The Trail of New Giants winds through the 250-acre Windstorm Preserve. It is a 1.2-mile, more challenging out-and-back trail; a 1/4-mile spur leads to two overlooks of the park and surrounding forest.

Hiking Trails by Length and Difficulty

At 2.7 miles, the Old Horse Trail is the longer route and is rated a moderate hike. In direct comparison, the Trail of New Giants is shorter but more challenging. Choosing by distance and rating therefore offers different options: the Old Horse Trail for a longer moderate hike, and the Trail of New Giants for a shorter, more challenging out-and-back hike.

The Quehanna Trail presents a different planning consideration. It runs from Parker Dam State Park through the Quehanna Wild Area. Backpacking trips on the Quehanna Trail last from one to seven or more days. Here, the focus is on a time frame for backpacking trips, while the other trails are described by length and difficulty.

Forest, Meadows, and Signs of Beavers

Simon B. Elliott State Park is entirely forested. Its landscape includes marshy meadows and a second-growth forest of typical mixed hardwoods and oaks. Landscape features along the Souders Trail include forest meadows, Laurel Run, and large deciduous and coniferous trees.

Signs of beavers can be seen along the Beaver Dam Trail: gnaw marks, tracks, lodges, and dams. The trails therefore emphasize different features: forest meadows and trees define the landscape along the Souders Trail, while the Beaver Dam Trail focuses on specific signs of beavers.

Culture and Learning at Parker Dam State Park

The Lou and Helen Adams Civilian Conservation Corps Museum at Parker Dam tells visitors about the lives of Civilian Conservation Corps members. The CCC Trail in Parker Dam State Park follows the former 1930s road that connected the Civilian Conservation Corps’ camp with the work area at the dam. Together, a look at the people and the route that once connected their camp to the work area offer two different ways to explore CCC history.

At the Log Slide Trail trailhead, historic logging tools and an authentic replica of a log slide are on display. This adds another historical focus to the CCC story: logging, illustrated by the tools and the replica slide.

The Environmental Education Center is attached to the Parker Dam State Park office. It offers interpretive exhibits, games, and children’s books. Along with the museum and historic trail landmarks, it complements the hiking opportunities with another way to explore nature and culture.

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