The ~34-acre B. Leroy and Elizabeth Burkhart Preserve offers a very different hiking experience than Wildlands Conservancy’s other Lehigh Valley-based preserves. Visitors will find it is maintained in a more natural condition than its neighboring Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary or South Mountain Preserve. Its dense understory provides habitat for a large variety of bird and mammal species, yet also allows for an easy hiking experience through gentle wooded hills.
This preserve was created through the generous donation of Elizabeth Burkhart in 1998 and expanded in 2015 through a donation from Judith Diehl.

Getting Here
Main entrance
4950 South Mountain Drive Emmaus, PA 18049
Learn More About B. Leeroy and Elizabeth Burkhart Preserve
Plantlife
Walk the trails under a mixed canopy of Maple, Oak, Beech and Tulip. Notable understory plant species include the unique hoods and bright berries of the Jack-in-the-Pulpit, the large umbrellas of Mayapple, and large flower spikes reminiscent of a fairy tale of Black Cohosh.
History
This property has seen iron excavation, timbering, charcoal production and agricultural uses in the past, but has now been reclaimed by nature, providing thickly forested trails to meander.
Enhance your experience by downloading our FREE mobile preserve app! Learn about our preserves as you navigate their trails following points of interest! View upcoming events and share your experiences on social media – all right from the app!
Your donation helps support the maintenance of our 14 nature preserves. Make your gift today!
Questions or feedback about this preserve?
Contact Preserve Manager Michael Hock
(610) 965-4397 ext 132 – Mhock@wildlandspa.org