MIDDLE CREEK WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
On todays hike we went to the Middle Creek Wildlife Conservancy in northern Lancaster County above Ephrata Pa. The conservancy consists of a large lake with limited boating and recreation activity area's thus a more pristine wildlife area than similar sized lakes in the area such as Blue Marsh in Berks County. Off of Klienfelters Road to the left is the Visitors Center which is where we hiked today. We did the 1.5 mile Conservation Trail as well as some small offshoots making this a 2.2 mile hike. The Conservation Trail starts in the upper side of the parking lot opposite from the Visitor's Center. It consists of 5 "zones" (Flowering Meadow, Nature Forest, Grasslands, Swamp and Pine Forest pond area). Along the way there are some small off shoot deer trails to go deeper into the woods / swamp etc which were nice to follow for a bit as well. Don't forget to stop by the Visitor's Center after your visit....they have some neat animals (stuffed) on display as well as a bird watching area. They are closed on Monday....The kids loved the small touch box with deer antlers and turtle shells!
Starting Out!!!
The Conservation Trail!!
The Beginning of the hike takes you through a beautiful field of wildflowers and grasses. Bee's and grasshoppers are everywhere! At the top of this meadow where the trees start I would recommend taking the trail to the right even though the trail sign points left...we went left and it would seem like the trail goes through a field here straight ahead but it actually turns right through the woods. This trail is very grown over in the beginning and full of ticks. This short initial woods comes out at the view point....and meets the trail that we could have taken to the right....I would just go right next time....
Up the flower meadow
Nice view of the lake across the street from the viewpoint
After a short uphill you enter a natural forest....lots of chipmunks and birds to see here.
Posing in the woods...what a ham!!
Down the trail!!
At this point the trail goes downhill and you come out in a meadow with hedgerows and grain. We were able to catch some grasshoppers here. Next up was the swamp / wetlands which wasn't that wet because of the hot temps this summer but we still found some small patches...
On the wetland boardwalk!!
A view of the little stream flowing through here...some minnows and frogs here.
Lunch break.....we found a moss covered rock now know by the kids as "Turtle Rock"
Lunch on "Turtle rock"!!!
Bellies Full...back up the trail finding spiders!!
Time out to play and throw rocks in the creek!!!
At this point the hike is about over....you go through the small pine forest and then back through a new wetland boardwalk. You will emerge in a field and the waterfowl pond is at the end...the pond is fenced in....too bad....so the kids can't play there as we had hoped at the end of the hike.
Always time to stop and smell the flowers
The waterfowl pond..too bad it was fenced in!
Next up the Visitor's Center...
The hike is completed!!
Bird egg exhibit...
Fun with the Turtle Shell!!!
The unicorn!!!
Never too young for bird watching!!!
OVERVIEW:
This was a short...but fun hike with lots of little activities along the way. The Visitor's Center was more fun that I thought it would be for the kids. Stop at the lake and dam (go back the way you came and make a left onto Mill Road (I believe...basically the first real left on a road you can make)....you can do the deer trail by going down the first parking area and walking to the right...it is a short .5 miles connecting one picnic area to another but there wasn't too much to see other than the lake.
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