General Club Facts:

Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
See Membership Information section on how to join our hiking club!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"! Dues are $15.00 annually****Hiking and Trail Guidelines: ** Be courteous & stay behind the leader unless directed otherwise.** Offer $.15/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. Contact us at: Berks Community Hiking Club PO Box #3611 Reading, PA 19606

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Sunday July 26, 2026 - ICE CREAM BIKE/HIKE – STRUBEL- UWCHLAN RAIL TRAIL


Bike ride appoximately 14 miles. Walk is your choice of distance with group. Bike rides should take 60-80 minutes. If walking, walk for 30-40 minutes, turn around, and return.

1st MEET & TIME: CARPOOL - 12:10 PM Boscov’s East far parking lot – 4500 Perkiomen Ave., 19606 2nd MEET & TIME: 1:00 PM Struble trailhead - Shelmire & Dowlin Forge Rds., Downingtown, PA 19335

GPS: Struble trailhead - Shelmire & Dowlin Forge Rds. [40.039791, -75.706868]

ICE CREAM: Chester Springs at Milky Way Farms - 521 E. Uwchlan Ave. Chester Springs, PA 19425 

RIDE/HIKE LEADER: Call 610-334-2299 for quesIons & further direcIons.

Friday, June 12, 2026

Saturday July 25, 2026 - ONTELAUNEE TRAIL TO GRAFFITI BRIDGE

Approx. 6 miles, easy

A mostly flat & easy hike. In and out.

MEET & TIME: 9:30 AM Meet at Parking Area, Ontelaunee Lake Trails, 1599 Moselem Spring Rd, Hamburg, PA. Off SR 662.

GPS: [40.501280669643116, -75.88860515459703] 1599 Moselem Spring Rd., Hamburg

HIKE LEADER: Call 412-445-7319 for questions & further directions


Thursday July 23, 2026 - TO BE DETERMINED

 To be determined

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Saturday July 18, 2026 - TRAILS OF BIRDSBORO WATERS PRESERVE HIKE & ANNUAL CLUB MEMBER PICNIC

3.5 to 4 miles of moderate difficulty due to steep elevation changes

We will hike from the site of the picnic through most of the Rustic Park to get to the trails of the Birdsboro Waters Preserve – 1800-acres of woods set aside to preserve the quality of drinking water for Birdsboro residents. We will make use of the two newly built pedestrian bridges over the Hay Creek to make a loop through the trails of Preserve to get us back to Rustic Park in time for luncheon. Wear something orange, be mindful of bicyclists.

Member’s Picnic: Members please see Picnic Flyer sent for details & reservations

MEET & TIME: 1:00 PM Rustic Park picnic site #2, Birdsboro

DIRECTIONS: From Reading take 176 to route 724. Turn right onto Furnace Street. Continue Straight onto Furnace St. then onto Haycreek Rd. The Park is at the end of the Road on the right. 

GPS: 1314 Haycreek Rd., Birdsboro (see directions)

HIKE LEADER: Call 484-467-8976 for questions & further directions about hike.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Wednesday July 15, 2026 - ICE CREAM BIKE/WALK - LEBANON VALLEY RAIL TRAIL

Bike ride appox. 13 mi. Walk your choice of distance with group. Bike rides should take 60-80 minutes. If walking, walk for 30-40 minutes, turn around, and return.

1st MEET & TIME: Call leader if you want to carpool - CARPOOL - 4:00 PM Barnes & Noble at 2751 Papermill Road, Broadcasting Square Shopping Center, Wyomissing.

2nd MEET & TIME: 5:00 PM Lebanon Valley Rail Trail 775 Norman Dr. Lebanon PA 17042

ICE CREAM: Patches Family Creamery 201 Fonderwhite Rd. Lebanon, PA 17042 

RIDE/HIKE LEADER: Call 610-334-2299 for questions & further directions

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Saturday July 11, 2026 - ST. PETER’S VILLAGE TO CROW’S NEST

Approx. 8 miles (optional shorter hike available)

5-6 miles easy to moderate.

We'll be starting at St. Peter's Village, hiking to Crow's Nest Visitor Center in the Hopewell Big Woods and back. We will meet in the parking lot north of Village Arcade (Village Arcade address is 3411 St. Peters Rd., Pottstown, PA 19465), which is a dirt parking lot just north of the town. The hike should take about 2 1/2 - 3 hours. There are two moderate hills, a creek crossing, lots of rocks to hike over and some natural springs running out of the hillsides, making for some wet/mushy trails part of the way. For those of you that only want to hike to Crow's Nest we can have a car or two parked at the Visitor's Center and you can carpool back to St. Peter'sVillage. Lunch can follow at the bakery in St. Peter's Village or you can pack a lunch and enjoy the scenery outside on the picnic tables.

