Many of the trails were old roads from the towns of Hickory Run and Saylorsville that flourished in the area between 1830 and 1900. Most of the other park trails were created by the Civilian Conservation Corps under the guidance of the National Park Service between 1936 and 1945.
Trail Blazes
- Yellow blazes are hiking only trails
- Blue blazes are hiking and cross-country skiing trails
- Orange blazes are hiking and snowmobiling trails
Biking is prohibited on all trails at Hickory Run State Park, but is permitted at nearby Lehigh Gorge State Park on the rail-trail.
Prepare for a Safe Hike
For every hike, even on trails less than a mile -- Always carry water, a park map, and wear appropriate footwear. Cell phones are unreliable in the forest and are not an alternative to a paper map.
For longer adventures -- Pack high-energy snacks, more water, and layers for changing weather conditions. Stay well fueled and hydrated for a more enjoyable experience.
Before embarking on your next adventure, consider:
- Trail length, trail difficulty, and fitness level of your group -- On the park map, most trail lengths are one-way. Double the trail length to return to the starting location.
- Weather forecast -- Be aware of possible upcoming weather and pack accordingly.
- Time of day -- The park closes at sunset. Plan to leave the park well before sunset.
- Have a plan B -- Be flexible! Sometimes changing to a better day or a different trail results in a safer experience.
Trail Definitions
Difficulty Ratings
Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.
Trail Route Type
Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.
A -- Beach Trail
0.5 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, potable water, picnic tables, benches
Beach Trail provides an easy walk from Sand Spring Lake to the campground.
B -- Bear Trail
1.1 miles | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none
This wide, grassy trail branches off Fourth Run Trail and ends at the northern park boundary. This secluded trail is great for viewing wildlife.
C -- Blue Trail
1.0 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Blue Trail winds through a forest dominated by chestnut oak, mountain laurel, and rhododendron. Mid to late June is the best time to see blooming mountain laurel, but blooming rhododendron can be seen early to mid-July.
D -- Boulder Field Trail
3.5 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail ends and Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark. Along the trail you may see a variety of wildlife including: bears, white-tail deer, turkeys, snowshoe hares, ruffed grouse, and owls.
E -- Deer Trail
0.5 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, potable water, picnic tables, benches
Deer trail starts in the Sand Spring Day Use Area and ends at PA 534. In the spring and fall, vernal and autumnal pools along the trail may contain various frog, toad, and salamander species.
F -- Fireline Trail
2.4 miles | Most difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Originally developed as an access road for firefighting equipment, this scenic trail has a picturesque overlook of the Lehigh River and Lehigh Gorge State Park.
G -- Fourth Run Trail
4.8 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restroom
The longest tail in the park passes through a wide variety of landscapes and habitats. It crosses Fourth Run multiple times, which provides excellent fishing opportunities for native brook trout.
H -- Gamewire Trail
3.3 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail follows the boundary fence line that used to surround the game preserve of General Harry C. Trexler, who owned most of the property that became Hickory Run State Park.
I -- Gould Trail
1.0 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: benches
This trail winds through deciduous woods and fields, crossing Goulds Run at the trail's mid-point. In the summer, look and listen for indigo buntings, broad-winged hawks, field sparrows, and eastern bluebirds.
J -- Hawk Falls Trail
0.6 mile | More difficult hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail wanders through a tunnel of rhododendron and ends with a view of Hawk Falls, a natural, 25-foot waterfall. Swimming is prohibited at Hawk Falls.
K -- Hickory Run Trail
1.3 miles | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail descends into a field where the National Park Service built a picnic area and parking lot in the 1930s. Parts of the curbing can still be seen among the wildflowers. This is one of the best places in the park to see butterflies.
L -- Lake Trail
0.6 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: none
This short but very scenic trail runs around the back of Hickory Run Lake and connects to Stage Trail.
M -- Leonardsville Trail
0.6 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail branches off of the western end of Stage Trail. The trail resembles a tunnel through a remarkably dense stand of rhododendrons and, at times, seems almost completely enclosed.
N -- Manor House Trail
2.2 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail begins off of PA 534 and follows along the park boundary (white blazes) until it connects with Fourth Run Trail.
O -- Nature Trail
0.4 mile | Easiest hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, potable water, picnic tables, benches
This trail begins near the pavilion and meanders through a variety of tree and plant species. Copies of the self-guided brochure PDF) corresponding with the numbered posts along the trail are available at the trailhead and visitor center.
P -- Orchard Trail
1.2 miles | Most difficult hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail is a loop that connects to the Hawk Falls Trail. It also provides access to the Mud Run Natural Area and fishing in Mud Run, a delayed-harvest and artificial lures only stream.
Q -- Pine Hill Trail
3.9 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Most of this trail follows the park boundary and travels through an oak, maple forest thick with mountain laurel.
R -- Ridge Trail
1.1 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: benches
Ridge trail is narrow and winds through the valley carved by Hickory Run. Near the fordway are remains of a double sawmill and flash dam built in the 1830s.
S -- Sand Spring Trail
2.6 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
A wooden water tower and waterlines seen along the trail are artifacts from the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration during the mid-1930s and 40s that originally developed the park as a National Recreational Demonstration Area.
T -- Shades of Death
1.0 mile | Most difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, potable water, benches at Visitor Center Trailhead
Despite the gruesome name, this is one of the most picturesque trails in the park. There are also remains of logging mills and dams dating back to the early 1800s.
U -- Skyline Trail
2.1 miles | More difficult hiking | Loop trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Skyline Trail branches off from Fireline Trail and meanders through a forest dominated by beech, gray birch, and pitch pine. When it reconnects with Fireline Trail, it follows a ridge, overlooking the Lehigh River.
V -- Stage Trail
4.5 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail was once the stagecoach road from Bethlehem to Wilkes-Barre, the trail is surprisingly flat and shows the skill of the early road builders.
W -- Stone Trail
1.25 miles | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restroom
This trail starts in the Boulder Field parking area and passes through sheep laurel, hemlocks, and deciduous forest along the park boundary.
X -- Switchback Trail
0.7 mile | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail connects Hickory Run Trail and Gould Trail. From Hickory Run Trail, the trail switchbacks up to the plateau, then meanders through a forest of beech, gray birch, and pitch pine to an intersection with Gould Trail.
Y -- Boundary Trail
1.5 miles | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail runs along the northern boundary of the park and connects Stone Trail with Fourth Run Trail.