Over time, Wheelbarrow Run carved a beautiful ravine with natural pools known as 'Seven Tubs' in the sandstone. Officials preserved around 600 acres of Pennsylvania forest around the Tubs as a natural recreation area.
For many years, people have enjoyed visiting this underrated Luzerne County attraction to swim in the pools, hike the ravine trail, and appreciate the diverse plant life. They also enjoy the cooler woodland air away from the noisy neighborhoods and the opportunity to pick fresh blueberries during certain times of the year.
Aside from its natural beauty, Seven Tubs also holds historical significance, documenting the geological forces that shaped the area and showcasing the development of the immigrant settlement.
Originally called Whirlpool Canyon Falls, the Tubs were included in the Wilkes-Barre Mountain Park in the 1800s, which played a crucial role in the region's growth. The railroad's train station, now home to Luzerne County's tourism promotion hub, Visit Luzerne County, still stands at East Market Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Banker and community leader Clement Perkins owned Whirlpool Canyon Falls, opening it to the public in 1964. The current access road was once part of Old East End Boulevard, and the neglect of the Tubs led to successful lobbying for it to become a County-owned park in 1979 by various organizations.
During the time when the County was governed by three elected commissioners, the Seven Tubs Nature Area was transferred to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 2014, after a change in the county's form of government.
That’s a lot The area holds a lot of history within a relatively small space, often unnoticed by many people who drive by every day. The park became popular, leading to overcrowding and insufficient parking, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic renewed public interest in outdoor recreation.
The county lacked the resources to expand visitor facilities to handle the growing number of visitors, leading to major renovations announced by state officials in August 2022. The park closed in April the following year for the renovations, which cost $1.5 million.
The park recently reopened with improvements to the entrance, parking lot, pedestrian walkways, and storm water management. There are also plans to potentially connect it to the D&L trail, which currently ends in Mountain Top but is intended to extend to Wilkes-Barre.
It almost seems like a miracle that Seven Tubs has been kept as a natural area without major development. This revival has brought much-needed attention to the ravine and its impressive pools, improving access and ensuring future preservation. We are very grateful to the state for intervening, and we urge people to visit the site and experience all that it has to offer.
