Hike the Bald Mountain Loop and Lehigh Rim Route-Lehigh Gorge State Park

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Hike the Bald Mountain Loop and Lehigh Rim Route-Lehigh Gorge State Park

The Lehigh Gorge is the best kept secret in eastern Pennsylvania, and the largest gorge near the eastern seaboard of the United States. The gorge has waterfalls, vistas, rapids, historic ruins and many different habitats. It once attracted the famed naturalist, John James Audubon, who explored the gorge looking for birds. Unlike the Pine Creek Gorge, the Lehigh Gorge does not have an extensive system of hiking trails. This hike follows a relatively new trail system in the Lehigh Gorge State Park, and includes a beautiful off trail trek along the rim of the gorge to some great vistas and a fun scramble.

Park at 40.963783, -75.777269. The road to this parking area is easy to miss and looks like a driveway, it is located at 40.964374, -75.779458. Follow the blue blazed trail along an old forest road through pine trees down to a scenic pond. The trail passes through a hemlock forest with rhododendron and then climbs. The forest changes to laurel with hardwoods. As the trail reaches the ridge, the forest is open with hardwoods. Reach a trail sign to start the Bald Mountain Loop, go right, or straight on the loop, on the blue trail. The trail is level and rolling on top of the ridge.

Reach the yellow Vista Trail, follow it to the right, and keep right when the loop begins. The trail soon takes you to the rim of the gorge (remember this spot) with several nice views framed with pine trees. Continue along the rim for more nice views. Where the Vista Trail turns away from the rim, retrace your steps to where the Vista Trail first reached the rim.

Now the off trail Lehigh Rim Route begins, marked red on the map. Simply follow the rim of the gorge. The brush is not very thick and the hiking is fairly easy. You may notice a faint trail. The first vistas are among the finest and look towards Tank Hollow Vista. The Lehigh River roars far below. Continue along the rim and ascend a little. Laurel becomes more common but is never very thick. Reach a series of large boulders and white rock outcrops with fine views across the gorge. It was a lot of fun to explore these large rock outcrops. The pine was aromatic in the warm sun.

The route then begins to drop towards a small side stream, passing another view from a rock outcrop. Cross the small creek with cascades and then climb up the other side. Here is the Canyon Scramble, a fun scramble up a sloping rock ledge with views of the gorge. It is possible to bypass the ledge, but it is brushy. After the Canyon Scramble, climb up some more ledges and hike to the top of the rim. The vistas are done. Reach an obvious old forest road and hike it to the right. Reach the blue blazed Bald Mountain loop and retrace your steps.

This is a beautiful hike with one of the finest rim walks along the gorge.