AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
2021-09-09 19 05 24 Light from sunset viewed from beneath a developing thunderstorm along Pennsylvania State Route 524 (Kennedy Creek Road) at Pennsylvania State Route 407 (Abington Road) in North Abington Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.jpg
Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lackawanna State Park

Meadowsweet Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 15 sights

11.1 mi · ▲ 1,103 ft · 4 hr 15 min

Meadowsweet Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 15 sights is an 11.1-mile out-and-back in Lackawanna State Park near Carpenter Town, PA. The route passes Lackawanna Lake, Trostle Pond, Ziegler Preserve and 2 more. It climbs 1,103 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi994 – 1,293 ft · steepest grade: 18%12.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Orchard Trail 41.56557, -75.70822
Nearest town Carpenter Town, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Meadowsweet Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 15 sights

11.1 mi · ▲ 1,103 ft · 4 hr 15 min

Elevation 993–1,293 ft

Out & Back · Lackawanna State Park

Trailhead: Orchard Trail · 41.56557, -75.70822

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Orchard Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Lackawanna Lake.
  3. 1.1 miPass Trostle Pond.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto North Woods Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left onto Bull Hill Trail, heading NE.
  6. 300 ftTurn right onto Tree Line Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miPass Ziegler Preserve.
  8. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  9. 450 ftBear right, heading E.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Ziegler Preserve Trail, heading E.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left onto Bassett Path, heading SW.
  12. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 200 ftTurn left onto Lee Hill Trail, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right onto Lee Hill Trail, heading SW.
  17. 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading SW.
  19. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ranger Trail, heading SW.
  20. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  21. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  22. 0.6 miBear right onto Turkey Hill Trail, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Joey's Trail, heading NE.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right onto Abington Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.3 miPass Quarry Ridge Preserve.
  26. 0.4 miPass Meadowsweet Preserve.
  27. 350 ftContinue straight onto Green Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right onto Blue Loop 2, heading SW.
  29. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  30. 250 ftTurn right onto Green Trail, heading SW.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Loop 1, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftSharp left onto Green Trail, heading SE.
  33. 0.1 miReach Meadowsweet Preserve, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  34. 0.1 miSharp right onto Blue Loop 1, heading S.
  35. 50 ftTurn right onto Green Trail, heading S.
  36. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  37. 250 ftTurn right onto Blue Loop 2, heading S.
  38. 450 ftTurn left onto Green Trail, heading SE.
  39. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Abington Trail, heading N.
  40. 0.6 miTurn left onto Joey's Trail, heading N.
  41. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Turkey Hill Trail, heading NE.
  42. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ranger Trail, heading NE.
  44. 0.6 miBear left, heading NW.
  45. 150 ftContinue straight onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading NW.
  46. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  47. 50 ftTurn right onto Lee Hill Trail, heading N.
  48. 500 ftTurn left onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading N.
  49. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Lee Hill Trail, heading N.
  50. 50 ftTurn right onto Bassett Path, heading N.
  51. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  52. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  53. 200 ftBear left, heading N.
  54. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Ziegler Preserve Trail, heading N.
  55. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  56. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  57. 450 ftTurn left onto Tree Line Trail, heading N.
  58. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bull Hill Trail, heading NE.
  59. 300 ftTurn right onto North Woods Trail, heading NE.
  60. 0.2 miTurn left onto Orchard Trail, heading NE.
  61. 0.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/meadowsweet-preserve-ziegler-preserve-out-back-18-sights

Trail surface

86% dirt7% grass7% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~61 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Orchard Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Carpenter Town, Pennsylvania