Florence Shelly Preserve
Nature preserve
388 acres3.4 mi of trail
Nature LoopWeir's Pond LoopConnector TrailPlew's Swamp Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Thompson Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Thompson Township
The biggest trail networks: Florence Shelly Preserve (3.4 mi). 5% of Thompson Township’s land is conserved, about 705 acres. 54 acres are parks and preserves, 157 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
5%
705 acres · of 21.9 sq mi of land
Trails
7.9 mi
0.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
54 ac
157 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
24%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
7.8 mi
7.8 mi paths
Highest peak
2,008 ft
Slocum Hill
Lakes & rivers
4
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Florence Shelly Preserve, with 3.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
705 conserved acres
5% of Thompson Township’s land. Who manages Thompson Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits997 ac
County330 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government50 ac
Not recorded496 ac
Agricultural Easement · 785 acPrivate Conservation · 776 acUnknown Easement · 152 acPrivate Agricultural · 110 acLocal Recreation Area · 50 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 152 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 5 of 19 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Wetlands (Florence Shelly Preserve) Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 390 | Unknown |
| Florence Shelly Preserve (Thompson Wetlands) Private Conservation | Not recorded | 386 | Open |
| Hubal Private Agricultural | Not recorded | 110 | Closed |
| Rail Trail of Northeastern Pa. Local Recreation Area | Other or Unknown Local Government | 50 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Thompson Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Scenic views in Thompson Township
Viewing PlatformIn Florence Shelly Preserve
DirectionsPeaks in Thompson Township
Slocum Hill2,008 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
5 named trails and 4 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 4.5 mi
Nature Loop1.3 mi
Weir's Pond Loop0.9 mi
Connector Trail0.5 mi
Plew's Swamp Trail0.3 mi
Observation Tower Trail0.3 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
7.8 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
7.8 mi
off-road bike paths
When to get out
The best walking months in Thompson Township: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 30 | 33 | 41 | 55 | 66 | 74 | 78 | 76 | 70 | 58 | 45 | 34 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 78 °F). 4.7 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Thompson Township →
Next door
Thompson Township and its neighbors
Thompson Township has the second most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Preston Township15 miThompson Township7.9 miJackson Township5.9 miArarat Township2.1 miStarrucca1.3 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Starrucca | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Jackson Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Ararat Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Preston Township | 2% | 0.3 | 16 | 6% | C+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Thompson Township
Where can I hike in Thompson Township?
The longest trail networks: Florence Shelly Preserve, 3.4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Thompson Township’s trails?
Florence Shelly Preserve doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Thompson Township?
7.8 miles of bike routes are on the map: 7.8 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Thompson Township?
23,447 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Thompson Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 54 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Thompson Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →