Bethabara Greenway Trail Guide

Begin your journey through the Bethabara Greenway Trail at the Visitors Center! Park your car and head inside where you can learn more about the historic Moravian settlement and get additional trail information, including printed maps!

After walking out the front of the Visitor Center, walk straight ahead and through the Palisade Fort across the street. You can take your time meandering through this historic area where multiple points of interest can be found! Head straight to the back fenceline where you'll find a break in the fence that leads to the entrance of the trail. Cross the bridge and continue onward!

At the break in the Palisade Fort bridge, pass through and cross the first low foot bridge to the main greenway.

When you come to the intersection with the main paved greenway, continue forward to the bridge that crosses over Monarcas Creek. This trail will lead you into the woods and to the Bethabara God's Acre cemetery.

Once you venture into the woods across the creek, follow the path with signage for God's Acre and you'll find a hill that leads up to the cemetery, which sits at the top. Two notes: this hill is a very short, steep incline, so pace yourself as you climb. For an accessibility shortcut, this point of interest can also be accessed directly by driving to the God's Acre main entrance and parking lot, which also acts as a secondary trail parking and access point.

Take a moment to catch your breath, reflect, and take in the beautiful natural scenery at the top of the hill at Bethabara's God's Acre. In the Moravian faith, it is believed that all humans are equal in death, which is reflected in the universal and modest headstones throughout the cemetery. 

There is a small woodland trail that encircles the cemetery. While it does not particularly lead anywhere, it is well marked with trail markings and offers a nice additional loop to your walk through the historic area if you're looking to add some additional sights or steps!

After descending back down the hill, cross over the Monarcas Creek bridge and you will intersect again with the main paved trail. Take a left here to continue your journey!

At this intersection, the greenway crosses over a section of Old Town Drive. Look both ways, cross the street, and follow the path to the left to access the next section of the trail!

Soon after crossing the road, you'll see a small parking area and the entrance to the next section of the trail. You'll notice a large metal gate with a stop sign- don't worry, this is just in place to prevent cars from entering the greenway! This section of the trail is a combination of paved, dirt, and gravel trails that meander through woods and open fields, and includes a key point of interest: the historic Bethabara Mill Stone!

This bridge crosses over Mill Creek and offers a beautiful view year-round. Stop for a photo before continuing your journey to the historic Mill Stone! Important Note: this is where the paved section of the greenway ends and becomes a mixed dirt/gravel path.

After the bridge and a sharp curve to the right, you'll exit the tree line shortly for a walk through an open field. While the trail isn't as clearly marked in this area, you should still see the tell-tale green trail signs that point forward to the woods across the field. On most maps, this will take you toward the Mill Creek or Woodland Loop, parts of which are inaccessible for most of the year on foot.

After crossing back into the woods, you'll find a small foot bridge over another section of Mill Creek. Cross the bridge and turn to the left to continue your journey to the Mill Stone. 

After continuing your journey through the woods following the main marked trail, you'll find a historic point of interest: the Mill Stone! Stop to read the signs and learn more about its history and use by the original Moravian settlers of the area. NOTE: after this point, the trail becomes difficult to navigate. While most guides will show a trail that leads to a pond and loops around, we recommend ending your trail journey here and returning to the main Bethabara Historic District.

After walking back and following the trail the way you came, you'll see a small foot bridge that leads back into the Bethabara Historic District. End your trail journey by taking a self-guided tour of this historic Moravian settlement and learn more! For a guided tour with costumed interpreters, head back to the Visitor's Center to purchase a ticket.