places where you won't be able to wipe the wag off your dog's tail - Reading PA
The Park
Jacob Nolde arrived in Philadelphia as a 21-year old from Germany in 1880 and soon found himself among the German-speaking communities of Berks County. He found work as a weaver and within a decade had purchased enough knitting machines to start his own hosiery manufacturing business. In another ten years he had taken over an entire Reading city block and was operating the second largest textile plant in America. Nolde now had the time and resources to pursue his dream: to create “the most beautiful pine forest in Pennsylvania.” He began by purchasing land where he discovered a single white pine tree growing in an abandoned meadow. The lone pine would soon be joined by more than a half-million neighbors - white pine, yellow pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir, and other coniferous varieties.
The Walks
There are some 10 miles of trails coursing through the forest, mostly on wide, former access roads built by the plantation’s foresters. The well-spaced conifers indeed give the feeling of rambling through a pine farm in places. Expect long, steady ascents and descents when creating circuit hikes on the roughly ten miles of trail here. The focal point for the canine hiking along the Watershed Trail through the center of the property is Punches Run that flows energetically through the valley floor. Strict adherence to the trail system will roughly generate a figure-eight hike but chances are you will be tempted to break off your intended route to explore something interesting in the verdant forest.
Where The Paw Meets The Earth: Dirt and gravelly asphalt
Workout For Your Dog - All the trails climb
Swimming - North Pond is the best
Restrictions On Dogs - None
Something Extra
Dogs looking to get in some dock diving practice will appreciate North Pond at Nolde Forest. Secluded North Pond is tucked away from many of the trails, use the Beech Trail to reach the Pond Loop or drive to a small parking lot on Church Road.
Phone - (610) 796-3699
Admission Fee - None
Directions - Reading, Berks County; The Nolde Forest is southwest of the city, on Route 625. There are two entrances, the southern one is the Main Entrance Road, closed on weekends. The northern lot is the Sawmill parking area, open sunrise to sunset every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment