The Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary itself is a 166 acre preserve. 120 acres was donated for the preservation of wildlife by long time County resident Clayton Swink, an additional 46 acres was purchased in 2004. It is now owned by the County and provides an interesting arena for outdoor programs. It has an old field, mature deciduous forest, evergreen stands, and two ponds. Over 2 1/2 miles of maintained and well marked trails are open for public use year-round, 7 days a week.

The trail system at Kettle Creek is relatively easy to follow with the aid of a map or simply by following the signs. Grey Fox and Red-tail Loops are the only trails maintained on the north side of Running Valley Road. The trails start at the corner of the overflow parking lot and loop through a mature hardwood forest with moderate hiking. All other trails are found on the south side of the road. The trails are accessible from the parking lots of the building or from the overflow parking lot on Running Valley Road.

Black Bear Trail, a paved trail accessible to wheelchairs and physically challenged individuals, currently extends over 900 ft. to Swink Pond. This trail starts in the parking area below the building and runs past the remains of an old farmhouse.

Songbird Trail and Deer Trail both form a circle and return you to the parking lot. Songbird is the shorter loop; it covers approximately 1/2 mile and travels through old fields and immature forests. It is also fairly easy to walk with only one uphill section. Deer Trail is the large loop that begins on songbird and goes up over the hill and along the upper boundary of the property. Total walking distance is 1.1 mile with some uphill sections.

The remainder of the trails basically serve to connect the shorter loop and the longer loop, which allows walks of various distances. These trails all end with the name Path or Way and are relatively short in distance, but do involve uphill sections due to the slope of the terrain.

Kettle Creek is open to the public year round for hiking and cross-country skiing from dawn to dusk. There is no hunting, camping, littering or pets allowed on the property and fishing is limited to handicapped individuals for catch and release purposes only. For more information please call our office at (570) 629-3061.

Kettle Creek Trail Map

The Meesing Nature Center is located on the Delaware State Forest near Marshalls Creek in Monroe County. The Monroe County Conservation District, with the help of other cooperating agencies, operates the Nature Center.

Educational programs at Meesing are conducted for individuals and groups of all ages, from preschooler to senior citizen. The programs at Meesing encompass a broad range of interest and activities including: Teacher education, guided group visits, research, naturalist apprentice training, nature study, conservation and
natural history.

One often asked question is "What or Who is Meesing?" Meesing is a shortened form of the word Meesinghawlikun. Meesing was the majestic gamekeeper spirit of the Lenape Indians, former inhabitants of the Delaware River Valley. According to legend, Meesing rode from the top of this celestial mountain range on his eight point buck, driving wildlife to the prayerful hunter as he went. Meesing protected the wildlife throughout the year, so that the Indian village was provided with food through the harsh winter.

Tannersville Cranberry Bog was one of The Nature Conservancy's first preserves. It's a 775-acre preserve containing a 150-acre wetland and a relict boreal bog. The bog was once a huge glacial lake. Since the ice receded 10,000-15,000 years ago, approximately 60 feet of peat has accumulated on the floor of what was once the 715-acre lake. Today, the bog stands out in contrast to the surrounding forests. It is a world of sphagnum peat moss hosting beautiful plants like calla lillies, orchids, gold thread and the carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants, with smatterings of shrubs like bog laurel, Labrador tea, leatherleaf, sheep laurel, bog rosemary and swamp azalea. the bog also provides habitat for many mammals including bears, otters, bobcats, beavers, porcupines, minks and snowshoe hares.

The Nature Conservancy manages the preserve with the volunteer assistance of a local Stewardship Committee and the Monroe County Environmental Education Center. The North Wood Trail and the Fern ridge Trail in the upland woods are open to the public for self-guided walks. Because of its fragile nature, the bog can only be visited during regularly scheduled walks conducted by the Monroe County Environmental Education Center. Private walks are also available to groups upon request. A cost of $4, or $2 for Nature Conservancy members, for management costs is requested.

For more information please call our office at (570) 629-3061.