The 10th annual Get Your Tail on the Trail 165-mile challenge begins May 1. Individuals, families, and employee or community groups are encouraged to log miles walking, running, biking, and more, to receive great prizes during our challenge periods. Whether enjoying nature and history along the nearly continuous 165-mile D&L Trail, walking while on vacation, bicycling in your neighborhood, paddling on local waterways—or whether weather forces you indoors jogging on the gym treadmill—every mile of exercise counts!

St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) and Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) started the Get Your Tail on the Trail partnership in 2013 to encourage healthy lifestyles right here in your community. By linking St. Luke’s healthy lifestyle expertise with the recreational and heritage leadership of D&L, members of our community can participate in ongoing challenges and attend special community events. All challenges and special events are FREE, and incentives can be earned along the way to help participants stay motivated to maintain healthy lifestyle habits with exercise and nutrition.

The centerpiece of Get Your Tail on the Trail is the nearly-continuous 165-mile multi-use D&L Trail that begins in the mountains near Wilkes-Barre and follows three historic transportation systems—the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Lehigh Canal, and the Delaware Canal—en route to Bristol, just outside of Philadelphia. The trail winds through woodlands, small towns and cities. Sections follow waterways, including rivers and canals, enabling hikers, bikers, and runners on the trail to spot people on kayaks, canoes, and rafts on the water below.

To participate, register online and download the Get Your Tail on the Trail app. The app makes logging miles and staying motivated even easier. With the app, you:

• get exclusive content about nutrition, events, and upcoming challenges.

• earn badges for your achievements based on your activity log.

• stay engaged all year round in activities and challenges.

• experience virtual tours of different parts of the trail.

• receive great prizes!

Although receiving Get Your Tail on the Trail swag shouldn’t be the primary motivation for completing our challenges, there’s no denying it’s a nice perk! Past years’ prizes have included Get Your Tail on the Trail fleece blankets, portable coolers, rain jackets, and camping lanterns.

To register, visit tailonthetrail.org.

In November, state and local officials announced a $7 million investment to connect 140 miles and prepare for future expansion of the D&L Trail. Upon completion, the trail will be the longest multi-use trail in Pennsylvania.

The project will fill in two miles in Allentown and a half mile in Catasauqua. In addition, the funds will be used to acquire land to develop the rail trail on the west side of the Lehigh River, from the Route 329 bridge in Northampton to the Pine Street Bridge in Catasauqua.

Construction and land acquisition are expected to take five to eight years. State Senator Pat Browne secured $2 million in the 2022–23 state budget to fund the project. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is providing the additional $5 million.