Saturday, May 2, 2026 — 9:00 a.m. Delaware State Forest District Office, 2391 Resica Falls Road, East Stroudsburg, PA Free — Register here
Join the Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited on Saturday, May 2, for a guided tour of Pennsylvania’s newest forestry facility — led by a Delaware State Forest staff member — followed by a short spring hike on the Thunder Swamp Trail. The day begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Delaware State Forest District Office, 2391 Resica Falls Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18302. Registration is free through the Trout Unlimited events portal.
A First Look Inside Pennsylvania’s Newest Forest Center
In November 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources dedicated the new $14 million Delaware State Forest Resource Management Center — a major investment in the Pocono region and a striking new front door to one of the largest state forests in northeastern Pennsylvania. Our chapter is among the first community groups to tour the building.
The 9,600-square-foot center, paired with a 6,500-square-foot storage building, was designed as both a working hub for the Bureau of Forestry and a welcoming gateway for the public. Highlights members will see on the tour include:
- A wood-paneled interior showcasing 14 species of Pennsylvania-grown wood — a celebration of the Commonwealth’s forest heritage built right into the walls
- Two conference rooms, public restrooms, and electric-vehicle charging stations
- LEED Silver–certified sustainable design featuring biomass heating, low-flow fixtures, daylight-optimized layout, dark-sky-compliant lighting, and native landscaping
- Wildflower meadows surrounding the building, with new parking and improved trail access connecting directly to the Thunder Swamp Trail system
- Space that doubles as a staging area and Incident Command Post for wildfire and storm response across Pike, Monroe, Northampton, and Carbon counties
Interpretive exhibits on forest management and conservation are being installed in phases, so members will get an early look at how the building is taking shape as a public education resource.
A Short Walk on the Thunder Swamp Trail
After the tour, we’ll head out for a short, casual hike on a portion of the Thunder Swamp Trail, the 26-mile trail system that winds through southern Pike County and now connects directly to the new center. Built by the Youth Conservation Corps in the 1970s and maintained today by the Keystone Trails Association and the Pocono Outdoor Club in cooperation with the Delaware State Forest District, the trail is a favorite of Pocono hikers for good reason.
The route traverses the glacier-carved landscape of the Pocono Plateau — a mosaic of mountain streams, hardwood ridges, and the namesake swamps and wetlands that give the trail its character. For a TU chapter, the hydrology is the story: wetland-fed creeks like Painter’s Swamp Creek and Nebo Swamp Creek drain into the Little Bushkill, which tumbles over Bushkill Falls on its way to the Delaware River. It is coldwater country at its source, and a chance to see the headwater systems we work to protect from a different angle.
Expect orange blazes on the main trail, beaver sign along the wetlands, and — depending on the morning — anything from blue herons to migrating songbirds in the meadows around the center. Spring wildflowers should be coming on across the forest floor.
What to Bring
Even for a short walk, the Thunder Swamp Trail’s footway is famously rocky and often wet, so come prepared:
- Comfortable hiking shoes or boots — waterproof is a plus
- Layered clothing for variable Pocono spring weather
- Water and a snack
- Optional: trekking poles, binoculars, and a camera
- Long pants are a good idea given early-season ticks
Details and Registration
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Time: 9:00 a.m.
- Location: Delaware State Forest District Office, 2391 Resica Falls Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18302
- Cost: Free
- Register: myeventscenter.com
Space at the new center may be limited for the tour, so please register in advance so our hosts at the Delaware State Forest District know to expect us. Bring a friend — non-members are welcome and this is a great low-pressure introduction to the chapter and to one of the Poconos’ premier conservation properties.