to hike with your dog. Within a short drive
your dog can climb mountains that leave him panting, trot
down sand trails, walk on some of the most historic grounds
in America, explore dark ravines or circle lakes for miles
and never lose sight of the water.
BEST PLACE FOR YOUR DOG TO SWIM: Nescopeck State Park (Drums).
Beaver ponds are splendid for your water-loving dog and so is
Lake Frances; even Nescopeck reek is deep enough for superb dog
paddling in spots.
BEST ONE-HOUR WORKOUT FOR YOUR DOG: Lehigh Gorge State Park (Jim
Thorpe) The Glen Onoko Run tumbles 900 feet down seven waterfalls
in less than one mile and your dog can hike to the top, moving
almost straight up at times, hopping across the stream and picking
his way at others.
PRETTIEST HIKE FOR YOUR DOG: Ricketts Glen State Park (Benton).
After hiking the magical Y-shaped Falls Trail that visits 23
named waterfalls along two branches of the Kitchen Creek your
dog will know why this area was once slated to be a national
park.
BEST HIKE TO VIEWS WITH YOUR DOG: Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area (East Stroudsburg). The hike up 1,463-foot Mount
Minsi is a tough rewarding climb either on an old fire road or
the twisting Appalachian Trail to views of the famous gap.
BEST HALF-HOUR HIKE WITH YOUR DOG: Salt Springs State Park (Franklin
Forks). The Flood of 2006 destroyed large chunks of the Falls
Brook Trail, one of Pennsylvania's most spectaculr footpaths
but the adjoining Hemlock Trail helps to deliver the park's three
signature waterfalls.
MOST HISTORIC HIKE WITH YOUR DOG: Mauch Chunk Lake Park (Jim
Thorpe). The Switchback Trail travels on the roadbed of one of
America's first railroads. After it closed the gravity railroad
spent time as one of America's first rollercoasters and a popular
destination for thrill seekers.
BEST PLACE TO CIRCLE A LAKE WITH YOUR DOG: Delaware State Forest
(Swiftwater). Bruce Lake is one of six glacial lakes in the forest;
the route combines wide, plaw-pleasing logging roads and the
usual rocky Pocono paths as it rolls along.
BEST PLACE TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THE WOODS WITH YOUR DOG: World's
End State Park (Forksville). Like the early settlers who named
this remote valley, you will feel like you are hiking through
the end of the world in these mountains. If the park's 20 miles
of trails don't do the trick the 60-mile Loyalsock Trail should
accomplish the feeling.
Find out about these and other destinations for your dog in DOGGIN'
THE POCONOS: THE 33 BEST PLACES TO HIKE WITH YOUR DOG IN THE
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAINS, $9.95. So what are you waiting
for? Your dog will want to hike through the largest unlumbered
forest left in northeast Pennsylvania (page 37), hunt the elusive
morel mushroom (page 73), hike through the Ecology Cemetery (page
25), hike across a National Natural Landmark (page 23)...
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