Earl Poole Sanctuary

Too bad the colors are in their final stages for the little Earl Poole Sanctuary (of Berks County Conservancy) has a lot to offer. A large wildflower meadow, trails through the woodlands, and the little Antietam Creek are all photogenic subjects.

The preserve is off of Antietam Road about 1 mile south of Alsace Manor. The entrance is merely a short driveway. The sign is set back from the road so it is easy to miss. We got to the preserve before 4:00 PM and the gate was chained. The sign said open to the public and open until dusk, so I just parked there and entered. After all, Max & I prepped for the outing and drove about 20 minutes.

The Reading Eagle did a nice piece on this oasis in Sept. and one of the gentlemen visiting that day was Karl Gardner who I presume is the same Karl who does a good job authoring Berks County Nature web site. They host a fall and spring guided hike every year, but private tours can be scheduled.

We buzzed through the red blazed trail around the circumference of the grounds in about 3o minutes. Maybe a mile. I watched Max closely as he sniffed next to the leaf covered stream for I suspected he'd try to walk on water again. I didn't need a wet dog considering the damp conditions and for out visit to SuperPetz after our outing.

Lighting was waining so stopping for a lot of photos wasn't likely. I will make this place at least a seasonal stop on my calendar.

Wet grounds due to rain and drizzle the past three days and all morning. Continued overcast skies throughout the day but a mild 57 degrees.