FRIENDS
OF LATODAMI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
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TRAILS OF NORTH PARK LATODAMI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
CENTER: One of the best ways to discover Latodami is to hike one or more of its trails. For your convenience you might want to print up this guide before your visit to Latodami. To print the map, click on image and print the resulting page in landscape mode. |
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BLUEBIRD TRAIL – 9,936 feet (1.88 miles), approximately 30 minutes
Bluebird Trail starts at the end of Crow’s Trail. The first section
leads you into a rolling, grassy field habitat maintained by local boy scouts.
Here you will find ongoing scout
CCAC TRAIL – 615 feet (.11 mile) , approximately 5 minutes
This short, level, wet woodland trail was made by CCAC North student volunteers to connect Wagon Wheel to Towhee and to Route 910 to allow hikers to travel into Pine Township’s Pine Haven Park Trail. Hillside seeps and springs create this unique habitat, where plant and animal species are specially adapted to the shaded, cool, wet environment. This valley is part of the watershed for the North Fork Branch of Pine Creek.
CROW’S TRAIL – 2,180 feet (.41 mile), approximately 15 minutes
Starting off of Spur Trail, Crow’s Trail winds uphill through a beautiful mature woodland valley. Crows can be heard and seen calling and playing during the day in the treetops. Barred Owls have been nesting in this valley since 1999. Listen for the lyric song of woodland birds. Notice that much of the trail follows along the remnants of an old farm road. Crow’s Trail leads you to Bluebird Trail and to the Harmony Trail.
FOX MEADOW TRAIL – 375 feet (.07 mile), approximately 2 minutes
Fox Meadow is also a connecting trail. It was developed as a shorter, alternate route of return from North Trail. It also allows hikers to enjoy the diversity of plant and animal life by traveling through successional growth. Where once was a field is now returning to woodland. An opening was created to attract wildlife. Deer browse, owl pellets, rabbit and fox scat, turkey feathers and other clues of wild travelers are easily observed.
MEADOW TRAIL - 4,065 feet (.77 mile), approximately 35 minutes
This trail begins with a strenuous climb to the top of a hill, but the hikers are rewarded with a chance to walk through the ecotone between the meadow and the deciduous forest. Visitors have the opportunity to stroll around the meadow and birdwatch before meandering back down the hill on the narrow path. Meadow connects to bridle trails at two different locations.
NATURE ACCESS TRAIL (Braille Trail) - 2,130 feet (.4 mile), approximately 20 minutes
One of the most well-known trails in North Park, the Nature Access Trail is an easy path that winds its way along streams. Designed for the visually impaired, a thick rubber rope will act as a guide throughout the forest. This is a great path for a casual family stroll or picnic among skunk cabbage.
NORTH TRAIL – 3,630 feet (.69 mile), approximately 40 minutes
North trail starts with an uphill climb and ends with a relaxing walk. In early spring, hikers are treated to an assortment of flowering trees, primarily dogwoods. In any season, there is a beautiful vista of a rolling meadow. Successional growth areas of field to forest are the primary habitats. This is a great birding area. North Trail connects to Towhee, Skyline and Fox Meadow.
OBSERVATION TRAIL - 2,735 feet (.52 mile), approximately 15 minutes
An alternative route to Wagon Wheel, Observation Trail provides the opportunity to see the forest from a unique view. The Observation Deck is located about halfway through the trail, allowing the hiker to experience the canopy of the forest. The deck was built as an eagle scout project.
POND TRAIL – 1,970 feet (.37 mile), approximately 10-15 minutes
The trail closest to the Nature Center is of special interest to children. Keep eyes open for animal tracks, frogs and ducks while circling the pond. Leave extra time for this trail, as there are several natural bridges that allow for a closer look into the pond.
SKYLINE TRAIL – 2,005 feet (.38 mile), approximately 9 minutes
A trail that leads to the clouds! This trail wanders off North Trail to take the hiker through fallow farm field. Notice the remains of the windmill and cistern, used in the days before electricity to pump and store water for the farm. Bluebirds and tree swallows are abundant during the summer thanks to the efforts of local volunteers that have built and erected nesting boxes. The observation blind was built as an eagle scout project. Special native grassland habitat restoration projects are being developed.
SPUR TRAIL – 4,075 feet (.77 mile), approximately 30-35 minutes
Spur branches off of the Nature Access Trail, and continues to wind throughout the forest. The hike begins with an arduous, yet shady, climb up a long windy hill. Traverse through mature and successional stage woodlands, small meadows and large beds of soft green ferns along this footpath. Along the trail you will come to Crow’s Trail on the left which will take you to Bluebird Trail and to the Harmony Trail. At the end of Spur Trail, the visitor is conveniently brought to Brown Road across the entrance road to Latodami Nature Center Barn.
TOWHEE TRAIL – 1, 966 feet (.37 mile), approximately 10 minutes
Towhee connects North and Wagon Wheel Trails, and gives the
hiker a feeling of “roughing it.” The path is narrow and steep, and not as well
maintained as some of the other trails. Great for observing tracks in the mud
or listening to bird calls (listen for the rufus-sided towhee song – “drink
your teee”). Towhee is a casual walk down through the
hilly deciduous forest. Return following
CCAC Trail to Wagon Wheel or Cross Rt. 910 to connect to
WAGON WHEEL TRAIL - 5,380 feet (~1 mile), approximately 30 minutes
Wagon Wheel, an eagle scout project, was one of the first trails built at the nature center. The old wooden farm wagon for which this trail is named has long since decayed. Wagon Wheel offers a great opportunity to identify various animal tracks along the muddy terrain. Take notice of decomposing logs that provide a habitat for numerous organisms and play an essential role in recycling of nutrients in nature. This wet woodland is home to many unique plants and animals.
WHITE-TAIL TRAIL – 1,070 feet (.2 mile), approximately 5 minutes
This trail gets its name from the ubiquitous white-tailed deer that prance across the pathway. This is a short, straight, flat trail that is easy for beginners and connects the Nature Access Trail to Meadow Trail. White-tail and Meadow Trails are located within young successional stage woodlands that are not more than 30 years old. These areas were once farm fields.
Most of the trail descriptions were written by Caroline Glendenning, Erin Hurley, and Sarah Lewis – 2000
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