Saturday January 27, 2018 - Nolde Forest Hike

4 to 5 moderate miles

Shake off those winter blues and holiday splurges. Follow “directionally challenged” Fran on a Nolde hike. She will be bringing a map! Snow does not cancel, only a Blizzard!!

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the Saw Mill parking lot, off Rt. 625, 2 miles south of Rt. 724 

GPS: 2910 New Holland Road, Mohnton

For more information and further directions, contact: 484-256-7619 

Saturday January 20, 2018 - Explore Pike Township

5.5 moderate miles

Ever wonder why the Oley Hills and Hill Church got their names? There may be a clue on this 5.5 mile road hike. It starts in District Township, but most of it is in Pike Township. Many of the roads through wooded settings are unpaved. The historic Hill Church is at the mid-point. Snow or ice are more likely here and will cancel this hike.

1st MEET: 9:30 am, Weis Market, Rt. 73 and Friedensburg Road, Oley; there
will be a 10 mile drive to the starting point.

GPS: 4010 Friedensburg Road, Oley

2nd MEET: 10:00 am, District Twp Park at Landis Store & Weil Roads, Boyertown 

GPS: 202 Weil Road – this may be 1/10th mile from the park

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

Saturday January 13, 2018 - Tour of Columbia, PA

4 to 6 easy miles


There is much to see in Columbia PA as Mark leads the way mostly on city streets where we will walk past the Watch & Clock Museum and the Turkey Hill Experience. The hike is planned for 4 miles with and extra 2 miles if the group decides to cross the Wrightsville Bridge. Lunch later at the Oregon Dairy. 



Meeting place: 9:00 am, Ollie’s parking lot, Lancaster Avenue & Rt. 724, Shillington 

GPS: 2251 Lancaster Pike, Shillington


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

Saturday January 6, 2018 - Lenhartsville Loop

Approx. 5 easy miles


Our “traditional” January hike along the Maiden Creek and country roads in the hills near Lenhartsville. This is an easy road hike with some nice views of the Maiden Creek and the hill country south of town. We will pass the remains of the 19th century Maiden Creek Iron Furnace as well. Lunch afterwards at C.J. Hummel’s restaurant. 

GPS: 28 Willow Street, Lenhartsville 19543



Meeting place: 10:00 am, in the rear of the side parking lot of C.J. Hummel’s Restaurant, Rt. 143 in downtown Lenhartsville


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

NOTE: Hike was CANCELLED due to extreme cold conditions on January 3, 2018.

Monday January 1, 2018 - Polar Bear Dip

Approx. 4 to 5 easy miles


Start the New Year by joining in on this yearly plunge. Beginning at the Christ Lutheran Church in Stouchburg, we will hike on country roads to the “dip” which starts at noon. Bring your swim suit and dry clothes if you are brave/crazy enough to go for it! We will follow another tradition upon our return and go for pork ‘n sauerkraut. Dress for the weather. Donations accepted at the dip to benefit charity.


Meeting place: 10:15 am, at the Christ Lutheran Church, 422 West in Stouchsburg 

Directions: 422 West past Stouchburg, turn left to church parking lot near the grove. GPS is 27 Longs Church Lane, Womelsdorf.

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

Saturday December 30, 2017 - Douglass and West Pottsgrove Townships

6 moderate miles 

We will hike through the neighborhoods of Douglass and West Pottsgrove Townships and have an opportunity to observe the various styles of residential architecture. The terrain in quite hilly, so expect a lot of ups and downs along with a nice view of the tri-county region from the top of a hill. Lunch later is an option.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, eastern end of parking lot at Dollar General in Stowe 
GPS: 1620 West High Street, Pottstown

NOTE: Inclement weather cancels hike

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

Saturday December 23, 2017 - French Creek State Park

Approx. 4 moderate miles

Our hike leader will lead a hike following the Boone and Horseshoe Trails to Hopewell Village and then continue through the village to Rt. 345 where we will turn around and head back on the Horseshoe Trail. Christmas treats will be served at the end of the hike and lunch later is an option. Rain, steady snowfall or icy conditions will cancel this hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, West Boat Launch by Hopewell Lake (near 843 Park Rd Elverson)

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

Saturday December 16, 2017 - Bethlehem Christkindlmarkt

We will start with a short walking tour of Bethlehem’s historic district and then visit Bethlehem’s holiday market of handmade crafts (open 11am to 8pm), followed by a casual dinner at a select restaurant. We’ll enjoy live holiday demonstrations and food. There are free trolley stops as well. 

