Saturday February 17, 2024 - Oren Holl Memorial Loop - In and Out version - part two!

4 or 6 miles.

This is a different hike than January 20 although both hikes start at the same place. It is not the Oren Holl loop; it is an in-and-out hike. Be aware this is a mountain biking trail. Wear orange to be safe.

Meeting place: 9:30 am at Holl’s Trailhead off Highland Road.

Directions: From State Hill Road turn left onto Brownsville Road. Turn right onto Highland Road at Spitlers Collision (approx. 1.7 miles). The road is not maintained and very rutty. The trailhead is on the right.

For more information or further directions, please contact: 484-557-7854

Saturday February 10, 2024 - Nolde Park

5-6 miles, moderate to difficult

We will start the hike on Church Road. Rain or snow cancels. 

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. Church Road parking lot

Directions: From the traffic light at Rt. 724 and 625 in Kenhorst, proceed South on Rt. 625, 7/10 mile, turn right onto Church Rd and proceed 3/10 mile. Parking lot is on the left.

For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-223-6952

Saturday February 3, 2024 - Port Clinton Fire Tower

6 difficult miles

This hike begins with lots of mountain to climb, the objective being the Port Clinton Fire Tower. The Appalachian Trail is used briefly but Game Land roads are mostly traveled. Footing should not be too bad. After finding the fire tower, we retrace our steps for the downhill return. Best to wear orange. Snow, rain, or deep snow on trails cancels.

Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Game Lands parking lot on Swamp Pike Road.
Note: Pine Swamp Rd is a semi-circle. It intersects Hawk Mountain Rd twice. These directions access the parking area from Pine Swamp Rd's western most intersection with Hawk Mountain Rd.

Directions #1: From northbound Route 143, turn left on Hawk Mountain Rd (Sunoco station at inter- section). Continue on Hawk Mountain Rd past the first sign for Pine Swamp Rd to roughly the base of the mountain where Pine Swamp Rd will be seen to the left. There is a white house at this intersection. If you start climbing the mountain, you went too far.

Directions  #2: From northbound Route 61, turn right onto Route 895. In Drehersville, turn right onto Hawk Mountain Rd. Climb the mountain, pass the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, go down the other side. Pretty much at the base of the mountain with a white house on the right, turn right onto Pine Swamp Rd.

FINAL Directions: From the westernmost intersection of Hawk Mountain Rd and Pine Swamp Rd, go about 1/2 mile on Pine Swamp Rd. Turn right onto a gravel lane. Go 1/10 mile to the parking lot.

GPS: Approximately [40.626004, -75.952234] 

For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-850-1855

Saturday January 27, 2024 - NOTE: Change in Hike - WYOMISSING PARK!

? miles

We will take a pleasant hike through Wyomissing Park.

Meeting place: 9:30 am a.m. at Wyomissing Quarry Soccer Fields parking lot
Directions: Drive west on Lancaster Avenue through Shillington. Go past the WAWA at Museum Road and turn right into the soccer field parking lot.

GPS: approx. 2220 Lancaster Pike, Reading

For more information or further directions, please contact:484-824-2740

Saturday January 20, 2024 - Oren Holl Memorial Loop

Approx. 4 miles, very hilly

Hills are quite moderate but, there are a lot. Very pleasant walk through the woods. Be aware this is a mountain biking trail. WEAR ORANGE TO BE SAFE.

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Holl’s Trailhead off Highland Road.
Directions: From State Hill Road turn left onto Brownsville Road. Turn right onto Highland Road at Spitlers Collision (approx. 1.7 miles) The road is not maintained and very rutty. The trailhead is on the right.

For more information  or further directions, please contact: 484-557-7854

Saturday January 13, 2024 - Six Penny Loop

6-7 miles, rated “vigorous” due to hills and distance

This is a “lollipop hike” taking Hopewell Big Woods Trail into French Creek State Park and the Six Penny loop. There are no restroom facilities at the parking lot. WEAR ORANGE as the hike starts in State Game Lands. Frozen precipitation actively falling at 9:30 or temps below freezing with icy roads cancels this hike. Bring lunch & a chair and/or a group can go out to lunch afterwards.

Meeting place: 10:00 a.m.
Directions: From Birdsboro, take 724 going East, for 1.3 miles. Turn R onto Center Road, (just before Fork & Ale), travel 9/10 mile to parking lot on left, next to a municipal building. 

GPS: 165 Center Road, Douglassville, PA 19518 [40.247200, -75.792440]

Foir more information or further directions, please contact: 484-797-4234 or 570-706-8541

If you need to contact someone before the hike, keep in mind that many places where we hike have no cell reception. Voice mail is not received until well after the hike. Your best bet is to send a text message since texting uses a different technology and is more likely to get through.

Saturday January 6, 2024 - Nolde Forest

 Approximately 4 miles ....good pace (rain/snow cancels)

To start we will hike up the forest center to top from Sawmill Parking, continuing back down and up a couple times ... about 90 min. Hiking shoes/boots are best suited for Nolde.

Meeting place: Leaving Sawmill parking lot at 9:30a.m.

Directions: About 1 mile south from Philadelphia Avenue (RT 724) and New Holland Road (RT 625) traffic light, passing Church Road to Sawmill Parking entrance on the right. 

For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-207-2308