Pennsylvania boasts plenty of scenic settings where you can escape from it all, if only for a day.

One of them, in my book, is Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Granted, it is a drive to get there, but the change of scenery and (usually) fresher air will surely help you enjoy a mini vacation. And if you save up on gas during the week, reward yourself with a trip for a day.

The park follows the Lehigh River and offers plenty of things to do.

There’s hiking, biking, whitewater boating, fishing, wildlife watching and more.

From our location in Montgomery Township it is some 77 miles and about an hour and a half to the northern access area of the park at White Haven. You can also access the park at Rockport (the central access area) or at the southern access at Glen Onoko (near Jim Thorpe).

On a recent trip, my husband and I went to the White Haven entrance. We took our bikes and wheeled on a 10-mile trek to the Rockport access.
It was easy going on the fine-gravel trail. There is a stretch at the beginning of the trail where the gravel is coarser, but once you cross the road at the Lehigh Tannery access point, it is a nice ride. There is a 2 percent grade or so coming in the opposite direction, and we felt it on our ride back, as we were tired and are only leisure riders.

I recommend taking field glasses or binoculars if you have them, as you are bound to see some birds and perhaps other wildlife. We saw butterflies and plenty of birds.

If you do not have a bike, there are outfitters in the area that rent bikes and offer shuttle services to and from your biking destination.

But just walking the trail is a pleasure.

The section between White Haven and Rockport offered some pleasant surprises for us on our recent visit.We, as always, were not looking at the trail map too closely until we stumbled upon the first of various waterfalls on that section. Then we started to pay attention and found the spots on the map (which we had picked up at the bike rental at White Haven, right off the park entrance).

That stretch of the park was quite enjoyable. We took our time and stopped every time something caught our attention.

There are a couple of spots with a bench, a couple of informational markers and plenty of views to admire. The trail is marked, noting how many miles to the next spot.

We almost missed one waterfall, but decided to pedal the last mile or so to Rockport and were treated to a beautiful view of the falls.
TRAVEL NOTES
GETTING THERE: Plan for a full day, between getting ready, traveling, spending time at the park and traveling back. I recommend you decide in advance which part of the park you will visit and avail yourself of a map to get familiar with the trail. There is a visitor center in Jim Thorpe that has lots of maps, and maps are available at the bike rental at White Haven. Note that the park closes at dusk and outfitters’ closing times may vary.

GEAR: Make sure you have good walking/hiking shoes, sunblock, insect repellant, a hat and comfortable clothes, depending on the weather. To check weather conditions, you can go to http://www.weather.com/.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: You could pack a lunch or snack. I did not see any picnic tables on the White Haven-Rockport section of the trail, but there are a couple on the Glen Onoko section. Remember to take your trash back home with you and DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. Do not forget to take some water with you.

DATE POTENTIAL: Well, yeah, especially if you both are into nature and outdoor activities. If not, the views alone are worth the trip.

GOOD TO KNOW: There are no potties along the trail between White Haven and Rockport. There is an environmentally friendly facility at Rockport. There are restrooms at the bike rental at White Haven. If you are biking, and depending on your biking abilities, you should check trail difficulties before heading out.

MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/lehighgorge.aspx. EASY ALTERNATIVE: If you do not want to bike nor hike, or are not interested in any strenuous outdoor activity, you may want to consider going to Jim Thorpe and taking a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The 16-mile round trip takes you through Glen Onoko, follows the Lehigh River to Old Penn Haven and then returns. The train runs on weekends, July 4 and Labor Day. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for kids 2 to 12. For information, call (570) 325-8485 or (610) 562-2102. Check http://www.lgsry.com/ You can walk about town before or after the train ride. Some businesses are open on Sundays. Do not miss the visitors center, as there are other attractions you may want to check out.