Three creeks and a preserve

|Landenberg History| Three creeks and a nature preserve: The scenic beauty around Landenberg

By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer

People who enjoy hiking, bike riding, fishing and other outdoor activities have known for some time that Landenberg offers all of these in a beautiful setting that is perfect for ‘back to nature’ enthusiasts. If you like wandering along scenic waterways, you have that as well. Three of them run right by the town: Broad Run Creek and Walnut Run Creek feed into the east branch of White Clay Creek, a designated Wild and Scenic River just south of town, as they enter into a less-travelled gem: the White Clay Creek

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Photo (right): White Clay Creek State Park map courtesy of Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation.

Preserve. The Preserve sits on the eastern side of London Britain Township within Chester County’s southeasternmost corner and is adjacent to a State Park just over the line in New Castle County, Delaware.

Broad Run is a just over four-mile-long tributary of White Clay Creek located mostly in New Garden Township. The source of Broad Run is in the village of Kaolin, south of PA Route 41. Between two areas of higher elevation east of Landenberg, Broad Run is dammed to form Somerset Lake. Below, the valley becomes narrower and the creek enters London Britain Township and the White Clay Creek Preserve just before merging with Walnut Run. Roughly one-eighth of a mile below this point, Broad Run Creek empties into White Clay Creek. Broad Run along with White Clay Creek are designated as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

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The confl uence point of the east and middle branches of White Clay Creek.

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White Clay Creek is an 18.5-mile-long tributary of the Christina River. It is renowned for its scenic character and is a federally protected waterway. The East Branch is 13.5 miles long and has its source in West Marlborough Township. Flowing southward, it goes through Avondale, where it links up with Trout Run. Further south, after merging with Egypt Run, the creek turns and meanders in a narrow gorge, passing through Landenberg. Downstream it flows out of the gorge into a wider expanse, then merges with Broad Run after entering the Preserve.

The Middle Branch is 11.4 miles long and has its source in Londonderry Township. Flowing southward along the western edge of the town of West Grove, the creek changes direction a few times, then intersects Indian Run. The creek then turns southward and flows through the hills near Chesterville, subsequently combining with the West Branch to form the main body of White Clay Creek. The West Branch is eight miles long, beginning near Kelton, then

Continued on Page 50 The Chambers Nature Center in White Clay Creek State Park.

White Clay Creek Preserve entrance sign.

flows southeast through New London Township, turning slightly to the east where it meets the Middle Branch.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources oversees the 2,072-acre White Clay Creek Preserve in the southeastern corner of Chester County, just three miles north of Newark, Delaware. The White Clay Creek Valley forms the heart of the preserve. The topography alternates from steep to gradual inclines with some flatlands which are all drained by the creek. White Clay Creek Preserve is contiguous with White Clay Creek State Park of Delaware. White Clay Creek is an area designated by the United States Congress as possessing outstanding scenic, wildlife, recreational, and cultural value. It will be preserved in its natural state perpetually for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

Visitors to the Preserve can enjoy hiking, fishing, hunting, biking, horseback riding and even cross-country skiing in winter months. You can go on a leisurely hike along designated trails in the area. The creek is stocked twice a year and is reported to be one of the best trout streams in the region. During posted periods throughout the year, deer hunting is allowed on approximately 1,800 acres of the Preserve. The Edwin Leid Trail is perfect for biking enthusiasts. Horseback riding can be done on an eightmile-long trail which rims the northern edge of the Preserve. If you’re a wine enthusiast, Paradocx Vineyards is not far away, where you can enjoy a glass of wine and live outdoor concerts during the summer.

If you’re ready for more adventures, you can get in your car and take a short drive south across the border into Delaware

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Great Blue Heron in The White Clay Creek Preserve.

Photos courtesy of the Friends of White Clay Creek Preserve

White Clay Creek near Newark, Delaware.

and explore White Clay Creek State Park, more than 3,600 acres of wild and scenic beauty which offers more than 37 miles of hiking trails and the Chambers House Nature Center. For a bit of history, stop by the Judge Edwin Morris Estate, circa 1790.

With so many areas being developed today for housing, commercial or industrial purposes, it is nice to know that there are places where you can wander peacefully amidst lovely surroundings, hear the birds chirping and watch a beautiful stream running nearby. If you’ve gone hiking, bicycling or fishing in the past, but haven’t done so in a while, try it again. The area around Landenberg offers all of these things and much more. You don’t have to wait for perfect summer weather—the trails are open in most areas today. So go ahead. Take advantage of these wonderful resources which enrich us all.

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. He has written ten books focusing mostly on the Chester County/Philadelphia area and conducts an historical lecture series. His latest book is Forgotten Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania and Delaware in the American Revolution. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

Horseback riding in the White Clay Creek Preserve, courtesy of the Friends of White Clay Creek Preserve.