Trail Tenders Coordinator: 'You Have a Gorgeous Trail'

The portion of the Saucon Rail Trail in Upper Saucon Township recently received high marks--with one exception--from someone who knows a thing or two about trails.

Dennis Scholl, outreach coordinator for the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail Tenders volunteer group, told the township's Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) that despite invasive plant vegetation, the township has done a good job preserving its portion of the rail trail for users.

, currently extends north from Upper Saucon Township through Lower Saucon Township to Hellertown.

When completed it will also extend south to Coopersburg.

Scholl told members of the EAC that the trail is clean, well-maintained and trash free.

“I’ve been on your trail quite a bit,” he said. “I think it’s a beautiful trail.”

Scholl, a Hellertown resident, said the rail trail has very few problems that he could identify. He commended the township for maintaining trash cans, intersection crossings and fencing, calling it “a very nice trail surface.”

However, along the trail are some invasive plant species that could choke trees, he said.

Scholl pointed to plants such as Japanese bittersweet and "Tree of Heaven," which inhibit the growth of other plants. He warned that these species may spread wildly if not eradicated.

On a positive note, Scholl highlighted the fact that the Upper Saucon section of the trail is very clean.

“There’s no trash,” he told the committee. “I couldn’t find one piece of trash. It’s great. You’ve done a wonderful job.”

Scholl also said a Trail Tenders volunteer corps could work on the rail trail if the township is interested.

Those interested in learning more about the D&L and volunteering with the Trail Tenders program can visit the organization’s website at www.delawareandlehigh.org.