Saturday November 16, 2024 - Birdsboro Preserve

4-mile loop, mid-range difficulty

We will hike the Birdsboro Preserve with several hills. The plan is to take Cocalico Double Track, then the Up and Over track, then Stinson Run Reservoir Trail back to the Rustic Park. Lunch afterwards at Annamarie’s on Main.

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Rustic Park in Birdsboro

Directions: From 422 east, turn right on 345 to enter Birdsboro. After crossing river, stay on Furnace Street/Hay Creek Road. Drive approx. 1.5 miles to Rustic Park. Cross RR tracks and turn right into parking lot.

GPS: 1314 Haycreek Rd, Birdsboro, PA 19508 

GPS Coordinates: 40.25473147459496, -75.81404525511705 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-468-5039.

Saturday November 9, 2024 - Nolde Forest Hike

Approx. 6 miles moderate to difficult 

Rain or snow cancels. Leader will taker hikers on trails in Nolde Forest.

MEET: 9:30 a.m. at Saw Mill Parking Lot

DIRECTIONS: From Rte 724, turn south on Rte 625 (New Holland Road). Pass Church Road and go a short distance to Sawmill Parking Lot on the right. 

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

Saturday November 2, 2024 - Valley Forge

Approx. 5 miles, easy. mostly paved paths

We will trudge through meadows surveying to determine the best place to make camp over this coming 1777 winter as the British have mercilessly driven us from the warmth of our hearths in nearby Philadelphia. The advance surveying party from Berks County will determine defensible positions and cross open meadows where sunblock and/or colonial hats may be appropriate. Bring vittles for lunch at the picnic tables left at the park by friendly patriots. Bad weather cancels. (We are not as tough as our ancestors...)

1st Meeting place: 9:00 a.m. at Boscov’s east parking lot, 4500 Perkiomen Ave

2nd Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Varnum’s Picnic Area, Route 23 (Valley Forge Rd) - Valley Forge Park 

DIRECTIONS: Take 422 east (about 34 miles from Boscov’s) to exit Rt. 23 Bridgeport/Valley Forge.

(This is approx. 4.1 miles after Oaks exit.) The road expands to three lanes over the bridge. Use the right-most lane and curve right towards Valley Forge at top of exit. There are two traffic lights close together. At second light, turn right onto Rt 23 west. (If you were to go straight at this light you’d go into the Visitor Center.) Go 1.6 miles to parking lot for Varnum’s Picnic area on right - about a half mile past the Valley Forge Chapel. As you approach, there is a slight S turn to the left. As the S straightens, you’ll see SLOW marked on the pavement and a sign on the right warning of pedestrians. Entrance is immediately after the pedestrian sign. (If coming from Phoenixville on Rt 23, Varnum’s is approx. 0.8 miles from Washington Headquarters’ traffic light.)

GPS: 40.10459, -75,44670 No address. Use Von Steuben Monument for nearby address. 

For more information or furtehr directions, contact the Rebel Leader Lou! – 215-514-9016

Saturday October 26, 2024 - Pulpit Rock to View Autumn Colors

5-6 miles, moderately difficult, some rocks 

We will go up to the reservoir and take the Furnace Creek Trail up. Then we will find the Red Trail and cut over to Pulpit Rock. We will descend via the AT. Bring lunch and a chair and we will gather under the trees after the hike.

Meeting place: 9:30 am at Hamburg Reservoir Parking Lot

Directions: Take Route 61 to Hamburg. Turn right onto State St./Old U.S 22 and go 2.2mi. Turn left onto Reservoir Rd. and go 0.9 mi. to parking lot.

For more  information and further directions, contact: 717-376-5289

Saturday October 19, 2024 - Neversink Loop / East Ridge Trail

4-5 miles

There are two brutal hills on Neversink, and we are going DOWN one of them. Everything else is woods and some stony trails with moderate hills. Should be at peak foliage, so it should be a colorful, beautiful hike!

Meeting place: 9:30 am – It’s a residential neighborhood and there is plenty of parking. 

GPS: 27th & Fairview Streets, Mt. Penn

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

Saturday October 12, 2024 - Angelica Greenway Trail

Approx. 4 - 5 easy miles

This trail is paved with gravel for most of the trail. We will park and start at the Brentwood Trailhead of the Schuylkill River Trail. Just southeast of the Brentwood Trailhead, the Angelica Greenway Trail branches off at the western approach of the concrete arched trestle then makes a sharp right and passes under the old railroad bridge used by the Thun Trail and under an active railroad trestle. The trail then makes another hard right and follows the Angelica Creek in Angelica Park, past Alvernia University and neighborhoods until it ends at the Ken Grill Recreation Center. This will be an “in and out” hike going from Brentwood to Ken Grill and back to Brentwood. Afterwards, there will be an option to eat lunch at Mimmo’s Restaurant on route 10.

