Saturday December 31, 2016 - Adamstown/ Stoudtburg Village Hike

5 to 6 easy miles


Our leaders will lead the Adamstown/Stoudtburg village hike around the village of Adamstown viewing factories, a library and old homes. We will then hike on a trail leading to Stoudtburg Village to look at the shops and visit the market (restrooms available). Lunch is an option later.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the parking area off of Rt. 222, exit for Adamstown Rt. 272, on left side of Rt. 272 before Stolzfus Trailers and Campers with spring water place to the right

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-678-5245 

Saturday December 24, 2016 - Union Canal Towpath

5 to 6 easy miles

Escape from all that Christmas shopping and join us for a hike on the Union Canal Towpath. We will meet at the Berks Leisure Area and shuttle cars to the starting point at Stilling Basin Road. We will hike downstream along the beautiful Tulpehocken Creek. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Heavy, heavy snow cancels!

Meeting place: 10:00 am at Berks Leisure Area 

GPS: 1700 Tulpehocken Road, Reading 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-796-7602 

Saturday December 17, 2016 - Middle Creek

7 – 8 moderate miles


This will be a scenic hike along some nice wooded trails looking for any snow geese or swans that may have arrived early. There will be hills and stones to contend with. Bring water and snacks. There are several places in the area for lunch later.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center 

Directions: from Rt. 272 South in Adamstown, take 897 N for 14 miles into the village of Kleinfeltersville, take first left after stop sign onto Hopeland Road then drive 2 miles to the Middle Creek Visitors Center.

GPS: 100 Museum Road, Newmanstown PA 17073; 40.270574, -76.247842 

For more information or further directions, contact: 717-949-2056 

Saturday December 10, 2016 - Oley and Pike Township Roads

6.1 moderate miles

This road hike covers sections of Pike and Oley townships with no serious hills. Old mills and numerous historic homesteads will add to the pastoral scenery.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Weis Markets, Rt. 73 and Friedensburg Rd in Oley. There will be a 5 mile drive to the starting point.

GPS to meet: 4018 Friedensburg Road, Oley

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

Saturday December 3, 2016 - Annual BCHC Christmas Party

Reservations required - see Member flyer for details on time and location.

Saturday November 26, 2016 - Birdsboro Watershed Turkey Trot!

approx. 5 easy miles

Wear bright orange on this first Saturday of deer hunting season. We will begin at the small parking  lot at 2050 Hay Creek Road and walk on the trail along Hay Creek to the climbing wall before returning on the road to view the picturesque Stinson Run Reservoir. Look and listen for turkeys and point out the ones you hunt down. You may “bag” them and bring them home for dinner! Lunch later at a restaurant of your choice. Rain cancels this Hike!

Meeting place: 9:00 am, Livingood Park, off Rte 82, Elverson to carpool to the beginning of the hike where parking is limited, so please carpool 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-286-8913 

Saturday November 19, 2016 - Pottstown and the Schuylkill River Trail

6 flat, ez miles

We will start by hiking along the Schuylkill River at the Pottstown Riverfront Park, then hike to the Pottsgrove Manor, followed by a stroll through Memorial Park, returning to Riverfront Park. While hiking in Pottstown we will be stopping at the historic sites along the way. From Riverfront Park we will pick up a section of the Schuylkill River Trail and hike west for about 2 miles through an industrial area. Lunch is optional after the hike.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Grosstown Road parking lot of the Schuylkill River Trail 

Directions: 422 East, past Klein’s bus stay straight onto Business 422 East/Stowe (do not take ramp for 422 bypass) which is Ben Franklin Hwy that becomes West High Street, go 2 miles make a right turn onto Grosstown Road, go past Continental Concrete on your right to parking lot on the right 

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

Saturday November 12, 2016 - Mount Pisgah Plane and Jim Thorpe Hike

4+ difficult miles

It’s time again for our occasional insanity hike! For the adventurous, or the just plain foolish, we will climb the 2,322 foot, 29 degree Pisgah Plane of the former Switchback Gravity Railroad in old Mauch Chunk (aka Jim Thorpe), Carbon County. This long climb, though strenuous, abounds in history. The Switchback was Pennsylvania’s first railroad, and the second in the USA. We will see a spectacular view at the top, the original “Wagon Road,” and continue down Packer Hill into town for lunch. After lunch it’s up Broadway onto the former, now abandoned Bus Road, returning to the parking area. Rain does NOT cancel this hike, but snow and ice will.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the parking area at the top of Hill Road in Jim Thorpe 

