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Delaware & Lehigh - Dirt on the Trail, Fall ’25
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Dirt on the Trail, Fall ’25

Sep 24, 2025 | Written by

Posted in Trails

Fall Footprints on the D&L Trail

In this Issue

Seasonal Announcements
Trail Update
Northampton County Return on Environment
Connecting Communities: Bike & Brew on the D&L Trail
Make Your Fall Miles Count – The 165 Mile-Challenge Ends Soon
Web Map Updates

SEASONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Written by Liz Rosencrans, DLNHC Director of Trails & Conservation

Life is gourd when its fall on the D&L Trail!

We’re getting whispers of cooler weather at night and if you’ve been around our office a flannel or two have emerged which can only mean one thing…. Fall is here! This season is one of the busiest you’ll see out on the D&L Trail with events taking place in every town, races out on the trail, and people flooding every region to see the changing leaves. Scroll through our tips below to keep your trail adventures safe and enjoyable this fall.  

  • Hunting Season is active and includes Sundays – the D&L Trail is bordered at times by state game lands and areas where hunting is permitted. Look for hunting season signage on your trail section and always dress yourself and your pets in bright clothing including Safety Orange. New this year, hunting is now permitted on Sundays. Deer Rifle season in PA is November 24 to December 13, but archery and other firearms may be present throughout the fall and winter seasons. For more information, please visit this website. 
  • Watch for Leaf Peepers– many locations along the D&L Trail are ideal for spotting the changing fall foliage. It can be so mesmerizing that some trail users stop abruptly in the middle of the trail to look up! Use caution when riding the trail this season, remember to give a verbal warning when passing others, and step off the trail if you want to stop to take in the views. For more information on the best spots along the Corridor to see the changing leaves, check out: 5 Must-See Fall Foliage Views Along the D&L Trail  – D&L – Delaware & Lehigh. 
  • Support DLNHC – As you’re out on the trail this season, you may see our new signs seeking support. Do you use the D&L Trail like your personal gym? Do you see others out regularly for exercise, fresh air, or social connection? Consider making a donation to DLNHC — and encourage fellow trail users to do the same! Your support helps fund our staff, operations, and the maintenance of local sections of the D&L Trail, ensuring it remains a safe, welcoming space for all.

We hope to see you out on the D&L Trail this season enjoying all that fall has to offer from great gorge views from your bike to a pumpkin spice latte at a Trail Friendly Business! 

TRAIL UPDATE 

Written by Liz Rosencrans, DLNHC Director of Trails & Conservation

D&L Trail Crossing Study in Falls & Bristol Townships 

DLNHC is working with Falls and Bristol Townships in Bucks County to study six locations where the D&L Trail crosses existing roadways with the goal of improving safety, accessibility, and connectivity for trail users. In these areas roadways were developed many years ago over the historic Delaware Canal, cutting off the canal towpath that eventually became the D&L Trail. As communities develop and traffic volumes increase the safety for these crossings have decreased. We’ve been working to identify and improve safety for street crossings like these. A recent successful project you might remember was the Bridge Street Pedestrian Crossing that installed a crosswalk and flashing beacon signs to allow trail access in Morrisville (MM 9).  

You can read more about that project in our blog post here.

The current study is evaluating crossings at Old Bristol Pike, Wheatsheaf Road and Mill Creek Road in Falls Township and Haines Road, Edgely Road, and Airport Road in Bristol Township. You can learn more about the project, get details on each street crossing and the safety issues present, and complete a survey here:  https://arcg.is/0HfHyf3 

The study team will be out on the trail for a public meeting in the form of a walking and biking tour on Saturday October 4th between 9AM – 12:30PM. You can join us for all 6 stops or just join us for the crossing that means the most to you – meeting times for each crossing are listed under the Events section of the project page.  

Northampton County Return on Environment 

Written by Brit Kondravy, DLNHC Conservation Manager

Photo Courtesy of Northampton County, PA.

The Lehigh Valley Return on Environment study, published in 2014 by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, quantified the economic value of the region’s natural features and their contributions to the economy, health, and quality of life. The study highlighted the importance of open space and natural system services, such as air quality, water supply, and habitat for wildlife, in maintaining a strong economy and high quality of life. It also emphasized the need for preserving these resources to avoid costly environmental impacts and to ensure the region’s long-term sustainability.  

Ten years later Northampton County is building on those findings with an updated, county-specific report.  

While the entirety of Northampton County’s Return on Environment report will not be released until later this fall, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure did announce key findings at a press conference held in Jacobsburg State Park on August 19. 

