Saturday March 26, 2022 - Antietam Lake Hike

8 moderate to strenuous miles

The hike will begin at Antietam Lake parking area. We will go to the William Penn Tower via several trails including Wood Cutters, Rip-it, Towers, Red Dot and then hike further to the Pagoda. We will return via the Ferndale/Gravity trails and then the Green trail down to the parking area. I like to go on average 3 mph, so expect the hike to last about 2 hours 45 minutes (excluding a short break at the Pagoda). Rain cancels.

Meeting place: 8:45 a.m. Hike begins promptly at 9.

Directions: Take Carsonia Avenue from Mt. Penn to Stony Creek Mills. At stop sign, bear slight left onto Antietam Road. Halfway up hill, turn left onto Angora Rd. and proceed to trailhead on left. 

GPS: 306 Angora Road, Reading

For more information or further directions, contact: 215-205-3923

Saturday March 19, 2022 - Trails of Birdsboro Waters Preserve

 5 moderate miles

We will make use of the newly built pedestrian bridge over the Hay Creek to hike trails of Birdsboro Waters Preserve – 1800-acres of woods set aside to preserve the quality of drinking water for Birdsboro residents. Note: Inclement weather cancels the hike.

Meeting place: 9:30a.m.attheparkinglotlocatedatthesouthernendoftheRusticParkofRobesonTownship (just south of Birdsboro).

Directions: From Reading take US-422 east to PA-345 (about 9 miles). Turn right onto PA-345 (to Birdsboro). Continue on PA-345 for about 1 mile. then continue on N. Furnace Street for about 1⁄3 mile. Continue on Haycreek Road for about 1 mile until the road ends at the new pedestrian bridge. Turn right into the parking lot.

GPS: 1314 Haycreek Road, Birdsboro [40.253789926843716, -75.81398086024939] 

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

Saturday March 12, 2022 - Union Canal Trail

4 easy miles

Join the leader as we hike over the former "mule bridge" leading to the Union Canal trail. Starting at the Berks Leisure Area parking lot we'll hike the trail and then cross over to Penn State Berks Campus to explore that trail. Watch for Great Blue Herons along Tulpehocken Creek and maybe a few other early signs of spring. Rain or snow cancels.

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Berks Leisure Area
Directions: Berkshire Blvd past Fox Movie Theater, at the stop sign turn right onto Tulpehocken Road, then left into the parking lot, just after Country Meadows. 

GPS: 1901 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing

For more information or further directions, contact:  610-750-2748

Saturday March 5, 2022 - Neversink Mountain

 Approx 6.5 to 7 miles

In the last year we have done two hikes on Neversink beginning from Mineral Spring Park covering the east and west ends of the mountain. This hike will cover much of what those hikes missed. We will pass the Witch's Hat, walk through Klapperthal Glen and take much of the trail above the Schuylkill until we cross over the mountain to return. There will be several steep climbs and descents. Snowy or icy roads cancel.

Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. on S. 19th St. at the start of Mineral Spring Park, near the former East End Athletic Assn. in sight of the Lindberg Viaduct.

Directions: From Perkiomen Ave, take S. 19th St under the Lindberg Viaduct, and proceed about 1/10 mile.

GPS: S. 19th Street, Reading [40.332433,-75.897637] 

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