Fall is a great time of year to hike local trails, and some of the prettiest in the area can be found close to home, at Black River Sanctuary.

Located in Salisbury and Upper Saucon townships, in Lehigh County, the 187-acre passive recreation area is owned by Wildlands Conservancy and opened to the public in October 2024.

The sanctuary is interwoven with more than three miles of trails of varying difficulty and names like Spicebush Swallowtail and Sustenance.

Two gravel parking areas with information kiosks are located roughly at opposite ends; one on Church Road near Stonesthrow Road and the other on Black River Road near Honeysuckle Road.

Black River Preserve is open from dawn til dusk and is home to an array of wildlife, including deer, wild turkeys, small mammals, birds and amphibians. Several streams originate at its highest point, which provides sweeping views of Allentown and other parts of the Lehigh Valley.

Archery hunting is allowed by permission. More information about the preserve’s rules and regulations may be found at Wildlandspa.org.

Founded in 1973, Emmaus-based Wildlands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that has preserved over 60,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in the area. The organization manages 14 preserves at which thousands of local schoolchildren learn about nature each year.