The Brodhead Creek Watershed Association is sponsoring a hike into the prehistoric time capsule called Long Swamp, at YMCA’s Camp Speers, near Dingmans Ferry in Pike County as part of the Get Outdoors Poconos hiking series.

Carol Hillestad will lead a hike from 10 to 11:30 a.m. September 26, exploring some of the 458 acres formed 10,000 years ago after the area’s most recent glacier retreated.

A plank boardwalk, built inches over the swamp, leads into this cool, dark, damp and otherworldly place. Interrupted ferns– 180-million-year-old contemporaries of the dinosaurs – reach as high as an adult’s shoulders, carnivorous pitcher plants and black spruce flourish, and acres of brilliant green sphagnum moss create a natural carpet.

Hikers should meet at Camp Speers YMCA on Nichecronk Road, off Route 739 North, 5.4 miles past the Route 209 light in Dingmans Ferry.

Easy-to-moderate footing, mostly on narrow, single-track trails. Rocky in places and wet off the boardwalk (where you may not stray). You must check in and check out at the Camp Speers office and wear a wristband.

The hike is free, but registration is required.  For information or to register, call 570-839-1120 or 570-629-2727, send email to: info@brodheadwatershed.org (subject line: “Long Swamp”), or visit the Get Outdoors Poconos webpage.

8/31/2015