There is nothing quite like the world waking up after its long winter’s nap – the touch of warmth from the sun, the air ringing with birdsong and color infusing the earth and sky again. The Lehigh Valley offers extensive and varied opportunities for accessing the outdoors. Here are a few in and around Salisbury for community members to enjoy.

Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary: This 77-acre nature preserve is located at 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, 18049. There are seven hiking trails and two pavilions. The highlight of this preserve is the boardwalk that follows the Little Lehigh Creek and provides a lovely babbling soundtrack to your walk through the woods. Visitors access the boardwalk via the floodplain trail and it is wonderful for parents with strollers. The size of the preserve makes it a hospitable home for all types of native wildlife and a wide variety of bird species. Visitors to the sanctuary may see or hear from birds such as woodpeckers, bluebirds and even red-tailed hawks that appear among the trees. For more information, visit www.wildlandspa.org.

South Mountain Big Rock Park: Also coming in at 77 acres, this park is for the slightly more adventurous rambler in the woods. The park is located at 560 East Rock Road, Allentown, 18103. The initial path up the mountain is easy and guides along the left side of a fence, but the highlight of the park is the massive boulder formations at the pinnacle of the trail. Several different configurations of outcroppings allow for climbing and even small cave exploration. The view from atop the largest rock formation known as Bauer Rock is a lovely panorama of southern Lehigh County, best viewed before the foliage becomes too dense in the summer. For more information, visit https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Parks-And-Recreation/Our-Parks/Big-Rock-Park

Trexler Nature Preserve: Not to be confused with Trexler Park, the largest green space in the Lehigh Valley is slightly farther afield than the first two options. Located in Schnecksville, Trexler Nature Preserve is over 1,000 acres and offers miles and miles of trails suitable for hiking, running and biking. While driving the loop road through the park, there is also Jordan Creek, which invites visitors to splash and explore on warmer days, and allows visitors to ford the stream in their cars when weather conditions are right.

Trexler Nature Preserve is located at Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville, 18078. For more information, visit https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Parks-And-Recreation/Our-Parks/Trexler-Preserve.

Saucon Rail Trail: This trail has eight sanctioned entry-points and runs through several municipalities. The several mile trail used to be a railroad. After changing hands over time, it was converted into the trail that it is today, suitable for walking, running, biking and families with strollers. In Hellertown, the access point is Water Street Park, 90 W. Water St., Hellertown, 18055. This trail will appeal to nature and history lovers as the mileage passes several points of interest such as rock formations, meadows and historical railroad remnants. For more information, visit: http://sauconrailtrail.org.

Editor’s Note: Before venturing out, check to make sure the sites are open under the current stay-at-home directive from Gov. Tom Wolf.