There is a trail in Allentown that feels like it doesn't belong in a city. It follows Little Lehigh Creek through a corridor of old trees and stone bridges, past fly fishermen standing waist deep in clear water, past families having picnics on the bank, past joggers and dog walkers and people who just needed to be somewhere green for a while.
Little Lehigh Parkway is Allentown's most beautiful public space, and it might be the most underappreciated trail in the Lehigh Valley.
The Trail
The path runs along the creek through the parkway, connecting to the broader Allentown parks system. Only about a half mile of it is paved; the rest is fine crushed stone. The surface stays flat and well graded throughout, firm enough for strollers and comfortable for anyone who prefers their walks without rocks and roots. The scenery is lush: mature hardwoods line the creek, creating a canopy that filters the light and keeps the temperature comfortable even in midsummer.
The creek itself is a designated catch and release fly fishing stream, stocked with trout and managed for water quality. On any given morning, you will see anglers in waders casting into the riffles, which adds to the sense that you have somehow stumbled into a state park rather than an urban trail.
The Bridges
Stone bridges span the creek at several points along the trail, and they are among the most photographed structures in the Lehigh Valley. The combination of old stone, flowing water, and overhanging trees creates scenes that belong in a calendar. Wedding photographers use them regularly. Landscape painters set up easels nearby.
Wildlife
Despite its location in the state's third largest city, Little Lehigh Parkway supports a surprising diversity of wildlife. Great blue herons patrol the creek. Kingfishers dive from overhanging branches. Turtles sun on rocks. In early spring, the trees fill with migrating warblers, making the parkway a solid birding spot for those who know to look.
The Fish Hatchery
The Lehigh Valley Fish Hatchery sits along the parkway, raising trout for stocking in local waterways. It is open to the public and makes a good stop on a parkway walk, especially for kids who want to see thousands of trout up close.
A City Treasure
Little Lehigh Parkway was designed as a piece of the Allentown parks system that prioritized natural beauty and public access. It succeeds completely. The trail is well maintained. The creek is clean. The mature trees provide shade, habitat, and a visual canopy that transforms the space into something that feels much larger and wilder than its footprint would suggest.
For Allentown residents, it is the trail you walk when you need to think, when you need to move, or when you just need to be somewhere that doesn't require a car. For visitors, it is proof that the best things in the Lehigh Valley are often the ones that don't make the tourist brochures.
Lace up your shoes and go. The creek is waiting.
