Spectacular Florescent Pink Sunset

This is a snapshot taken along a road near the village of White Horse, PA.  The sunset was spectacular with florescent pinks, orange, blues, and greys... and it only lasted 5 minutes!

Spectacular Florescent Pink Sunset near White Horse, Pennsylvania

Guess the band and song playing in the background...  and No, I was not looking through the camera while driving!

A Kayaker Floats Down Brandywine Creek in Delaware

A Kayaker Floats Down Brandywine Creek at Brandywine Creek State Park in Delaware

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A Colorful Butterfly and Flowers at the Meadow at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

A Colorful Butterfly and Flowers at the Meadow at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

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Dog Plays in the Water at Brandywine Creek

A German Shepard Plays in the Water at Brandywine Creek

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Flowers at the Meadow in Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

Flowers at the Meadow in Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

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Butterflies in the Meadow at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

Butterflies in the Meadow at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

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Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge - East (Part 1)

Spanning the Pennsylvania / Delaware Border is a little known tract of land that is a gem among the urban sprawl of the Greater Philadelphia Area.  Just north of Wilmington, Delaware the Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge is a great place to get out and go for a hike and enjoy nature at it's best.  If you are a fan of geocaching, there are many located at Woodlawn.

A hiker and horseback rider traveling together on the trails at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Preserve

This article discusses the eastern part of the game preserve which consists of a series of meadows and pastures connected by wooded areas.  This is the area that lies east of Beaver Valley Road which dissects the preserve from north to south.

Not marked on a map of any sort, and no official signs indicating that you are entering a wildlife preserve, Woodlawn could be tough to find unless you already know about it.  The entrance on the Pennsylvania/Delaware border at Rt. 202 and Stateline Road is not marked at all and does not look like much of anything.  Stateline Road is to the East and there is a very short road across Rt. 202 that goes West and dead ends.  This is the eastern trail head for the Woodlawn Preserve.  There are several businesses at that location so there is plenty of parking if you go on a weekend.  And yes, Stateline Road actually is on the state line. Once you park and make your way westward towards the woods, the trail will be evident.

The Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge lies just west of route 202 on the Pennsylvania / Delaware border (outlined in lt. green).  Brandywine Creek State Park in Delaware borders the game preserve to the south (outlined in lt. blue).

The eastern trail head into the Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Preserve is not marked and appears to be an abandoned road when you first see it.

The only indication that you are on the Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge are small white signs with red lettering that read "Wild Life Refuge" then in small print at the bottom, it reads "Woodlawn Trust"

The trails at Woodlawn Wildlife Refuge are good enough for hikers, bikers, and horse lovers alike.  The trust actually lies among various farms as well as private land and covers approximately 2 1/2 square miles.  The trail system spans the entire reserve and also links up with the Brandywine Creek State Park trail system which extends the available trails even further and makes for a days worth or more of hiking, biking and horseback riding fun.  And if you are into kayaking or canoeing, Brandywine Creek borders the game preserve to the west.

The old road at the eastern trail head of Woodlawn Game Preserve gives way to a traditional trail system once you walk further into the wooded area.

A peaceful stream meanders through the woolands at Woodlawn Wildlife Reserve.

The trails at Woodlawn open up into large meadows that are teeming with wildlife and if you are a photographer, you definitely want to bring your camera.  There is a meadow to the right when you enter from the east where hawks like to hang out.  A very cool place indeed.  You have to catch a side trail to the right about an eighth of a mile in to find this hawk haven.

One of the meadows at Woodlawn Wildlife Reserve.  This one is a favorite hangout of several hawks.

A hawk soars above what I call "hawk meadow" at the Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Reserve.

If you continue eastward deeper into the reserve, a small stream cuts through to the south of a centrally located meadow.  A very scenic place.  I don't think I've ever seen so many butterflies of so many varieties in one place before!

On the way westward to what I call the central meadow at Woodlawn Wildife Preserve

The central meadow at Woodlawn Wildife Preserve. From this point trails branch off to the northwest and southwest.

The "central" meadow at Woodlawn Wildlife Preserve is teeming with all kinds of wild life.  Beautiful flowers, birds and butterflies abound!

A willow tree drapes over the stream that borders the "central" meadow at Woodlawn Wildlife Preserve.

Stay tuned for Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge - East (Part 2)

Blue Rays from the Sun - Sunset Over Southeastern Pennsylvania

As I was observing the sunset this evening, I saw something that I had never seen before.  Bright blue rays coming from the sun.  It was almost as if they were clear blue sky.  It was very strange and surreal.  At first I thought I was seeing things, but on the photos below, you can clearly see the blue lines on the left and right.  These are not your typical crepuscular rays that you see at dawn or dusk.  I believe they are referred to as anti-crepuscular rays or "God rays".  However, you usually have to have your back to the sun to see these.  Any offer of an explanation from an expert as to what is in these pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Bright blue rays coming from the sun.  These are not your typical crepuscular rays that you see at dawn or dusk.  Many refer to them as anti-crepuscular rays or "God rays", however, these are not in the opposite direction of the sun.

Closer view of one of the strange blue rays I saw coming from the sun.

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Trail Biker at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

Here is a sneak peak at some of the things you will see on the little known Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge located on the Pennsylvania / Delaware border.  Miles of trails make a great mountain/trail bike run, especially with the reserve bordering the northern part of Brandywine Creek State Park which extends the trail access even more.

A mountain biker navigates the trails at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge spanning the Pennsylvania / Delaware border.  Miles of walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails abound in this hidden haven on the border of the two states.

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Horses at Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge

The first feature on The American Hiker will be on the little known Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge located on the Pennsylvania / Delaware border.  Here is a teaser pic with some of the residents of the preserve... horses!

Horses graze in part of the Woodlawn Trust Wildlife Refuge located on the Pennsylvania / Delaware border

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