Saturday July 15, 2017 - Horseshoe Trail hike

6 easy miles

We will get to smell the chocolate of Hershey! This will be a shuttle hike with vehicles being moved to the end before we start. Foot surface is a mix of trail and road surface (mostly road) with easy walking. The start is the parking lot on 489 Drescher Road, just off Lawn Road in South Londonderry Township and the end is the parking lot on 198 Washington Ave. (A-fields) in East Hershey. The first meeting point will be at Redners Sinking Spring on Rt. 422. Car-pooling is possible from here. The second meeting is at the hike starting point, Drescher Road. It’s possible to meet at the 3rd meeting point with a call ahead to the hike leader. The end is the parking lot on 198 Washington Avenue.

1st Meeting place: 8:00 am, Redners Market in Sinking Spring, Rt. 422 West, 4870 Penn Avenue, at the west side of the parking lot

2nd Meeting place: 9:15 am, 489 Drescher Road, Palmyra, 17078-9799

3rd Meeting place: 9:30 am, 198 Washington Avenue, Hershey, 17033-1238

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

Saturday July 8, 2017 - Antietam Lake

6 moderate to difficult miles

The improvements to the Antietam Lake parking lots and trails have been completed. New historical signage has also been added. Let’s take a look at the completed work. The focus of this hike is behind the lake itself where a new parking lot has been added and the trail improved, but we will also take in the Nature Center and walk some of the hillside above. Expect some steep hills. Bring water.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Antietam Lake parking lot on Angora Road 

GPS: 300 Angora Road, Reading PA 19606

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

Saturday July 1, 2017 - French Creek State Park

4-5 easy to moderate miles

Cool down this summer with a short hike that circles through the western part of the park on a variety of easy and uphill trails. Hiking boots & poles recommended. Optional lunch to follow. Heavy rain cancels.
1st Meeting place: 9:00 am, at the Gibraltar Rd parking lot off of the Thun Trail at the intersection of Rt. 724 and Gibraltar Rd
GPS: 3326 Main Street, Birdsboro 19508 (adjacent to Cedar Hill Flowers) 

2nd Meeting place: 9:20 am, Fire Tower Road parking lot

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

Saturday June 24, 2017 - Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve

4 moderate miles

Enjoy a cool 4 mile hike along a beautiful stream in a rocky gorge, near Kelly’s Run at the Susquehanna River. Lunch later is always an option.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, Ollie’s parking lot, Intersection of business Rts. 222 and 724, Lancaster Avenue, Shillington, we will shuttle to an area off River Road, just above Hollywood

GPS ADDRESS: 2251 Lancaster Pike, Shillington

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-589-5575 

Saturday June 17, 2017 - Orwigsburg Schuylkill County Hike

5 to 6 easy miles

We will hike over the ridge and see the summer “green view.” We will then loop through the town with some history, and end by doing a loop through a wooded area.

1st Meeting place: 9:30 am, Redners Market, Rt. 61 North, Leesport

GPS ADDRESS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport

2nd Meeting place: 10:00 am, Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall 

GPS ADDRESS: 300 Grove Street, Orwigsburg

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

Saturday June 10 - Coventry Woods

5.5 hilly miles

This hike in North Coventry Township’s scenic park takes us around its western perimeter, over the ridge, and along the Rock Run Creek. This is a hilly, wooded park affording mostly shaded walking with a variety of scenery.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, main lot at Coventry Woods

DIRECTIONS 1: Take Rt. 724 east from Birdsboro. About three quarters of a mile past River Bridge Rd turn right onto Unionville Road. All Type Fence is located at this intersection. Follow Unionville Road 2.1 miles past Temple Church and Shenkel Church. Turn right onto St. Peters Road, 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.

DIRECTIONS 2: From Rt. 23, take St. Peters Road through St. Peters Village and continue for about 4 more miles on St. Peter’s Road. When you see Fernbrook Lane to the left, turn right into Coventry Woods.

GPS ADDRESS: 1960 St. Peters Road, Pottstown, PA

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

Saturday June 3, 2017 - Columbia-Marietta Rail Trail

5 easy miles

This will be an in-out hike along the historic Marietta Rail Trail. We hope to see lots of historic places along the way.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Ollies Parking Lot, Intersection of Business Rts 222 and 724, Lancaster Avenue in Shillington. We will then travel to Columbia and park at the Visitor Center

GPS: 2251 Lancaster Pike, Shillington

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

Saturday May 27, 2017 - Clarence Shock Memorial Park, Mt. Gretna

6-7 miles.

Weather permitting we will hike in and around Governor Dick Forest. There will be hills and stones to contend with. Bring water and personal snacks. There are several places in the area to stop for lunch after hike.

