PEEC: Pocono Environmental Education Center

Public Hiking Trails
Saturday through Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

WINTER HIKERS (November through February):
We encourage our ‘winter hikers’ to be mindful of weather conditions and daylight hours before heading out and recommend you begin your walk by 2pm. Visit the Main Building for updated trail maps.

WINTER OFFICE HOURS: Saturday 10am-2pm, Sunday Building Closed, but trail maps available

National Park Service Leave No Trace video

PEEC offers six trails that vary in distance and difficulty. All trails are loops that begin and end on PEEC Campus. Pick up an interpretive trail guide for each trail from our “Take-A-Hike” display in the main building or download the PDF.

Ridgeline Trail: Allow three hours to hike this 4.5-mile trail. It is blazed in yellow and begins at the forest edge off of the front parking lot behind Cabin #1. The trail wanders through expansive oak-hickory forests, shady hemlock ravines and around numerous vernal wetlands. The terrain is hilly, and in one section where the trail courses over a rock ledge, additional care should be taken. This trail begins and ends along with the red blazed Scenic Gorge trail behind Cabin #20. Follow PEEC’s campus road back to the main building.

Tumbling Waters: Give yourself at least two hours to hike this scenic 3-mile trail. This orange blazed trail begins with the Fossil trail, 20 yards up the campus road from the stone benches, across from group lodges A & B. At the end of the first mile, hikers are rewarded with a beautiful overlook of the Delaware Valley and Kittatiny Mountains in New Jersey at Hermits Hill. At 1.5 miles, take a series of switchbacks down to the waterfalls. You must climb back up the switchbacks before continuing on the main trail, which quickly ascends Killer Hill. You will pass through 3 forest types; a hemlock forest, a mixed oak forest, and a pine plantation before arriving on the shore of Pickerel Pond. Pickerel Pond is approximately 10-minutes from the trails end, which brings you to the parking lot in front of the main building.

Scenic Gorge Trail: Allow at least an hour to enjoy this 2-mile trail. This trail is blazed in red and begins with Ridgeline trail at the forest edge off of the front parking lot, behind Cabin #1. The trail is moderately difficult with a few steep sections, and well worth the effort as the trail brings you into a deep, majestic hemlock forest following Spackmans’ Creek. It is an exciting contrast walking from an open hardwood forest ecosystem into the dark, cool hemlock canopy. During rainy seasons this trail can be muddy in sections so waterproof footwear is recommended. The trail ends along with Sunrise trail behind Cabin #20 and you can follow PEEC’s campus road back to the main building.

Fossil Trail: One hour should be sufficient to cover this 1.25-mile trail. The trail is blazed blue and begins with Tumbling Waters, 20 yards up the campus road from the stone benches, across from group lodges A & B. The trail takes you past a vernal pool important for breeding amphibians, and eventually descends into a beautiful mature hardwood ravine. After crossing a small stream, the trail begins to climb back up the other side of ravine. You will note a large sign depicting marine organisms found in this area hundreds of millions of years ago. These organisms can be found as fossils in the rock ledges to the right of the sign. Please leave your fossils for others to admire. The trail ends at PEEC’s amphitheater site and you can follow PEEC’s campus road back to the main building.

Two Ponds Trail: By far the most leisurely trail (and flattest), this 1.5 mile loop takes hikers through towering pine plantations and allows a view of two scenic pond environments. Keep you eye out for various wildlife and bird life along this trail. This trail is blazed in white and begins by the front pond bird blind on the other side of Emery Road across from the main building parking lot. The trail ends by the new dining hall near the main building parking lot.

Sensory Trail: This trail is intended to increase your sensory awareness. A rope guides blindfolded users around a short loop trail. Blindfolds can be picked up at the main office. This trail is located just past the entrance to the Tumbling Waters and Fossil Trails.

For your own safety and enjoyment, please follow these guidelines:

Motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited on PEEC trails.
Remain on the marked trails.
Do not drink water from ponds and streams.
Dogs are permitted provided that they are leashed.
Remember: Take only pictures & leave only footprints!