A Weekend at Hickory Run State Park
One holiday weekend, almost on a whim, I decided to escape to the Poconos for a couple of days. I found a campsite at Hickory Run State Park, packed the car, and headed out.
I'd heard of Hickory Run, of course. I'd seen photos of Hawk Falls and the road through the Boulder Field on social media more times than I could count. But for whatever reason, I'd just never made it there, even though I'd spent time exploring other parts of the Poconos over the years.
So I downloaded a few podcasts, pinned every waterfall and natural area I could find nearby, packed up the car, and headed out.
Hawk Falls
One of the highlights of the weekend was Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park. Judging by the rangers directing traffic in the parking lot and the steady stream of hikers making their way down the trail, I wasn't the only one with that idea.
What I really liked, though, was the approach. Once you reach the bottom of the hill, the trail turns and follows Mud Run, weaving through a corridor of towering rhododendrons. For a while it almost feels as though you're walking through a tunnel before the trees suddenly open up and the falls appear.
I was there late in the afternoon, when soft light was filtering through the canopy above. The leaves almost seemed to glow against the dark rock walls surrounding the falls. It was one of those scenes that made me want to linger for a while, waiting for a brief lull in the constant stream of hikers. Eventually the moment came, and I scrambled out onto a couple of rocks in the middle of the creek to make a few photographs before the next group arrived.
Shades of Death Trail
I got up early the next morning and headed straight for Shades of Death Trail. Despite its rather ominous name, it's a beautiful walk.
The trail follows Sand Spring Run, and alongside the natural cascades in the creek, the water also tumbles over Stony Dam. I happened to be there just as the morning sun was filtering through the trees, casting a soft light across the forest and giving everything an almost ethereal glow.
I've been back since, and it's become one of those trails I'll happily return to again and again. I can only imagine how spectacular it must be in the fall.
The best part, though, was that I seemed to have the trail almost entirely to myself. I wandered at my own pace, stopping whenever something caught my eye and simply enjoying the quiet.
Boulder Field
Next up was the Boulder Field, and I think what struck me most wasn't the boulders themselves, it was their location. Hidden deep within the surrounding forest, you suddenly emerge into this vast expanse of rock that feels completely out of place.
The Boulder Field is a National Natural Landmark and, at around 16 acres, is thought to be the largest boulder field in the Appalachian Mountains. It's an impressive sight, stretching seemingly endlessly in every direction.
I found myself just as captivated by the drive through Hickory Run State Park as I was by the landmark itself. Winding through the forest, I couldn't help thinking I'd love to come back one autumn when the hillsides are ablaze with color.
As for the boulders... they're probably a paradise for anyone who enjoys rock scrambling. I wandered out far enough to take it all in before deciding I'd leave the more adventurous route-finding to someone else.
There and Back Again
Of course, no road trip would be complete without a few stops along the way. On the drive up to the Poconos, I stopped at the Austin Blakeslee Natural Area and followed a wooded path down to Tobyhanna Falls.
It was a quiet little place. The falls weren’t especially large, but they were tucked away from the road, with a broad rock shelf where you could sit for a while and enjoy the sound of the water. A few people were fishing nearby, and the whole area felt peaceful and unhurried.
Another stop was Buttermilk Falls in Bear Creek Preserve. This one was more of a roadside discovery, but the cascades were gorgeous—right there beside the road and far more impressive than I had expected.
Finally, on my way home, I stopped at Lehigh Gorge State Park, I think near the Rockport entrance, and walked part of the trail. There were a couple of small waterfalls along the way, but what I remember most was one little run tumbling down toward the river.
My other lasting memory is getting wildly lost after I left. I hadn’t downloaded any maps, and somehow ended up spending the next 45 minutes wandering along back roads through the Poconos, trying to find my way back to the Blue Route. Not exactly the scenic ending I had planned, but in hindsight, probably a fitting end to a weekend built almost entirely around wandering.
Buttermilk Falls at Bear Creek Preserve
Buttermilk Falls goes into the running to be on a list of awesome roadside waterfalls. I could see the waterfalls from my car when I turned into the pull off. It was definitely worth a little further exploration...
Hickory Run State Park
Hawk Falls
Hawk Falls in Hickory Fun State Park seems to serve as the park's greatest attraction. The short half mile trail to the base of the falls was complete with a conga line of hikers. I guess the park rangers directing traffic at the parking lot should have tipped me off! The falls are worth the hike, and the volume of hikers, it just requires a bit of patience to get a couple of shots without random humans in the frame!
Shades of Death Trail
Next morning, I packed up early (the beauty of sleeping in the car!), and headed straight for the Shades of Death trail. Despite the ominous-sounding name, this was quite a leisurely hike alongside Sand Spring Run. In addition to the natural runs along the creek, the water cascades over the man made Stametz Dam, and with some nice morning light, produced quite a stunning effect! This is a definite must do, and I can imagine this trail would be even more stunning in the fall!
Hickory Run Boulder Field
The boulder field, meh! The fact that the boulder field is hidden deep in the woods, priceless! I NEED to go back and drive this road in the fall sometime. The boulder field itself is a National Natural Landmark, and is said to be the largest boulder field in the Appalachian Mountains. There is around 16 acres of mostly sandstone boulders to clamber about on, and is thought to be 10-12 feet deep in spots! What a great spot for those that enjoy a bit of rock scrambling.
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Headed South again, but always on the lookout for just one more waterfall, or one more trail... I found this easy stroll along the Delaware and Lehigh Rail Trail in Lehigh Gorge State Park. This was a busy trail, but well maintained and an easy walk to both Buttermilk Falls, and Luke's Falls. The light wasn't great for photography, but I still enjoyed the stroll along the trail...
In all, a successful car camping experiment... I'll definitely return to Hickory Run. I also see more car camping expeditions in my future, maybe made even more comfortable with the addition of a hatchback tent to my car camping kit.