Key findings of the report published in LehighValleyNews include: 

  • $37 million in annual savings from replenishing water supply 
  • $48 million in natural flood protection each year 
  • $85 million in air pollution removed annually by trees 
  • $21.7 billion added to total home value across the County 
  • $436 million generated annually by outdoor recreation, supporting nearly 2,000 jobs 
  • $38.3 million in agricultural output supporting more than 700 jobs 
  • $9–20 million in healthcare savings each year from active lifestyles connected to parks and trails 

Why are Return on Environment (ROE) studies important? ROE’s can elevate the argument for green infrastructure and protection of natural resources from a moral imperative, anecdotal benefit, and/or subjective preference with a data-drive demonstration of how the strategic preservation of natural resources makes good economic sense. 

Let us look at open space specifically. Open space creates economic value in four ways: via revenue generation (e.g., sale of goods and services), wealth generation (e.g., higher property values and earnings from open space-related activities), increased tax revenues (e.g., increased property tax collections due to higher property values), and avoided costs (e.g., dollars that would be spent on the provision of environmental services, such as improving water quality and removing air pollution in the absence of protected open space).   

While it is true that development generates revenue for a region, it is also true that natural resources have a clear monetary value. Stay tuned for Northampton County’s ROE to learn more. And explore the 2014 Lehigh Valley Return on Environment Report here.

Connecting Communities: Bike & Brew on the D&L Trail

Written by Alice Wannamaker, DLNHC Economic Development Manager

As Economic Development Manager with DLNHC, my focus is the communities and businesses along the D&L Trail and throughout the corridor. I regularly connect with the owners and managers behind our great Trail Friendly Businesses to learn about trail user activity and local economic trends. On the flip side, we also regularly check in with our members and trail users to see what type of promotions and events they are looking for.

Based on the feedback we received, we kicked off Bike & Brew events last fall and brought them back this year with one in Lehigh and Carbon Counties and the other in Bucks County. These events are designed to benefit both trail users and the local business community, creating opportunities for connection, exploration, and economic impact!

Earlier this month, we hosted the Lehigh and Carbon Bike & Brew, bringing together a group of riders at one of the newer trailheads – Berger Trailhead in Slatington. From there, riders explored the section of trail that takes you through the Lehigh Gap and into Carbon County. The ride continued into Lehighton and Weissport, with a stop at the Hofford Mill, before looping back to Slatington and wrapping up at the Slatington Farmers Market. While in Carbon County, riders found a few of the new D&L Trail logo markers.   

A similar ride is happening in Bucks County on September 27th, featuring stops at three local favorites: Calm Waters Coffee, Keystone Bagels and the Bristol Amish Market. These rides are designed to be social trips, so participants meet new people, connect with the communities around the trail and enjoy a conversation while exploring the trail.

Click Here to Register for the Bucks County Bike & Brew!

The rides are free for DLNHC members and just $10 for non-members.

As always, we are looking for your feedback on all DLNHC events. If you would like to request a particular section, trip, distance or purpose feel free to email me at economicdevelopment@delawareandlehigh.org.

Make Your Fall Miles Count: The 165-Mile Challenge Ends Soon

Written by Tiffany Serra, DLNHC Trails & Conservation Coordinator

We are in the midst of the Get Your Tail on the Trail (GYTOT)165 Mile Challenge! The goal of this challenge is to log 165 miles of physical activity outdoors between May 1st and November 9th on the Get Your Tail on the Trail (GYTOT) website. There are many options for the types of activities that can be logged, from walking/running to rolling for those who use mobility aids.  

With about two months left until the end of the challenge, we’ve had over 700 GYTOT users achieve the badge. Along with unlocking the badge, folks also get mailed an additional prize to their mailing address after the end of the challenge. This year, the prize will be a multi-use flashlight that has a warning light, hammer head (to break a car window in an emergency), cutting knife, and compass. The flashlight is USB-C rechargeable and has solar panels.  

Interested in receiving the flashlight? Sign up and start logging miles today: Login – Get Your Tail on the Trail.  

WEB MAP UPDATES 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our Interactive Map is updated regularly with information provided by landowners. Please note, an update will remain posted with the original posting date for as long as the incident is relevant.  

Please check our Interactive Map for current updates before planning any excursions on the D&L Trail.  

There are multiple construction projects throughout the Delaware Canal Region, and D&L Trail statuses may change weekly. Please practice patience and safety while navigating around these closures as it takes time to properly rebuild the trail. 

For more information about ongoing projects in the Delaware Canal Region, visit DCNR’s website 

  • Closures at MM 23, MM 31, MM 44 remain in effect. 
  • Wy Hit Tuk Park – Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area – Obstruction within trail section – the Delaware Canal State Park still recognizes a trail closure at MM 53.26 at the Raubsville sub-canal culvert in Williams Township due to the possibility of temporary closures. We have heard reports from trail users that this section is primarily passable. Please use caution when navigating this section.

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