Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 6 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Lackawanna State Park near Carpenter Town, PA. The route passes Lackawanna Lake and Ziegler Preserve before reaching Messimer Preserve at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It climbs 366 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi994 – 1,155 ft4.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.56774, -75.70136
Nearest town Carpenter Town, PA
Directions
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Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 6 sights
4.5 mi · ▲ 366 ft · 1 hr 41 min
Elevation 994–1,155 ft
Out & Back · Lackawanna State Park
Trailhead: 41.56774, -75.70136
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 500 ftSharp right onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Lee Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bassett Path, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Lackawanna Lake.
- 0.2 miPass Ziegler Preserve.
- 200 ftTurn right onto South Branch Trail, heading NE.
- 1.2 miReach Messimer Preserve, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Bassett Path, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Lee Hill Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 150 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
80% dirt17% grass3% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:28 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Bull Hill–Ziegler Preserve, 7 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 486 ft
- Lackawanna Lake & Frost Hollow Trail 4 mi · ▲ 317 ft
- Meadowsweet Preserve–Quarry Ridge Preserve, 6 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 514 ft
- Bassett Path–Kennedy Creek Trail, 3 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 701 ft
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