Wildlands Conservancy assists efforts to create, enhance, maintain, and promote parks and trails in the Lehigh River Valley. Our "Pathways for People" program promotes the benefits of using the trails and parks in eastern Pennsylvania through projects such as the Bike & Boat activities, Walk for Wellness, South Mountain Trails, and the grounds of the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.

Bike & Boat Education/Recreation Programs

Wildlands Conservancy's Bike & Boat Adventures introduces you to the Lehigh River and the remarkable, historic, and environmental contributions it makes to our community.

Walk for Wellness Trail-Map Sets

Walk for Wellness trail-map set #1 leads you to 25 of the Lehigh Valley's beautiful parks and trails. Walk for Wellness trail-map set #2 is a guide to 30 of Eastern Pennsylvania's top parks, trails, and outdoor destinations. Each map gives clear and concise directions, as well as, information about the site. Walk for Wellness trail-map sets are available in boxed sets for $20 (plus shipping and handling).

A mapping program, Hike for Health (20 maps), in South Central Pennsylvania was published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News from April 8, 2003 - August 26, 2003.

South Mountain Trails

The South Mountain trail system contains over six miles of trails that are preserved and maintained for the benefit of hikers, backpackers, bird watchers, mountain bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Greenways

Greenways are publicly and/or privately owned corridors of protected open space managed for conservation and recreation purposes. They often follow natural land or water features, and link nature reserves, parks, cultural features, and historic sites with each other and with populated areas. Some greenways include recreational trails, while others are solely for the protection of conservation resources. Trails are pathways used for walking, bicycling, horseback riding, or other forms of recreation or transportation.

Currently, Wildlands Conservancy is working in collaboration with municipalities and other government agencies, local businesses, individuals and other conservation organizations to create the Jordan Creek Greenway. The Jordan Creek Greenway allows for the environmental integrity of the land and water of the Jordan Creek watershed to be protected – enhancing wildlife habitat, providing a place for exploration of nature and ensuring a sustainable, healthy community. View Wildlands Conservancy’s Jordan Creek Greenway Plan online: Chapters 1 - 3 ~ Chapters 4+

Environmentally, greenways and trails support the health of the environment by: enhancing the quality of life in a community or region; accentuating the scenic beauty of the area; protecting water resources by buffering non-point source pollution; providing opportunities to protect and manage wildlife, forests and ecological systems; providing recreational opportunities for families and individuals of all ages and abilities; providing alternatives to automotive transportation, thus reducing traffic congestion; adding positively to our economic climate, and being beneficial for health and wellness for individuals of all ages.

In 1998, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge's Executive Order 1998-3 called for an action plan for advancing the Pennsylvania's Greenways Partnership Program into the 21^st century.  This greenway vision is to develop an outstanding network of greenways across the Commonwealth.  The existing, proposed, and future greenway systems in the watershed will connect with this vision.  A February 2003 update identified greenways or linear trails that covered 50 miles in length and included two (2) or more counties.  These spines provide state-wide linkages, which municipalities can implement local system connections.

Pool Wildlife Sanctuary

The Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, which is bordered on three sides by the Little Lehigh Creek, has six trails winding through 72-acres of pristine wildlife habitat.