The D&L Blog

A Message From Mandy

Autumn is a time for change and reflection and the D&L Trail is the perfect spot to spend the day, catching a glimpse of the forest as the leaves start to turn colors and fall. 

As the seasons change, be prepared on the trail as the temperatures drop and daylight decreases by planning for shorter hikes, wearing layers, and staying hydrated. Leaves on the trail are great for making piles to jump in but can also hide rocks and sticks. Wet foliage can be slippery so take extra precautions and slow down, especially when biking. September is also Pennsylvania Trails Month, another compelling reason to spend some time on some of the 12,000+ miles of trail in the state! 

During the pandemic, more people were spending time outdoors than ever, with trail usage reaching historic levels. In response to the increased usage, The Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources and Conservation recently announced additional funding available to support outdoor recreation, conserve resources, and support economic development. These new grants will help to support many partner projects along the over 165-mile D&L Trail, including trail construction and program support.  We get closer every day to connecting trail gaps! 

Last month we welcomed a familiar face to the Trails Team, Whitney Davison, Education Manager at the D&L, to lead the Get Your Tail on the Trail (GYTOT) program. We are thrilled to have added Whitney’s educational expertise and creative mind to the program. If you haven’t signed up for this health and wellness initiative, visit tailonthetrail.org to get started. There is still time to complete the GYTOT 165-mile challenge before the D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run/Walk on November 6^th! 

Early in September, we celebrated with the Friends of the Delaware Canal, Delaware Canal State Park, and state officials to honor the Delaware Canal Towpath as the Trail of the Year. This 58.9-mile section of the D&L Trail south of Easton is a beautiful historic path, dotted with quaint towns along the canal. This is a well-deserved award for this special section of the D&L Trail, and I encourage you all to explore it. 

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for exciting upcoming events including a ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand new D&L Trail section from Northampton to North Catasauqua that will be held on September 26^th, and the last public Trail Tender clean-up of the year on October 1^st in Allentown. Sign up to join us! 

With so many things to celebrate, see, and do, I hope to see you on the trail! 

Written by Mandy Tolino, D&L Director of Trails and Conservation.