Martins Creek Environmental Preserve
Directions
Parking area north of the Preserve (near Riverton):
Take I-80 west to Exit 12 (Hope/Blairstown). Turn left at the bottom of the ramp and proceed south on County 521 for 1.2 miles to the old Moravian village of Hope. Turn right at the blinking light onto High Street and continue for 5.4 miles to U.S. Route 46 (along the way, the road changes its name, first to Delaware Road and then to Ramseyburg Road). Turn left onto US-46E. In 2.9 miles turn right onto County Road 620 which becomes Water Street in Belvidere in 1.8 miles. Cross bridge over the Delaware River (no toll) and continue .2 mile to Lower Mount Bethel Township Recreation Field parking lot on the left. Continue through the parking lot and park at the far end. GPS: 40.825970, -75.087597
Park Overview
Now an environmental preserve, this is the original site of the Tekening Hiking Trails located along a scenic section of the Delaware River.
Trail Overview
A network of four blazed trails, totaling about five miles, facilitates loop hikes. The Scenic River Trail (blue blaze; 2.1 miles) runs nearest the bank of the Delaware River, passing by the rugged Foul Rift rapids (dropping more than 22 feet in less than a half mile, the Foul Rift is one of the most dangerous sections of the river). Further west and upland, the Ridge Trail (orange; 1.3 miles) also parallels the Delaware with seasonal river views as it passes by past rocky outcroppings and farm fields. Two shorter trails near the southern end of the preserve complete the network.
Trailhead parking is at either end of the Preserve, off Foul Rift Road in the south and Belvidere-Martins Creek Highway in the north..
Want a description of a hike? Follow this link.
Park Description
Established as a buffer northeast of PPL’s Martins Creek power plant along the west bank of the Delaware River, this private preserve offers the public a well-maintained, quiet space for hiking and biking with great views. The Tekening Hiking Trails pre-dated the creation of the preserve by many years. The name "Tekening" (tek-en-ing) is said to come from the Lenni Lenapi meaning "in the wood." Fittingly, some of the last remaining stands of old-growth forest in Northampton County, PA, can be seen along the trails together with former farm fields and pastures that the woods are reclaiming.