Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania offers peaceful trails with gorgeous views. We enjoyed a morning hike during our recent trip and quickly discovered that Black Rock Sanctuary offers so many of the things we love on hikes -- woodlands, river views, bluffs, and birds! Black Rock Sanctuary is easily one of our favorite preserves in Chester County's Brandywine Valley.
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| Wetlands and woodlands meet at Black Rock Sanctuary. |
We hiked two trails at Black Rock Sanctuary. The first trail was an interpretive trail up on the bluffs above the Schuylkill River and Black Rock Lake. We found the walk relatively gentle even though we did hike a bit onto the bluffs. However, the incline was not difficult.
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| Exploring an interpretive bald eagle nest with a wetland view at Black Rock Sanctuary. |
We took in both wetland and river views from the bluffs. The interpretive stations were pretty engaging for visitors of all ages. We learned about the differences between river and wetland environments and the flora and fauna of the preserve. We also got to see if our feet matched up with those of any of the preserve's inhabitants. Plus, we perched in a bald eagle's nest.
As we hiked along the trail, we paused to peek at the Schuylkill River and Black Rock Lake. A number of birds delighted us. With new buds emerging on the trees, we did have somewhat of a more challenging time spotting them and identifying them. A little patience helps! Amazingly, we did not spot bald eagles until we reached the parking lot -- proof that you always need to be observant. Yet, two soared above us as we returned to the car.
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| Peaceful view of Black Rock Lake as the forest just begins to awaken from winter. |
We also could view the dam from one point and some shoals as well. What we didn't know at the time is that one of our other favorite Phoenixville trails, the Neal Thorpe Trail, is right across the Schuylkill River. If you are making a day of it, the two trail systems combined are fantastic!
Hiking the Black Rock Sanctuary Basin Trail
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| The Schuylkill River meanders in gentle waves under the spring sun. |
To access the trail that hugs the Schuylkill River, we parked at the boat launch. You can also access it at different points and even hike down the bluffs. If you are looking for something more tranquil, this trail offered us such an amazing escape.
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| The sun illuminates Black Rock Sanctuary through the freshly budded trees. |
One side of the winding trail offered us sweeping views of the Schuylkill River as it meandered by. The other side offered views as the wetlands and woodlands began to rise into bluffs. We spotted so many birds and savored little pauses to identify them
We loved our morning wandering the trails of Black Rock basking in the serenity and beautiful Schuylkill River views as the sunlight danced on the waves. We enjoyed learning along the interpretive trail and identifying birds on the trail. Black Rock Sanctuary presents a fabulous preserve adventure if you are visiting the Phoenixville, Pennsylvania area.
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