The D&L Blog

Mission 165: Running My Way Down the D&L Trail 

Written by Michele Connors, DLNHC Volunteer

I became a runner in the summer of 2017 to improve my mental health, despite having mixed opinions about running. I started off slowly with a run-walk mix, but eventually worked my way up to competing in my first 5K race in April 2018. Since then, I haven’t stopped. 

For the first couple of years, I kept my runs close to home in Weatherly, a small borough that lies within the Anthracite Region of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC)- just about 4 miles south of the Rockport Trailhead. Growing up, I always knew about the Rockport Trailhead and even took my Girl Scout troop hiking there, but I had no knowledge of the D&L Trail itself, or that Rockport was just a small piece of something much greater.  

At some point during 2020, I subscribed to DLNHC’s virtual newsletter. I can’t remember how exactly, but I think it was in my quest to keep busy outdoors when all indoor activities were on hold.

In June 2021, I read an article in the newsletter about the Notch Eight Run Club in Jim Thorpe. They were a group of runners who liked to get together on the D&L Trailheads in Jim Thorpe once a week, run 3 miles, then hang out at the Notch Eight Craft House in downtown Jim Thorpe. Of course I had to check it out! Three years later, I’m still enjoying our Monday night group runs and hangouts all throughout the summer.

We certainly are an eclectic group of runners and walkers of all ages and abilities – very friendly and very non-judgmental. We have a lot of fun! Aside from the camaraderie among local runners, another reason I am grateful for this group is because they introduced me to new sections of the D&L Trail and made me interested in learning and exploring more. Eventually, I even bought myself the Official D&L Trail Guide from DLNHC’s online gift shop. I started to learn how the trail was connected and the rich history of all of the full five-county Corridor.  

About a year ago, on September 4, 2023, I ran a 3.6-mile stretch starting at the Black Diamond Trailhead. It was on that run that I decided- I wanted to run the whole 165 miles of the D&L Trail. I just loved all that I had seen of the trail so far, and I wondered what additional beauty and history I would find. I created a Google Doc table with a line for each mile, the location of the mile, when I was there, and notes about my run. 

With each new section, I add pictures of the trail and each mile marker I pass. I even have a virtual photo album designated just for the D&L Trail. Making it a goal to run the entire length of the trail has made running even more enjoyable for me because I get to explore and go on little adventures when I seek out new trail sections. I also enjoy visiting the Trail Friendly Businesses for a bite to eat after my runs. 

This summer I was able to check some goals off of my summer running list which included the 10-mile stretch from the Black Diamond Trailhead to White Haven and the 13-mile stretch from Rockport to Glen Onoko.  

One of my most memorable moments was when I discovered the Berger Trailhead in December 2023 – one that’s new since the trail guide was published. It was a fun surprise! On New Year’s Eve, my last run of 2023 started at the Berger Trailhead and continued to the Cove Road Trailhead then back – about 9 miles roundtrip. The scenery along that section is so unique, and there are so many pieces of history to see along the way. You can see remnants of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the old Treichler’s Dam, and a concrete phone booth from the early 1900s. I loved all 18,000 steps of that run, and it only made me more eager to run all 165 miles. 

Almost a year into working toward my goal, and I’ve already run 85 of the 165 miles, including all of the miles between the Black Diamond Trailhead and Hanover Township Canal Park. In addition to the two big sections I needed in the Anthracite Region, lately I have also started exploring the Delaware Canal Region. So far, I am in awe of the beauty and vastness of the Delaware River and how it compares to the Lehigh. I also enjoy looking for the stone mile markers along the canal, which are very different from the Lehigh section mile markers and sometimes require some extra work to spot through the greenery along the trail.  

I encourage everyone to check out a copy of the Official D&L Trail Guide and explore an area they are not familiar with.

We are so very fortunate to have this beautiful natural resource so close to home that’s free for us to enjoy!