Meeting place: 9:00 am at the Brentwood Trailhead for the Thun Trail on route 10. 

GPS: 620 Morgantown Road, Reading

For more  information or further directions, contact:  610-823-9023

Sunday October 6, 2024 - Ice Cream Hike / Pennside

2 to 4 easy miles - street walk

Enjoy an early fall walk around the Pennside area and check out any Halloween decorations! We will also walk the trail behind the Antietam Valley Park & Recreation Center. Mostly level streets except for a short, level trail section. Return for ice cream and burgers at the Pennside Drive In.

Meeting place: 4:30 pm at the Pennside Drive-In. Please park on the far lot area to the right of the drive-in. 

GPS: 900 block of Carsonia Avenue, Pennside

For more information or further directions, contact:  610-823-9023 or 610-914-1357

Saturday October 5, 2024 - Antietam Lake

7 Moderate/strenuous miles

The hike will begin at Antietam Lake (parking area), starting promptly at 9:00 a.m. We will go to the Wm. Penn Tower via several trails and then hike further to the Pagoda. Before going to the Tower, we will hike on the Ferndale Trail up the steep hill to Kuechler's Roost. Some road hiking may take place (which I will keep to a minimum). We will return via the Ferndale/Gravity trails and then to the Green trail down back to the parking area. Expect this to last ~3.5 hours (excluding a short break at the Pagoda). Rain cancels. Advised to wear an orange blaze vest and/or hat due to archery activity up there. Hopefully, this time (if they are riding) I will show you some of those bikers riding on those hilly ascents jumping into the air and down. Pretty amazing feats!

Meeting place: 8:45 am, the large Angora Road parking lot, near Hill Road, in sight of Antietam Lake. 

NOTE: There are 2 intersections of Hill Road and Angora Rd but only one is in sight of the lake. 

GPS: 230 Angora Road, Reading

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

Saturday September 28, 2024 - Hamburg and the Schuylkill River

6 miles, easy to moderate

We'll hike through the Kernsville Dam reclamation meadow—where there are always interesting
birds, insects, and native plants—then along the Schuylkill River Trail. From this lovely stretch of trail, we'll cross to Hamburg Community Park and then along Franklin Street to Kaercher Creek Park, where we'll make a short loop. We'll finish by walking through downtown Hamburg to the trailhead and back along the river to the starting point. 

Lunch option afterward at Rico Casa, 1343 Hex Hwy, Hamburg, Pa 19526.

Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at John Bartram Trail & Kernsville Dam Road Parking Lot, Hamburg

DIRECTIONS: Heading north on 61, at traffic light for Cabela Drive, turn right onto Jetson Drive and right again on Industrial Drive. When you get to Kernsville Dam Road, turn left to trailhead. 

GPS: 40.5625527,-75.9946005.

For more information or further directions, please contact: 412-445-7359 or 412-445-7319

Saturday September 21, 2024 - Lower Switchback Rail-Trail / Jim Thorpe

9 moderate miles

We will once again visit the Switchback in JT, where history and nature come together on a trail that dates back to the early 1800s when trains hauled coal from the mines to the Lehigh Canal. Starting at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, we will take the lower trail into town, enjoy lunch, then return on the same trail. There will be a steep descent and ascent into town. Bring water and snacks, along with hiking boots for the rocky and muddy sections. Rain cancels.

1st Meeting place: 8:30 a.m. at Redner's Market, 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport (Rt. 61 North)
2nd Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Mauch Chunk Lake Park

Directions to 2nd meeting place: 61 north for approx. 13 miles, right onto 895 for 6.7 miles, left onto E. Railroad Ave in New Ringgold for another 6.7 miles, left onto W. Penn Pike for 2.2 miles, right onto Owl Creek Road (careful, hard to see this turn) for 8.1 miles to Mauch Chunk Lake Park Office 

GPS: 625 Lentz Trail, Jim Thorpe [40.843472, -75.805361]

For more information and further directions, please contact: 610-914-1357

Saturday September 14, 2024 - Ephrata Rail Trail Hike

5 no-hills miles

We will hike through scenic farmland to Warwick Township and back. Steady rain cancels. Optional lunch afterwards. There is a good map of the trail online at “Ephrata Rail Trail.”

1st Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Ollie's (2251 Lanc. Pike, Shillington) and drive approx. 20 miles to the trailhead. 

2nd Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Meadow Valley Road Trail Crossing

Directions: Go south on 272 to Ephrata. About 1⁄2 mile after passing Rte 322, turn right onto Meadow Valley Road and follow that all the way to the trail crossing. (If you get to Rothsville Road, you went too far.)

For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-750-4097

Saturday September 7, 2024 - 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, please contact: 610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 morning of the hike.