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South of Palmerton, PA Rtes. 248 and 873 intersect on the east side of the Lehigh River at a traffic light. Follow Rte. 873 west, crossing the river on a bridge. At the west end, there is a dirt parking lot on the north side of the highway. The red marker on the attached map indicates the location of the parking area. rotate the street view to the east from this point to see the parking area. For nearby parking on the east side of the river, see Miles 20.3 and 20.4 of Section 2.
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The parking lot is the official north end of Section 3. The southbound AT (from Section 2) also crosses the river on the bridge. At the parking lot, the trail goes right (north) and starts to climb the hill into Section 3. Rotate the street view on the map from west to north west to see the parking area. The view to the northeast shows the view across the bridge which the tail crosses. 04/25/07 Updated: 09/14/19
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7-8
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David Cullen
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Here are direction from I-476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) to Lehigh Gap. Take Exit 74 and follow US 209 west for about 1.5 miles to Weissport. Go left (south) on PA 248 for 7 miles to the intersection with the AT at the intersection with PA 873 on the east side of the river. To reach this particular parking area, go right across bridge.
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03/07/10
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David Cullen
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South of Palmerton, PA Rtes. 248 and 873 intersect on the east side of the Lehigh River at a traffic light. Follow PA 873 west, crossing the river on a bridge. The highway bears south. At 0.6 miles from the intersection take a very sharp left turn (essentially a U turn) onto Paint Mill Road. I think thre is a sign for the Lehigh Gap Nature Center at this turn. Follow Pain Mill Road 0,5 miles back under the PA 873 bridge to Osprey House, headquarters for the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. The marker on the attached map indicates the location of Osprey House. GPS: N40.7842 W75.6087
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The Lehigh Gap allows hikers to park in their lot. This includes overnight or over a series of days if they are hiking the AT. They ask that hikers please pick up a parking pass at the Osprey House. Hikers should call ahead at 610-760-8889, since the Osprey House is staffed by volunteers and is not open all the time. There is a connector trail that leads to the AT. This is about 1/3 miles long. At the intersection with the AT the northbound trail is to the left (east) while the southbound trail goes right (west). 09/14/19
For a map of the Nature Center trails in this area see:.http://lgnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Trail-Brochure-2019.pdf
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Ample
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David Cullen
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From the north end of this section at the Lehigh River Bridge (See Mile 0.0), go a short distance west on Rte. 873, then go straight on Mountain Road. In approximately 4.4 miles, Ashfield Road goes right. In approximately 1.5 miles, a T intersection is reached. Go right staying on Ashfield Road. (Reservoir Road goes to the left). From this point the road is gravel. It is another 0.9 miles to the trail crossing at the transmission tower. There are several parking pull-outs in the area There is also parking 0.2 miles further north where an old route of the AT from the south intersected. Note: Beyond the transmission tower Ashfield Road become Blue Mountain Road.
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The trail crossing is in what is called Lehigh Furnace Gap. The marker on the attached map indicates the crossing. It is just north of the transmission tower. GPS: N40.76975 W75.6942 Rotate the street view from the point of the marker to the west to see the southbound AT. It goes through the woods and soon crosses a VERY rocky power line right-of-way. It then continues toward Bake Oven Knob. Rotate the street view to the east to see the northbound trail which follows the ridge until it descends into Lehigh gap. 04/25/07
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Several in various pull-outs
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David Cullen
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There are several routes that could be used. Here are two from PA 309 the closest major N-S highway to the west.
From the south: Mountain road intersects PA 309 4.5 miles north of the intersection of PA 309 and PA 100. It is 6 miles south of the community of Snyders. As of 2019 there is a mini-golf/ family adventure center on PA 309 just north of the intersection. Follow Mountain Road east for 4.4 miles, then go left on Reservoir Road. This is initially paved but becomes gravel. In another 1.5 miles Ashfield Road comes in from the right. Continue straight ahead on what is now Ashfield Road. The transmission tower and trail crossing are 0.9 miles further.
From the north: PA 895 intersects PA 309 0.2 miles south of the village of Snyders. Go east for 8.9 miles to the community of Ashfield. Turn right (south) on Blue Mountain Road. This eventually becomes gravel. The transmission tower and trail crossing are 2.1 miles up this road. The road name changes from Blue Mountain Road to Ashfield Road somewhere near this point.
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I am attaching a copy of the map used in the previous listing. This one icovers a wider area. Note Some of this information was originally supplied by coyle @ henrybeaver.com 09/15/19
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David Cullen
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From the parking area on the west side of the PA 873 bridge in Lehigh Gap (See Mile 0.0) go west a short distance on PA 873, the go straight on Mountain Road. In approximately 8 miles go right on Ulrich Road. This is initially paved. In approximately half a mile, the paved road goes right. Continue straight ahead, still on Ulrich, now a gravel road. At 0.9 miles from Mountain Road Bake Oven Road comes in from the right (no sign). Continue straight ahead. The road from here on is Bake Oven Road. It is another 1.1 miles to the top of the ridge. There are several roads which intersect and could provide alternate routes from Mountain Road. Note: It has been several years since I visited this area. Road conditions may have changed.
