Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 6 sights is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Lackawanna State Park near Carpenter Town, PA. The route passes Lackawanna Lake, Lackawanna Lake and Ziegler Preserve before reaching Messimer Preserve at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 484 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi994 – 1,155 ft7.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.56002, -75.70738
Nearest town Carpenter Town, PA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Messimer Preserve–Ziegler Preserve, 6 sights
6.2 mi · ▲ 484 ft · 2 hr 19 min
Elevation 994–1,155 ft
Out & Back · Lackawanna State Park
Trailhead: 41.56002, -75.70738
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Lackawanna Lake.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Tunnel 407, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Ranger Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miPass Lackawanna Lake.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Lee Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Lee Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bassett Path, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Ziegler Preserve.
- 450 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 W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 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 miTurn right onto Lee Hill Trail, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Kennedy Creek Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Ranger Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Tunnel 407, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 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
81% dirt12% grass7% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:28 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lackawanna Lake–Abington Trail Loop, 3 sights 1.1 mi · ▲ 119 ft
- Quarry Ridge Preserve–Lackawanna Lake Loop, 4 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 366 ft
- Bull Hill–Ziegler Preserve, 7 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 600 ft
- Ziegler Preserve–Lackawanna Lake, 9 sights 8.1 mi · ▲ 528 ft
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Hikes near Carpenter Town, Pennsylvania