General Club Facts:

Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Membership in the BCHC is $10.00 per person per year in order to receive the quarterly newsletter. Further information on membership can be obtained when attending a scheduled hike. Other subgroups within the BCHC are the "Thursday Wanderers." Most hikes are followed by a dinner stop. We call ourselves "The Eating Club with a Hiking Disorder"! ****Hiking and Trail Guidelines: ** Be courteous & stay behind the leader unless directed otherwise.** Offer $.10/mile to driver when carpooling. * *In the event of inclement weather, the hike may be canceled.** Please leave your pets at home.**If unable to keep a club commitment, please find a replacement. * Wear blaze orange during hunting season (Sept 1 to last day of Feb). * Appropriate footwear and attire should match the type of hike.** If you leave the hike early, notify the hike leader or ask someone to do that for you.** Bring water and food as the hike description and weather demand.* * Hiking involves risk. Come out prepared and know your capabilities. Each hiker is responsible for their own safety and well-being.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Saturday April 26, 2025 - North Lake Loop

Approximately 7 hilly miles

This is a hike at the North Lake Loop of Blue Marsh – There may be a possibility for a shorter hike option on the day of the hike if it’s possible as an in-out hike. After we that we will continue into some hills and do the loop. 

NOTE: Lunch is optional afterwards.

Meeting place: 9:30 am 
 
Directions:  Take Route 183 North. Pass the Blue Marsh Restaurant. In about 2.5 miles -Turn Left onto Old Church Road. Parking lot is on the left.

GPS:   Blue Marsh Old Church Road Parking Lot [40.40739, -76.07904]

NOTE: Heavy rain will cancel

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

Friday, March 28, 2025

Saturday April 19, 2025 - Gravity Trail

4-5 moderate miles

Leader will take hikers on the Gravity Trail, Antietam Lake to Egelmans Park. There will be rocky hills at beginning, and then will be mostly flat. Hopefully filled with beginning of spring blooms, walking through a light green haze. NOTE: Rainy horrible forecast will cancel hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the large Antietam Lake Park parking area – on the horseshoe bend in sight of the lake at Angora Rd.

Directions: From Business 422 going East from Reading – Turn left at traffic light from Perkiomen Ave. in Mt. Penn to North 23 rd St./Carsonia Ave. Follow Carsonia Ave. 3.5 miles. Turn left at intersection at end of Carsonia onto Antietam Road. Make first left onto Angora Road. Follow road and make left onto large parking lot at horseshoe curve.
From Business 422 going West from Exeter – Go right from Perkiomen Ave onto North 23 rd St./ Carsonia Ave. Follow Carsonia Ave. 3.5 miles. Turn left at intersection at end of Ave. onto Antietam Road. Make first left onto Angora Road. Follow road and make left onto large parking lot at horseshoe curve.

GPS: 230 Angora Rd. [40.35637, -7587406 parking lot coordinates]

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-505-9397

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Saturday April 12, 2025 - Leaser Lake Hike

Approx. 5 moderate miles

We will hike around the perimeter trail of Leaser Lake, just over the northern Berks line in Lehigh County. The terrain will vary from open fields to deep woods and marshy areas. This hike is especially well-suited for spotting many different bird and wildflower species. Lunch will be up to the hikers present. As C J Hummels is now closed for lunches, other choices would be The Westy in Hamburg, or Fiore’s in Shoemakersville. Call if weather is questionable.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot at end of Pleasure Court (south parking area and boat launch) 

Directions: Take Rte 143 north out of Lenhartsville. Drive about 8 miles, make a left turn onto Pleasure Court, just before the large stone church in Jacksonville (about a mile past Wanamaker’s General Store).

GPS: Pleasure Court, Kempton [40.671195 - 75.832145]

For more information or further directions, contact:  610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 morning of the hike.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Saturday April 5, 2025 - Roads of Amityville

5 miles of easy to moderate difficulty

We will start by hiking the paved paths of Amity Township Community Park. Then branch into the scenic roads of Amityville. Eventually making our way back to the Amity Township Community Park.  Wear comfortable hiking shoes. Bring water.

Meeting place:   9:30 am at the Amity Township Community Park parking lot. 

Directions from Reading: Take US-422 east to the Amity Township (about 15 miles). Turn left onto the PA-662/Old Swede Rd. After 3 miles, make a slight left onto the Weavertown Rd. After 0.3 of a mile you will pass the St Paul’s United Church of Christ.  Make the next right into the parking lot of Amity Township Community Park.

NOTE: Inclement weather cancels the hike.

GPS:  1891 Weavertown Road, Douglassville, PA [40.299812, -75.739017]

For more information and further directions, contact: 484-467-8976

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Saturday March 29, 2025 - Kaercher Creek Dam & Vicinity

 Approx. 4 moderate miles

We will hike some of the old trails in the now closed Kaercher Creek County Park. We will see some remnants of the graded but never finished Allentown and Auburn railroad from 1875, as well as a nice blend of woods, town roads, cemetery, and fields. If we are lucky, the Siberian Squill will be in bloom.

There are multiple options for lunch afterwards - group choice.

Meeting place: 9 :30 am at Kaercher Creek boat launch parking area.

Directions: Take Rt. 61 to Hamburg. Bear right onto 4th Street. At third traffic light turn right onto State Street (old route 22 ). Proceed about one mile and turn right on the driveway into the old park, opposite the old Hamburg Center. Look for the red and white   for the Hamburg Soccer Association.

GPS: Kaercher Creek Park, Hamburg, 19526   40.5617372,-75.9693197 - approx GPS for 3401 Old Route 22 in Hamburg.

For more information & further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 on the day of the hike.


Saturday, February 8, 2025

Saturday March 22, 2025 - Lenhartsville Loop

Approx. 5 easy miles

Join in on our traditional hike along the Maiden Creek and country roads in the hills near Lenhartsville. This is an easy road hike with some nice views of the Maiden Creek and the hill country south of town. We will also pass the remains of the 19th century Maiden Creek Iron Furnace. Late lunch or early dinner afterwards at CJ Hummel’s Restaurant.

Meeting place: 2:00 pm (note the late start time) at the rear of the side parking lot of CJ Hummel’s, Rt. 143 in downtown Lenhartsville

GPS: 18 Willow St., Lenhartsville, 19534 (40.5739846,-75.8924487)

For more information or further directions, contact: 619-921-3252 or 610 -451-5380 on the day of the hike.


Monday, January 27, 2025

Saturday March 15, 2025 - Leaser Lake Hike

 Approx 5 easy miles

Hike around the perimeter of Leaser Lake. The terrain will vary from open fields to woods and marshy areas.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, parking lot at end of Pleasure Court (South parking area and boat launch)

Directions: Take Rte 143 north (King’s Highway) out of Lenhartsville. Drive about 8 miles, make a left turn onto Pleasure Court, just before the large stone church (Jacob’s church) in Jacksonville (about a mile east Wanamaker's General Store).

GPS: 8502 Pleasure Court, Kempton, PA 19529 (40.6712034,-75.834713)

For more information or further directions, contact: 484-284-0946 (call morning of the hike if the weather looks questionable)