On the west side of the Lehigh River at the water gap with the Kittatinny Ridge (Blue Mountain) and extending upriver about 2.5 miles. Main access point is in Lehigh County, but much of the center’s property is in Carbon County.
Lehigh Gap
Nature Center (750 acres)
610-760-8889 •
lgnc@ptd.net •
www.lgnc.org
From the traffic light at the intersection of Main St. and Rt. 873 (Walnut St.) in Slatington, go north on Rt. 873 for 1.7 miles to Paint Mill Rd. (unmarked) that enters Rt. 873 from a sharp angle on the right. Bear right onto Paint Mill Rd. and go 0.4 miles (cross under the Rt. 873 Lehigh River bridge) to where the road ends at the Osprey House. To reach the northern end of the Preserve, take Rt. 895 west from Bowmanstown. After crossing the Lehigh River, turn left (south) on Riverview Rd. and go about a mile. Park at the area where the road turns right and walk straight ahead to the ponds.
The Refuge contains three ponds, riparian forest and wetlands adjacent to the Lehigh River, forested slopes, cliffs and talus slopes. About 350 acres of grassland have been established on formerly barren land on the side of the mountain. This area was damaged by pollution from a zinc smelter. The Center re-vegetated the mountainside by planting native, warm-season grasses. |
Typical winter birds. There are feeders
at the Osprey House.
Migrating raptors, waterfowl on the Lehigh River,
Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles and a variety of warblers.
Breeding birds include Wood Duck, Common
Merganser, American Kestrel, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird and Indigo Bunting. This is one of only two locations in Lehigh County where Prairie Warblers nest.
Migrating raptors and a variety of other fall migrants.
- Some trails may be under construction or not permanently marked.
- The Kittatinny Ridge has been designated an Important Bird Area by
Audubon Pennsylvania.
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