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There are two Gamelands Parking lots here, a huge one on the eight (east) side and a smaller one n the right (west) side. The marker on the attached map is placed on Bake Oven Road between the two lots. GPS: N40.7448 W75.7387. The northbound AT starts toward Bake Oven Knob from the southeast corner of the lot on the east side. The southbound AT goes east towards Bear Rocks and "The Cliffs". 04/27/07 Updated 09/16/19
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Ample in lots on either side of the road
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David Cullen
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Mountain Road intersects PA 309 4.5 miles north of the intersection of PA 309 and PA 100. It is 6 miles south of the community of Snyders. As of 2019 there is a mini-golf/ family adventure center on PA 309 just north of the intersection. Follow Mountain Road east for 2 miles, then go left on Ulrich Road. From this point proceed as described in the previous listing.
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David Cullen
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Recent reports of vandalism at Game lands parking lot at 309. However, owners of restaurant across the street have offered parking for overnighters in their very large lot.
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appalachiantrail @ amcdv.org
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My car was broken into, whatever was not bolted down taken and it rained in for the better part of the week. We were parked in the game commission parking lot and I wish not to park there again. 9/8/05
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merryadk @ localnet.com
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6/15/08 - We went up this weekend with some boy scouts and parked my truck across from the resteraunt off 309. My truck was vandalized, the tryed to jimmy the key hole and damaged the moulding around my window trying to break in. I was stupid enough to leave my keys, wallet cell phone, money and gps but they didn't get in. I wonder if maybe they were scared off. I consider myself lucky the truck was still there in the morning. Happy Trails.
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wpgmag @ yahoo.com
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GPS 40 42.44N 75 48.56W
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Game Lands Parking Lot. The street view to the north to the on the attached map shows the access road to the Gamelands Parking area. It is on the left a short distance down this road. It is just out of sight.
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30-40
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tbaroni @ earthlink.net
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See directions to the restaurant parking lot below. The road to the Gamelands parking area goes right from PA 309 about 0.1 miles before the restaurant. The parking lot is a on the left a short distance down this road.
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Click on the camera icon by B on the attached map and rotate the view to the south to see (barely) the southbound trail to Section 4. It goes south down some wood steps just to the left and behind the telephone pole.
Click on the camera icon by A and rotate the street view to the north to see the intersection with the road to the parking area. Rotate to the northeast to see the northbound trail to Section 3. The trail follows the road between A and B. 03/03/10
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David Cullen
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Heading North on Rt 309, the Game Lands lot is on the right side, 2.9 miles north of the intersection with Mountain Rd, just south of the restaurant on the opposite side of the road.
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From the parking lot, a blue trail leads 30 yards to an intersection with the AT, north is straight ahead at the intersection, south turns right and crosses RT 309 07/05/20
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20
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carolanse @ outlook.com
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On Rt 309 south of Tamaqua and north of Allentown the AT crosses Rt. 309.
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GPS N40.42.413 W75.48.516
At the crest of the mountain on 309 there is parking at the restaurant which is across the street from the game land parking. This parking is just north of the trail. 03/03/10
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20
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at @ rohland.org
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If coming from the east on I-78: Take Exit 49B and go north on PA 100. In about 9 miles this ends at PA 309. Go left on PA 309 7.5 miles to the top of the ridge. The restaurant parking lot is on the left.
If coming from west on I-78: Take Exit 35 and go north on PA 143. Near Wanamakerss this turns to the east. At 11.4 miles from I-78, go left (north) on Gun Club Road. In 2.5 miles this ends at PA 309. Go left (actually more or less straight ahead) onto PA 309. The restaurant is on the left in about 0.6 miles.
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Click on the camera icon by B on the attached map and rotate to the southwest to see the restaurant parking area. AT hikers should park at the east end of the lot, the closest section visible in the view. Rotate the view to the south to see (barely) the southbound trail to Section 4. It goes south down some wood steps just to the left and behind the telephone pole.
Click on the camera icon by A and rotate the street view to the northeast to see the northbound trail to Section 3. The trail follows the road between A and B. 03/03/10
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David Cullen
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As of April 2020, the restaurant (Thunderhead Lodge) is re-opened and under new ownership. You are allowed to park near the tree line in the back of the parking lot away from the restaurant. Owners ask if overnight parking that you leave a note on the dashboard identifying return date and contact information. 07/05/20
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Many
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carolanse @ outlook.com
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