Wildlife Watching at Lehigh Gorge State Park

River corridors are natural transportation routes and so the gorge has a great diversity of plants and animals.

Some common birds are:

• Warblers
• Louisiana water thrush
• Bald eagles
• Osprey
• Kingfishers
• Mergansers
• Wild turkeys

Mammals are often seen near roads, trails, and water are:

• White-tailed deer
• Black bear
• Gray and red foxes
• Beaver
• Mink
• Muskrat
• Allegheny wood rat

During the summer, visitors should be on the lookout for a variety of reptiles. Fence lizards can be spotted along the Lehigh Gorge Trail. Northern copperheads and timber rattlesnakes are two of the many species of snakes residing in the park. Always respect snakes; give them space and the right-of-way on trails.

Throughout the park, visitors may see many native plant species including:

• Rhododendron
• Eastern hemlock
• Black, gray, yellow, and river birch trees
• Cardinal flower
• Red columbine
• Purple flowering raspberry
• Jack in the pulpit
• Huckleberry
• Blueberry
• Witch hazel

The invasive glossy buckthorn is also commonly seen in the park.