AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lackawanna State Park

Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 9 sights

6.6 mi · ▲ 339 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 9 sights is a 6.6-mile out-and-back in Lackawanna State Park near Carpenter Town, PA. The route passes Lackawanna Lake, Trostle Pond and Ziegler Preserve before reaching Messimer Preserve at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 339 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi994 – 1,122 ft6.9 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 9 sights

6.6 mi · ▲ 339 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Elevation 993–1,121 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. 0.4 miTurn left onto South Branch Trail, heading S.
  12. 1.2 miReach Messimer Preserve, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 1.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ziegler Preserve Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  17. 450 ftTurn left onto Tree Line Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bull Hill Trail, heading W.
  19. 300 ftTurn right onto North Woods Trail, heading SW.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left onto Orchard Trail, heading W.
  21. 1 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/messimer-preserve-ziegler-preserve-out-back-11-sights-11-km

Trail surface

68% dirt24% grass8% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Orchard Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Carpenter Town, Pennsylvania