Entrance fee: Adults 13+ = $9; Senior 65+ = $8 and children 6 to 12 = $5.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, at the parking lot off of Bus Rt. 222, 5th Street Hwy in Temple, to the left of Walmart, behind McDonalds (5372 Allentown Pike)

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

Saturday December 9, 2017 - Muhlenberg and Laureldale Hike

4 to 5 easy miles

Join leader on this easy winter hike, short and sweet, on the rail-trail and various streets. Lunch later is optional, of course!

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Muhlenberg rail-trail trailhead parking lot off of Mt. Laurel Road in Temple

Directions: Travel north on Kutztown Road (4900 block) and turn right on Mt. Laurel Road. Go one block to the trailhead parking lot on the right side. 

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

Saturday December 2, 2017 - Annual BCHC Christmas Party!

See club flyer for details!

Saturday November 25, 2017 - Mt Pisgah Plane and Jim Thorpe Hike

4 + difficult miles

It’s time again for our occasional insanity hike! For the adventurous, or 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 U.S.A. We will see a spectacular view at the top, the original “Wagon Road” and continue down Packer Hill into town for lunch at Antonio’s Restaurant. After lunch we will hike up Broadway and onto the former, now abandoned “Bus Road,” returning to the parking area. Rain does not cancel this hike, but snow or ice will.

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

Directions: From Rt. 209 in downtown Jim Thorpe, turn west onto Broadway, then make the first right onto Hill Road, next to the Mauch Chunk Opera House (14 W. Broadway) and proceed to parking area at top of hill. 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or Cell: 610-451-5380 

Saturday November 18, 2017 - Nolde Forest Hike

6 difficult miles

Get some exercise in before that big dinner on Thanksgiving day! Mark will be leading us on various trails in this man-made forest.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, at the Sawmill parking lot, Rt. 625 
GPS: 2910 New Holland Road

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

Saturday November 11, 2017 - Veterans' Day Walk with the Veterans

6 easy miles

We will hike “walk” 6 miles with the veterans. Join them and many others for this walk from Wernersville to Womelsdorf. We will start the day with a military service at the Wernersville Fire Company. We will then walk along Rt. 422 with police escort and stop at the Robesonia Memorial for a brief service. We will also stop in Robesonia at the fire company for snacks and restroom break, then continue to Womelsdorf for a final service. A bus and other cars will be available along the route if you can no longer walk. After the walk, a free lunch is available at Johnny and Hons Tavern and possibly at the Womelsdorf VFW. A bus will be at the end to take us back to our cars. If you choose to have your car at the end, go earlier (about 8:30 am) to the Womelsdorf VFW and take the bus to the beginning.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, for start of the service at the Wernersville Fire Co., 1 block off of Rt. 422, on Stitzer Avenue

Directions: Go west on 422 to Wernersville. At Penn Werner Hotel, turn right onto Stitzer Ave and park at fire co. (restroom inside back door).

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

Saturday November 4, 2017 - Warwick County Park / Mt Pleasant Rd.

5-6 moderate miles

This is a circle walk in the county park. We will walk on woodland trails with a short part on back roads in this historic iron-producing area. The trails pass several charcoal pits, and cross French Creek. The wildflower meadows should be in fall bloom. Lunch after the hike is an option.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the Clock Tower parking lot in Morgantown off Route 10 (behind Burger King, 2850 Main Street). Those who plan to drive directly to the park, please contact the hike leader ahead of time.

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

Saturday October 28, 2017 - Monacacy Hill Hike

4 to 6 moderate to challenging miles

Enjoy the fall in this lovely preserve. We will climb the hill this time to enjoy the view. We will then loop around on various trails to enjoy the scenery.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Monocacy Hill parking lot on Geiger Road 
GPS: Monocacy Hill Recreation Area, Birdsboro

For more information or further directions, contact: 484-948-5084 

Saturday October 21, 2017 - Robesonia Furnace and Watershed Hike

4 to 6 moderate miles 

Follow leader and check out this area that is rich in history. Robesonia Furnace is where two ironmasters, George Ege and Henry Robeson created two very different chapters in Robesonia Furnace’s history. In 1794 Ege built a charcoal furnace, which became the heart of his iron plantation. In 1845 Robeson acquired the plantation and replaced the furnace with a hot blast anthracite furnace capable of making fifty tons of iron a week, much more than the earlier charcoal furnace. Due to limited parking at the trail head, we will shuttle from the middle school. Optional lunch later, possibly at Osgoods.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Conrad Weiser Middle School, Rt. 422
GPS: 347 Penn Avenue, Robesonia

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-589-5575 or Cell: 610-507-5600