Directions: From Rt. 209 South in downtown Jim Thorpe, left onto Broadway, then next right turn onto Hill Road next to the Mauch Chunk Opera House which is the only right turn off Broadway, proceed to the parking area at the top of the hill.

for more information and further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or cell 610-451-5380 

Saturday November 5, 2016 - Horse Shoe Trail Hike

5.7 moderate miles
Wearing of the orange is needed this time. We are reaching out there just a bit farther on the trail. The fall colors are gone and there is a nip in the air but the walk will be good. The start will be at the parking lot just south of Rt. 117 on Mt. Wilson Rd. on the west side of Mt Gretna to the parking lot at the end of Drescher Rd. This is a shuttle hike. Bring snacks/drinks. Maps handed out as needed.

1st Meeting place: 8:30 am, Ollie’s parking lot, Bsns Rts 222 & 724, Shillington, for anyone wanting to carpool to start.
2nd Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot on Drescher Rd off Lawn Rd.

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-909-5018 or cj1sp@allstate.com 

Saturday October 29, 2016 - Welsh Mt. Preserve/Money Rocks

5 to 6 moderate miles

Enjoy an early winter walk in the Welsh Mountains. Hear the fallen leaves crunch as we walk through this former haunt of the notorious “Buzzard Gang.” We will also visit the new parking lot and the “Cockscomb Rocks” while avoiding the steepest trails and the worst of the stony areas. Lunch after is an option.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Dollar Store parking lot off of Rt. 10 in Morgantown

For more information or further directions, contact:  610-286-6886 

Saturday October 22, 2016 -Nolde Forest

5 to 6 difficult miles

Check out Nolde Forest as Mark leads the way over the hill and through the woods. Lunch later of course!
Meeting place: 9:30 am, Saw Mill parking lot, entrance on Rt. 625 

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

Saturday October 15, 2016 - South Reading Neversink Hike

5+ moderate to difficult miles 

Follow Doug from South Reading hiking up to Neversink Mountain for a loop hike on roads sidewalks and trails. Expect hills and some rocky terrain. Wear sturdy footwear and lunch later possibly at the Canal Street Pub. Heavy rain cancels!

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Canal Street Pub parking lot at Canal and South 6th Streets 

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

Saturday October 8 - Blue Marsh in Autumn

7+ moderate miles

We will be hiking the northern tip of Blue Marsh, up and down through the meadows and forested trails and return on a flat trail paralleling Rt. 183. Hiking shoes are recommended. Optional lunch following. Rain cancels!

Meeting place: 9:30 am, North Church Road off Rte. 183, below Bernville; parking lot immediately on the left.

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-301-7271 

Saturday October 1, 2016 - Port Clinton Fire Tower

Approx. 5 moderate miles

This hike will start out with one big hill climb to get there in the car and only one big hill climb on the hike! However, the leader will stop many times on the hiking hill. The hike is mostly on dirt roads near Hawk Mountain with lots of scenery and a great view. Bring water; lunch later maybe at Cracker Barrel.

Meeting place: 9:30 am , Redners, Rt. 61 North, Leesport to carpool to starting point
2nd Meeting place: 10:00 am, Port Clinton Fire Tower Parking Lot

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-603-9461 

Saturday September 24, 2016 - Horseshoe Trail Series

6.5 miles

We keep going westward on the Horseshoe. Meeting 9:30 am at the parking lot on Rt 72 East of Mt. Gretna (small lot). This is a shuttle hike, moving vehicles to west end on Rt 117 parking lot, west of Mt. Gretna. Lunch afterward somewhere in Mt. Gretna. Please bring snacks/water.

Meeting place: 8:30 am at Ollie’s parking lot in Shillington (Bsns Rte 222 and 724) 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-909-5018 or cj1sp@allstate.com 

Saturday September 17, 2016 - Columbia Lancaster County

5 easy miles

We will be hiking and exploring Columbia, Lancaster County. We will be starting at the new Visitor’s Center, cross the old Columbia/Wrightsville Bridge and return. We will then hike around the town with a possible stop at the Watch and Clock Museum. (Admission charge is $9.00 adults, $8.00 seniors 65+) for those who are interested. Lunch stop later, of course!

Meeting place: 9:00 am, Ollie’s parking lot, Business Rts. 222 and 724, in Shillington 

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