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.

Monday, December 27, 2021

Saturday February 5, 2022 - Gibraltar Hill

6.5 to 7 difficult miles

We will access Gibraltar Hill via the Schuylkill River trail. The trails here are generally unmaintained. Expect ruts and logs across the trails. This is mostly up and down, not too much level. At this time of year there should be some good views. Snowy or icy roads will cancel this hike.

Meeting place: 10 a.m. at Angstadt Lane trailhead off Rte 724.


Directions: From Rte I-176, take Rte 724 east toward Birdsboro for one block. Take the first left onto Angstadt Lane and continue for about 2/10 mile to the trailhead parking. 

GPS: Angstadt Lane, Birdsboro [40.300137, -75.899642]

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-323-1703

Friday, December 24, 2021

Saturday January 29, 2022 - Enola Low Grade Trail / Quarryville Section

4-5 easy miles

This trail extends over 26 miles long so we will not be doing it all this day!!! We'll walk west for a couple of miles, turn around and walk east for a couple of miles. Total length of hike is 4-5 miles.

Meeting place: 8 a.m. at Ollie’s Outlet, 2251 Lancaster Pike, Shillington. Leave at 8:08 and drive 45-50 miles to trailhead.

Directions: South on 222, through Lancaster, east on 372 to Bushong Road Trailhead. 

GPS: 112 Bushong Road, Quarryville

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-562-8680 (Ron) and 484-515-8001 (Mercedes) 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Saturday January 22, 2022 - French Creek - Turtle Trail

5.7 strenuous miles

We will hike the Turtle Trail loop in French Creek State Park. The trail is narrow and rocky; hiking boots (not shoes) are recommended. If you have hiking poles, bring them. Rain or light snow DOES NOT cancel this hike. We can have lunch afterwards if you would like.

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. on the parking lot in French Creek State Park
Directions: Follow Rte 422 East, turn right on Rte 345 south to Birdsboro, turn left onto East Main St., then right on Chestnut and continue to FCSP. Turn right onto Park Road and drive past Scotts Run, Hopewell Lake, and the Park office. About 0.4 miles past the office, turn left into the parking lot next to South Entrance Road. This is NOT the boat ramp parking lot.

GPS: Park Road & South Entrance Road [40.19596, -75.796911] 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-247-5190 or naturerocks1024@gmail.com

Monday, December 20, 2021

Saturday January 15, 2022 - Wyomissing Trail

4-5 easy miles

Meet on the Reading Public Museum parking lot to walk the Wyomissing Trail. Path may be ice covered/snow covered/or clear! Not sure? Call the leader.

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at 500 Museum Road, Wyomissing 

For more informer further directions, contact: 610-451-0821 call or text.

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Saturday January 8, 2022 - Thomas P Bentley Nature Preserve & Conebella Farm

??? Miles, approximate 1 hour walk & additional time for tour of the farm

This gorgeous, historic, and bio-diverse preserve is 108-acre mosaic of woods, fields, wetlands, and stunning scenery opened to the public in 2019 and contains a 1-mile rolling trail for exploration. Recognized as a “Birding Hot Spot” by the Valley Forge Audubon Society, the Preserve currently has 111 species recorded as having been observed there. In addition to the beautiful scenery, natural areas and trails, the history at Warwick Furnace is rich. We will walk along the trail about one hour.

Meeting place: 11:00 a.m. at Windmill Restaurant, Rtes 23 & 10, Morgantown


Directions to the preserve: Drive 28 min. via Rte 23 East. Turn right onto Warwick Furnace Rd. 

GPS: Warwick Furnace Rd. & Valley Way Rd. Glenmoore, PA 19343

Conebella Farm is famous for their Ayrshire cows and cheese. The farm store will be open. Leader has made special arrangements with the owner, Don Gable, for BCHC members to tour the farm. You may want to cover boots with a plastic bag (rubber band/old shoelaces). This is a working farm!

Directions to Conebella Farm: Drive 12 min. (via Rtes 401 & 82) GPS: 337 Chestnut Tree Road, Elverson

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-562-8680 (Ron) or Mercedes 484-515-8001