Jacobsburg Trail

The Pennsylvania state park known as Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center includes numerous opportunities for both education and exploration. Currently encompassing 1,168 acres of forests, fields and creeks, the park was named for Jacob Hubler. In 1740, he was the first to establish a farm on this land.The land was later used for gun making operations under William Henry II. The Henry family made firearms by hand and eventually the Henry brand became nationally recognized. The family supplied guns for both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. A portion of the park is dedicated to the history of the family and gun making.Another educational opportunity is in the park office and visitor center. Here the park staff offers programs that include the cultural history of the area, and also natural history and outdoor recreation. The visitor center has displays, trail maps, a checklist of birds seen in the park and flush toilets.The Jacobsburg Trail is identified as a multi-use trail for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. Signs along the trail indicate that horses are permitted only on certain portions of the trail.The trailhead is across the road from the parking lot close by the visitor center. There is no trailhead sign. The wide path leads through the woods. With several optional ways to follow the trail, it winds throughout the forest in multiple small loops. On the map in the region identified as the site of Jacobsburg Village, Jacobsburg Trail is shown to cross the Bushkill Creek. No trail markers indicate a trail leading in that direction. The obvious path leads to a parking area.A spring hike will feature numerous wildflowers along the trail. Bird watchers should bring the park checklist any time of year. The list includes birds seen in all seasons and how frequently the birds are seen in the park. The list also contains many birds known to have nested in the park including uncommonly seen American Kestrel, Eastern Screech-Owl and Prairie Warbler.