Karen Tetor and John Styk will lead a nature hike along the trails in Jenkins Woods at Buck Hill on Saturday, August 19. A primeval forest, Jenkins Woods is now part of a 125-acre preserve permanently protected under a conservation easement held by the Buck Hill Conservation Foundation. The group will explore the century-old, well-maintained trails leading to historic stone bridges, new and restored stair towers and scenic overlooks that provide breathtaking views of the Upper and Lower Falls. Platforms and walkways anchored into the glacier-chiseled sandstone ledges enable spectacular views of the three-tiered, 50-foot Buck Hill Falls, which the PA DEP describes as “one of the most spectacular in the state.”
Local historian, author and naturalist John Styk will share some of the history of Buck Hill Inn, the iconic hotel opened in 1901 by Philadelphia Quakers. The Inn expanded over 70 years from a small wooden structure to a 400-room stone grand hotel. Stone scaping by famous Frederick Law Olmsted remains on the site as a tribute to the once-grand hotel. After the hike, participants will have the option of exploring the site of the former Inn, which was demolished in 2016.
Karen and John will discuss the efforts that were made to preserve hundreds of acres in this historic community, and the challenges of maintaining one of the few old-growth forests left in the region.
Participants should meet meet at Peggy Bancroft Hall at 10:00 to carpool or caravan to the site. Or, if you prefer, you can meet the group at 10:30 at the lower pool parking lot at Buck Hill. Please dress appropriately and wear sturdy walking shoes for the moderately steep descent on a gravel road and natural trails to the falls.