MEET & TIME: 9:00 AM at the large parking lot that’s north of Village - north of Village Arcade address of 3411 St. Peters Rd. Parking lot is dirt. If anyone wants to do a shorter version (approx. 4 miles) tell leader since a car will need to be shuttled to the half way point at Crow’s Nest. 

DIRECTIONS: From Route 422 towards Pottstown, Take exit for Route 176. Take the exit for Morgantown and at the light turn left on Route 23. Continue and then turn left onto St. Peters Road. There is a sign for the Village.

GPS: Approximate location of parking lot entrance that is north of Arcade [40.18017, -75.73134] 

HIKE LEADER: Call 302-476-5407 for questions & further directions

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Saturday July 4, 2026 - WELSH MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE

 5-6 miles easy to moderate.

Multiple loops at the nature preserve, and visit adjacent Money Rocks County Park.

1st MEET & TIME: 9:00 AM in parking lot at Ollie’s at 2251 Lancaster Pike, Reading 19607. Arrange carpools and leave.

2nd MEET & TIME: 9:45 AM 835 Gault Rd., East Earl PA17519

DIRECTIONS: Take 422E to 176E, Take exit 2 for PA10/PA23. Take a right to Follow PA 23 going West for 4.5 mi. Make a Left onto Pool Forge Rd, Left onto US-322E, Right onto Narvon Rd, Right onto Gault Rd, then a Right and Left. Destination on left

GPS: [40.08757, -76.00221]

Lunch (ICE CREAM!) afterwards at Lapp Valley Creamery 4040 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville PA. 17529 

HIKE LEADER: Call 610-334-2299 for questions & further directions

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Thursday July 2, 2026 - 2 Hikes for July 2 - Hike B - POTTSTOWN LOCOMOTIVE HIKE!

A hike will be led to see Union Pacific’s famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. It will journey to the East Coast for the first time in collaboration with Norfolk Southern, as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour as both railroads celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. This locomotive will be in Pottstown on Thursday, July 2. We will meet at a trailhead on the Schuylkill River Trail and walk into Pottstown to see the locomotive that is due in at 3:00 pm (For info on this train and its journey, see up.com (Union Pacific)

A good opportunity for railroad enthusiasts to see a piece of history! Bring your cameras.

MEET: NOTE AFTERNOON TIME: 1:30 PM Universal Trailhead Parking Lot, Stowe, PA 19464 (Grosstown Road)

GPS: 40.243974, -75.690381

HIKE LEADER: Call 484-948-5084 for questions or further directions

Monday, June 1, 2026

Thursday July 2, 2026 - 2 Hikes for July 2 - Hike A - UNION CANAL

6+ miles

A hike will will be led on the Union Canal Trail from the Berks Leisure Area to Reber's Bridge Rd and return. Hikers looking for a shorter hike can turn around at any time.

MEET: 9:30 Berks Leisure Area, 1901 Tulpehocken Rd GPS coordinates are 40.3555 N,-75.9632 W.

HIKE LEADER: Call 610-750-3115 for questions and further directions

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Saturday June 27, 2026 - COVENTRY WOODS

5+ miles

This hike begins at the eastern end of Coventry Woods and takes place mostly outside the park, sometimes on wooded trails and other times on shaded roads. There will be hills.

MEET & TIME: 9:45 AM at the main entrance to Coventry Woods. We will drive several miles from here to the actual starting location of the hike.

DIRECTIONS: Take Rte. 724 east from Birdsboro. About three quarters of a mile past River Bridge Rd. (The road/bridge leading to Douglassville), turn right onto Unionville Rd. All Type Fence is located at the intersection of Rte. 724 & Unionville Rd. Follow Unionville Rd. 2.1 miles past Temple Church and Shenkel Church. Turn right at St. Peter’s Rd., then after about half a mile turn left into Coventry Woods (Fernbrook Lane is to the right). Parking is just over the crest of the hill.

GPS: [40.215773, -75.709315]

HIKE LEADER: contact 610-850-1855 for information & questions


Monday, May 25, 2026

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Sunday June 21, 2026 - ICE CREAM HIKE - WERNERSVILLE HIKE

4 easy Miles

We will hike the grounds of Phoebe Berks and Wernersville Borough. Ending with ice cream treats at The Cone in Wernersville. 

Heavy rain cancels hike

MEET & TIME: 4:00 PM at Phoebe in front parking lot at 4pm

DIRECTIONS: Take Route 422 west from Sinking Spring. As Wernersville is approached (Red Plate Diner on the left) turn right into Phoebe Berks. Bear left up the hill, then turn left before reaching the apartments into the parking area overlooking Route 422. Park in spaces away from the building.

GPS: Address: 1 Reading Drive, Wernersville 19565. Phoebe Berks parking lot overlooking Rte. 422 - approximate [40.32910, -76.07182]

HIKE LEADER: contact 484-818-3813 for information & questions