Our Guide to a Weekend Getaway to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
The Lehigh Gorge offers dozens of miles of great hiking routes. Living in Central New Jersey, this was a convenient spot to try -- about two hours away in the town of Jim Thorpe, where we discovered the popular Glen Onoko Falls Trail. We conquered this difficult trail as our first hike of the year. After a long, cruel winter, this turned out to be a fantastic outing in a new place that we probably will now visit again and again.
But first, how about a bit of interesting history (I found it fascinating, at least) before I give you my trail review.
The towns of East Mauch Chunk and Mauch Chunk joined together to become Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, in 1954.
The world's greatest athlete died at the age of 64 on March 28, 1953. Thorpe's widow, Patricia, sought to have her husband's legacy properly secured and approached the small towns in the Pocono Mountains with an offer. Patricia Thorpe, the third wife of the legendary Olympian and football and baseball player, went to the leaders of the financially struggling towns and asked whether they wanted to consider joining the boroughs, renaming the village in honor of Jim Thorpe and having the joined municipality as his final resting place.
I learned all this recently after seeking out a spot in the nearby Poconos to enjoy an early spring weekend hike with Colleen. We landed on Jim Thorpe, Pa., and being a sports nut, I had to research the origin of the name of the town. I had no idea. I knew Thorpe had a connection to Pennsylvania from his days in college at the now-defunct Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where he was a track and lacrosse star, an All-American in football and even a champion ball room dancer.
We stopped by the memorial, which is a pristine and wonderful site, if little visited. Thorpe's being buried there never amounted to the tourist boom anticipated 60 years ago, but Jim Thorpe, Pa., holds an annual celebration of its most famous resident.
The Soldiers and Sailors monument in town. It honors those who died in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War and World War II.
We thoroughly enjoyed the quaint town, and had a couple of fine meals — lunch at Molly MaGuires and dinner at Broadway Grille and Pub.
On Broadway, the main historic district in town.
The hiking won the day, though. We came to explore the well-rated Lehigh Gorge State Park trails and ended up on a challenging loop on the Glen Onoko Falls Trail.
The route took about two hours. Here is a recap to help you explore this trail if you come the state park for a hike.
The trailhead is in Lehigh Gorge State Park. The entrance for the park is just across the gorge from Jim Thorpe. Once you enter the park, drive all the way to the parking area at the end of the road. You will pass several areas with no apparent trail heads. The train tracks will be on your left as you drive in. Get to the wooden divided bridge and you'll be there. Head down the steps to the trail sign and head under the bridge, to the orange trail sign on your left and you'll be on your way.
The first half of the route includes areas of rushing stream water and plenty of boulders to scramble up. You also encounter stages of well-marked paths, but the route includes many areas for you to make your way upward adjacent to the stream and falls as best you can. Be very careful. Rocks, water, mud and leaves can make for slippery footing. The trail is rated as difficult, and several signs along the way warn hikers to exercise caution.
You'll enjoy fantastic changing views along the route, with about seven waterfalls — some with calm pools beneath that make for serene spots to dip your feet of splash around when the weather is warm. (We'll be back for that in summer.)
Once at the top, a wide well-marked trail continues the loop with a gradual descent along a gorgeous forested route.
It was a wonderful first hike of the year, and we certainly enjoyed our cold beers and hearty meals afterward. We hope you can get out to try it, too.
Thanks for reading,
JR