Meeting: 10:00 am, Environmental Center parking area 

GPS ADDRESS: 3283 Pinch Road, Lebanon, PA 

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

Saturday May 20, 2017 - Bertram Trail Schuylkill County

5 moderate miles

Check out this hike in the Landingville area where we will see a marsh, a dam and birds. Option to go out to eat afterwards.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Redners Market, Rt. 61 North, Leesport 

GPS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-670-1119 

Saturday May 13, 2017 - Fitzwater Station Restaurant to Perkiomen Trail

6 miles 

Hike leader will take this mostly flat hike beginning at the restaurant to the Perkiomen Trail. We will hike alongside the Schuylkill River on a wooded trail, then onto the paved Schuylkill River Trail to the Perkiomen Trail. There is an optional small hill to a bridge for an overlook of the trail. Optional lunch will be at the Fitzwater Station Restaurant.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, at the parking lot up from the Turkey Hill gas station near the intersection of Gibralter Road and Rt. 724, to carpool to the starting point. 
GPS ADDRESS: 3321 Main Street, Birdsboro

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

Saturday May 6, 2017 - Vinemont Hike

Approx. 5 moderate miles

This will be a shuttle hike; mostly roads with some hills and scenic views. Lunch later of course!

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Redners Market, Sinking Spring, Rt. 422 West, west side of parking lot

GPS: 4870 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring

Note: Heavy rain cancels

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

Saturday April 29, 2017 - Eastern Exeter Township & Daniel Boone Homestead

5 flat miles

We will use county roads of eastern Exeter Township to hike from the Exeter Meeting House to Daniel Boone Homestead, then hike the grounds of the homestead. We will have an opportunity to view the 18th century stone meeting house built by Quakers, as well as fields and farm structures of eastern Exeter Township. This will be a one-way, shuttle hike. Lunch is optional after the hike.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Daniel Boone Homestead Visitor Center parking lot 

Directions: From Reading, take Rt. 422 East about 10 miles, turn left onto Daniel Boone Road, after about a mile take the jug-handle left onto Daniel Boone Road and follow the signs to the visitor center

GPS Address: 400 Daniel Boone Road, Birdsboro

NOTE: Inclement weather cancels this hike

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

Saturday April 22, 2017 - Baptism Creek Natural area

5 to 6 moderate miles

Enjoy a spring hike in this natural area noted for its variety of spring wildflowers. Picnickers and weekend hikers have come to this secluded place to relax since early times. This will be a shuttle hike with some hiking on back roads. There will be some rocks and hills. Lunch later is an option.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Hopewell Furnace Office parking lot, off of Rte. 345 GPS ADDRESS: 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson

For more information or further directions, contact: 484-252-9493 

Saturday April 15, 2017 - Mystery Easter Hike is Back!

Exactly 5 moderate miles

Imagine Easter Eggs, towers, views, farmlands and animals. For those who braved the hike several years ago, hope to see you again. For newcomers, come out and find out why it’s a mystery? The trek will be exactly 5 miles over mostly roads with some hills.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Redners Market, Rt. 61 North, Leesport to carpool to staring locale which is approximately 10 minutes away

GPS ADDRESS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport, PA.

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

Saturday April 8, 2017 - Laureldale Boro / Muhlenberg Township

Approx. 5 to 6 easy miles 

This hike will have various terrain with some hills. We will be on roads, sidewalks, trails and a rail-trail.
We will enjoy a walk around Bernhardt’s Dam Park (a reservoir for the city of Reading). Wear good hiking shoes, carry water and wear something orange to alert motorists. Lunch optional afterwards.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Dominic Manzella Recreational Park

Directions: From Business Rt. 222 (N. Fifth St Hwy) in Muhlenberg Twp., turn onto Elizabeth Ave. (at Hess station). Driveway and parking lot are on left, just above Manor Care Health Services facility.

GPS ADDRESS: 2125 Elizabeth Avenue, Laureldale 19605

NOTE: Hike is in memory of Norm Williams, who originally planned to lead it. 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-929-9694 or 610-406-1366 the day of the hike 

Saturday April 1, 2017 - Kaercher Creek Dam and Vicinity

Approx. 5 moderate miles

We will walk some of the old trails in the now closed Kaercher Creek County Park. Some remnants of the graded but never finished Allentown and Auburn railroad from 1875, as well as a nice blend of woods, town roads, cemetery and fields will be visited. Lunch afterwards at CJ Hummel’s in Lenhartsville.

Meeting place: 9:30 am at the Kaercher Creek boat launch area

Directions: Take Rt. 61 N. to Hamburg. Bear right onto 4th Street. At third traffic light, turn right onto State Street (old Rt. 22). Proceed about one mile and turn right on driveway into the former park, across from the Hamburg Center. Look for the white and red sign for the Hamburg Soccer Assn.

GPS ADDRESS: 3501 Old Rt. 22, Hamburg

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 the morning of the hike