Seven Tubs Recreation Area

Seven Tubs Recreation Area is a publicly accessible recreation area located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Continuously flowing glacial meltwater gouged a line of smooth tubs in gritty sandstone over 12,000 years ago. The tubs are potholes formed by the flowing water. The site is part of a 537acre recreation area in the Pennsylvania mountains about 4mi south of downtown Wilkes-Barre. The site is popular among hikers for its easy accessibility and beginner-level hiking environment.GeologyThe glaciers of the Ice Age were instrumental in shaping the physical features of the natural world that we see today. They too are responsible for the formations of the tubs. As ice melts over long periods of time, its eroding capabilities become much more substantial. Glacial melting produced large volumes of flowing water for many years, contributing to formations in the different types of rock common to the area. Common geological rock classifications in the area are limestone, shale, and coal, but the tubs are formed mainly out of gritty sandstone.Wheelbarrow Run is a stream that runs through the tubs and eventually meets up with the larger Laurel Run. Both flows have cut gorges and canyons out of the surrounding landscapes that have created an opportunity for hikers to explore. This area is known as Whirlpool Valley.