Hiking

Water Views and Maybe Migratory Fowl – What More Could You Want?

Hibernia County Park in Coatesville has a number of pleasant trails totaling about 6 miles. The Lake Trail is wheelchair accessible, and most if not all of the other trails are easy to moderately difficult, but still appropriate for children. The Cedar Hollow Trail travels through forests and fields and through the Lake Campground. The Lake Trail takes you to Chambers Lake, a 94-acre man-made lake managed by the Chester County Water Resources Authority. Both fishing and boating are permitted on the lake, with appropriate state permits. The park also offers the Childrens Pond, a kid-friendly one-acre pond with an ADA fishing deck and bench.

The lake is a popular migratory spot for a number of waterfowl, which means that the northern section of the lake (and the adjacent land) has been designated a migratory bird sanctuary and is closed to boat and foot traffic from April 1 to mid-June.

The park is also home to a 19th century mansion house (the original house was built in the 18th century) and a number of ruins dating to the mid-1800s Hibernia Iron Works, which have certainly contributed to the fact that Hibernia is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Places. Tours of the mansion are given on Sundays from May to September; groups may book private tours through their website.