Normans Kill Preserves(Bethlehem)

Took advantage of a beautiful late autumn afternoon, heading out to Delmar to visit the 46 acre Normans Kill Preserves after work.  The Preserves are broken up into three separate parcels, with about 1.5 miles of marked trails.  My first stop was the east parcel, with parking available at the Bagdon Environmental Center with two reserved spots for Preserve visitors.  The trail, marked in yellow, starts just beyond a kiosk and drops steeply down a ravine towards the creek.

 A small spur trail stays a bit above the creekside, but an informal path drops down to the waters edge.  From there, I caught a nice view back towards the old abandoned "Delaware Turnpike" bridge.

 A look upstream towards the Stevens Farm on the opposite shoreline.

Fleeting daylight goes hand in hand with any afternoon outings this time of year.

After completing the half mile loop trail, I headed the short distance down the road to the West parcel at the end of Normanskill Boulevard across from Delaware Plaza.  Another informational kiosk with trail map can be found at the trailhead.

 The trail drops down to the first of three footbridges over small drainages in this parcel before climbing back up.  Unfortunately, the trail was quite muddy in spots.

 The third and last footbridge crossing.

 The trail, marked in white, drops steeply down to the Normans Kill at the very north end of the preserve.  From there, the trail follows the creek, several feet above it, with one easy spot to drop all the way down to the water.

 The views both upstream and downstream from here are quite nice.  This spot seems so quiet and peaceful that you would almost swear you are in the middle of nowhere.

 Further along the trail, the creek comes to a large bend.  I spotted a heron taking flight here, but unfortunately before I could get my camera ready.

 Climbing the hillside stairway.

Completed the West parcel's loop trail, which is just over one mile.  About 1.5 miles total at a beautiful nature oasis is the middle of sprawling suburbia.