The week before Irene hit, a customer stopped in the office about 45 minutes earlier than her appointment. She wanted to kill some time while waiting for her real estate agent. She asked me where can she could go that was close to see something of interest. Just 15 minutes from my office in Blakeslee is the Frances E. Walter Dam. It has some wonderful views. It's never crowded. So I suggested it to her and gave her the directions. She was in our office a week later and I asked her about it. She said it was awesome, she was a little nervous because you are on the top of the dam as you drive over it on a small two lane road. And you have to go to the other side to turn around. On the road leading to the dam, there is a picturesque stream and a picnic table nestled in the woods, close to the road near a small waterfall. Sometimes my husband will meet me for a picnic lunch there.
The project is about 1800 acres and it was designed by the Army Corp of Engineers to dam up the Lehigh River. With an 80-acre reservoir there is a boat launch area (no ramp), and there is a 10 hp limit. Swimming is not permitted. On the far side of the dam is a picnic area with plenty of tables and areas for charcoal grilling. You can enjoy hiking along side the Lehigh River. Fishing is good, as is hunting, in season, on adjacent Pennsylvania Game Commission lands. When they have dam releases, the Whitewater rafting downstream is very popular. Information on whitewater releases can be obtained by accessing the Philadelphia District Web site and checking under Francis E. Walter Dam. The watershed above the dam has been glaciated, resulting in scoured summits and valley walls and a number of ponds and swamps. How about some Frisbee Golf? The course is free and open to the public - bring your own Frisbee.
The Dam is easy to access. Just off the northeast extension of the Pa Turnpike, exit 95. Take Route 940 east about 1.5 miles to the entrance. From I-80, take exit 277 and head east on Route 940 about 1.5 miles. I guess this is the next place to take my grandsons - although they still want to go back to Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park.
I found this site with some great pictures of the dam. http://www.google.com/search?q=francis+e+walter+dam&hl=en&rlz=1W1ADRA_en&biw=859&bih=468&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=CNtgTpmHJcycgQfI2-ipAQ&ved=0CF0QsAQ
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