Travels Through Northeast Pennsylvania: Hugh Moore Park

Canal Boat the Highlight of Hugh Moore.

Traveling through Easton, Hugh Moore Park is a destination that most people would miss if they have not heard about it. The park is tucked away on the outskirts of town along the Lehigh. To me and I think to my readers as well it offers some unique aspects that you will not see at any other location along the river. Most of which would be best enjoyed in the summer, but I found a fall stroll throuh this park to be nice as well.

For historians or those who would just like to learn a little bit more of our history, Hugh Moore Park is a wealth of knowledge on how he canal system vital to the development of Pennsylvanias industry operated. It is the only location that still has an operating canal boat that anyone can take a trip on. Well, that is, in the summer. Currently as the above picture shows the canal has been drained and from what I could see sections are being dredged for maintence. When it is in operation it is powered the same way it was in the past. Two mules walk the canal path pulling this boat and its passengers up and down this section of canal.

For others the park offers maintains walking/biking paths, many places to access the Lehigh for fishing and access for those who want to go for a paddle on flatwater above the dams. The map pictured below is located in the main parking lot and makes it easy to get around.

For my trip to Hugh Moore I took a walk to the top of the island and back to my car. The pictures below, show some of the highlights that I got to see once again.

A special note for canoe and kayakers: Hugh Moore park offers a good launching site at the upstream tip of the island. You will have to carry your boat a little bit of a distance, but it is worth it. Strait out from the tip of the island you can see an island that offers a secret. Paddle around the closest point towards the other bank of the lehigh and go around the island. You will find a small channel that will take you into a pond located in the center of the island. During low water you may have to portage to get in, but it is an amazng place. The locals call it the gut and while paddling through you can often see snapping turtles swimmng around and there is a species of water lilly within this area which leaves are over two feet in diameter.