Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.
The trails provide ample opportunity for wildlife observation and photography. Wild turkeys can be seen strutting in the fields, warblers flit around in the mature trees and shrubby field borders, and frogs can be heard calling in the wet areas. Some may even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle perched above the waters of Cherry Creek. There is no shortage of sights or sounds on a wildlife refuge! To ensure wildlife and plants are protected, please remain on the trails. Pets are not allowed (service animals are allowed on all refuge areas that are open to the public).
Activities
The refuge offers a variety of wildlife-dependent recreational activities that visitors may enjoy. The refuge supports the Big Six wildlife-dependent uses involving hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, interpretation, and education.
Trails
Refuge trails, boardwalks, and kiosks provide family-friendly wildlife viewing areas at two different refuge properties. The trails located at the 2138 Croasdale Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, are paved, former golf cart paths and ideal for walking with strollers or wheelchairs (though there are steep hills at several sections if choosing to do the full loops). The trail located next to 130 Lower Cherry Valley Road, Saylorsburg, PA 18353 is dirt/loose gravel and contains several moderately-steep inclines. Need help navigating? Print your own trail map or pick up one of the yellow trail description brochures when you arrive on the refuge.
Title: Front Nine Trail
Open: Year Round (not plowed during winter)
Length: 1.7 miles
The Front Nine Trail is a paved trail (former golf cart path) that travels 1.7 miles through relatively-flat, diverse wetland habitat along the Cherry Creek on the eastern portion and warm season grass fields through rolling hills on the western side. Located at 2138 Croasdale Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.
Title: Back Nine Trail
Open: Year Round (not plowed during the winter)
Length: 1.7 miles
The Back Nine Trail is a paved trail (former golf cart path) that travels 1.7 miles over rolling hills that were seeded with a shrub mix that will eventually become dense shrubby thickets with some forest patches. Located at 2138 Croasdale Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.
Title: Cherry Valley Ridge Trail
Open: Year Round
Length: 3.2 miles
The Cherry Valley Ridge Trail is a dirt/loose gravel trail through upland oak/pine forests and open fields along the Kittatinny Ridge. A kiosk at the trailhead provides general information and orientation about the white and blue blazes. An observation/photography blind is located along the trail.
Related Documents
Other Facilities in the Complex
The Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Lenape National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which comprises four national wildlife refuges — Shawangunk Grasslands, Wallkill River, Cherry Valley, and Great Swamp — in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Overlapping significantly with the Lenape ancestral homelands, the refuges cover a diverse area with a diverse heritage. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.
Rules and Policies
- Service animals (those that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability; the task(s) performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability) are allowed in all areas of the refuge that are open to the public, including refuge parking lots, road, trails, and visitor centers.
- Pets (non-service animals) are not allowed on refuge trails or in the visitor center.
- No overnight parking is allowed.
- Use of motorized vehicles is prohibited. Motorized vehicles disturb wildlife, cause erosion, disturb other refuge visitors, and shatter the tranquility of the refuge.
- Jogging, bicycling, and horseback riding is not allowed on refuge trails. These activities may disturb visitors and wildlife and erode trails.
- It is against the law to damage archaeological sites or remove artifacts such as old bottles or arrowheads on the refuge. Please help protect sites by leaving artifacts in place and reporting locations to refuge staff.
Locations
The Headquarters of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge is located at 2138 Croasdale Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. The Headquarters/Visitor Center are only open on a limited basis when staff are present.
For the Refuge Headquarters/Visitor Center/Front Nine and Back Nine Trails, take exit 310 from Rt. 80 to Rt. 611 North. After about ¾ of a mile, turn left onto Greenbriar Road. At the stop sign, turn right onto Cherry Valley Road then left onto Croasdale Road which is the entrance road to the refuge. The address is 2138 Croasdale Road, Stroudsburg, PA, 18360. Please note, the Refuge trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset, but the Headquarters/Visitor Center are only open on a limited basis when staff are present.
For the Cherry Valley Ridge Trail, take Route 80 to exit 304 (US-209S) and continue onto US-33S. Take the Saylorsburg exit. Make a left onto State Route 3017. Make your first left onto Lower Cherry Valley Road, and turn right at the parking lot immediately after the US-33 underpass. Turn right onto the gravel road and follow it through the gate (open only during visiting hours sunrise to sunset) to the parking lot. Those choosing to navigate by address may use that of the adjacent Sorrenti Winery, which is 130 Lower Cherry Valley Road, Saylorsburg, PA.