Looking for an easy hike at Lacawac Sanctuary? The Lake Lacawac Trail is just over a mile and provides a hiker with many natural wonders.
No time for a long hike
An afterthought adventure turned into an exciting exploration on a weekend in October. With little time to spare, my wife and I decided to take a quick diversion into the forest. Our time constraints limited us to a short hike at one of the southernmost glacial lakes in North America, Lake Lacawac.
Easy hike at Lacawac Sanctuary
The Lake Lacawac Trail is the perfect choice if looking for an easy hike at Lacawac Sanctuary in Northeast Pennsylvania. The trailhead is located conveniently near the Visitor Center parking area. Lacawac’s Visitor Center has Porta Pottys and, if open, a wildlife exhibit inside. You can pick up a trail map in the foyer of the Visitor Center so you can track your progress.
The Lake Lacawac Trail can be completed in a loop. This trail has a viewing deck on Lake Lacawac, a beautiful glacial lake. Some trail areas can be wet, so waterproof hiking shows never hurt. Also, while most of the trail is easy hiking, a short rocky section or two adds some variety. The trail is rated as easy, and most people will be fine hiking it.
Eastern or Red Spotted Newts
After just a few steps into the trail, we stopped. The floor of the forest captured our attention; it moved. We noticed the first of many orange salamanders, specifically Eastern (Red-Spotted) Newts. These little creatures were hiding undercover or quickly scurrying off the trail, seemingly trying to avoid us. Their bright orange color is a stunning display against the greens and browns of the trail in autumn.
We couldn’t help but wonder if their brilliant color made them easy prey for wildlife looking for a quick snack. It turns out that this color is a warning sign to predators that this little Newt produces a poisonous toxin. Hungry predators would be wise to look for other food sources.
Mushrooms and more mushrooms
Making our way through the preserved forest on our easy hike at Lacawac Sanctuary, we noticed a variety of mushrooms. Mushrooms happen to be my favorite pizza topping. I know that some wild mushrooms are safe to eat while others are poisonous. Since that is the extent of my knowledge, I limit my intake of mushrooms to those from the grocery store or from a local pizzeria and rely on the experts for mushroom education. Hikers should leave the mushrooms at Lacawac as they found them, but they are fun to see.
Wes Swaffar, in a National Forest Foundation article, writes that “mushrooms are merely the fruit of a predominantly underground organism. The majority of the organism is underground in the form of mycelium – the vegetative part of a fungus that consists of a mass of branching single-cell strands called hyphae. The mushroom itself is the fruiting body of that fungus, which allows it to disperse spores and create more mushrooms”. It is amazing that the mushroom we see is just the “tip of the iceberg.”
Autumns colors on an Easy Hike at Lacawac Sanctuary
As we continued down the well-marked trail towards the glacial lake, we encountered many unique colors on or near the ground. Leaves get most of the attention this time of year, but colors abound everywhere. One dead tree and some layers of fungi can be so interesting.
We had set out for a quick hike to a beautiful lake, but as the saying goes, our life experiences are more often about the journey and not just about reaching a destination. While autumn is my favorite season due to the change in weather and leaf colors, Christmas is my favorite Holiday.
Partridge berries pointing us to Christmas
Just prior to reaching the lake, we were prompted to think of what is to come. According to the US Forest Service, Partridge Berries (officially called Mitchella) are named after a physician who developed a treatment for yellow fever. This plant immediately caught our attention with its bright red berries, complemented by its deep, green leaves. What could be better than being outside on an autumn day and having the “trail” point us towards Christmas? I suppose this is a good reminder to make the most of the current season while looking ahead with expectation and hope for the next.
An easy hike at Lacawac Sanctuary packed with wonder
Our hike was a mere 1.24 miles, but it reminded me that wonders could be found if we just explore. The good news is that exploration can occur in our backyard, on a short hike, or anywhere. Exploration can happen without the latest equipment or without being the most experienced. Exploration is possible with a curious mind and a willing body. In our case, we did make it to Lake Lacawac just in time for the clouds to part and reveal a blue sky. This glacial lake, our destination that day, serves as the basis for environmental education and research. The journey, even 1.24-mile ones, is just getting outdoors, being surprised, amazed, and educated.
Click here for a Lacawac Sanctuary Recommended 5-Mile Hike
About Lacawac Sanctuary:
Located in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania and founded in 1966, the aspirations of Lacawac Sanctuary have been to preserve Lake Lacawac, its watershed, the surrounding forest, and historic structures; provide a venue for ecological research, scholarly interaction, and the training of scientists; provide PreK-12 and collegiate education on environmental and conservation issues; educate all ages and promote healthy living patterns and wellbeing through nature.
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Great article. Like the research you provided with sources. Beautiful thoughts on shot restorative visits in nature. Today, life was busy, so I went on a short walk down the road. My whole perspective changed. It made the rest of my day so much better. Thanks for the reminder!