Saturday December 28, 2019 - Leesport / Schuylkill River Trail

Approx. 4 easy to mod miles

Check out the Leesport area and Schuylkill River rail-trail with our trail guide! We will meet at Redners in Leesport, then carpool to the trailhead. The hike will be on a mostly level rail-trail and roads. Length of hike will depend on the weather. We may also hike to Mohrsville if the weather is not too cold or damp.

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

GPS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport

NOTE: Steady rain or snow cancels this hike

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

Saturday December 21, 2019 - Nolde Forest

Approx. 5 easy to moderate miles

The leaders will be leading a hike in Nolde on this first day of winter. This loop-hike will be on wide pathways with the option of doing only one loop for 2.5 miles if the group/leaders decides.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Sawmill parking lot off of Rt. 625, 2 miles south of Rt. 724 & Kenhorst Shopping Center

GPS: 2910 New Holland Road, Reading

For more information and further directions, contact:  610-334-8379 & 484-709-6727

Saturday December 14, 2019 - Birdsboro Watershed

5-6 miles + One Long Steep Hill!

We  will be led on this hike in and around the Birdsboro Watershed. The hike begins with a road walk close to 2 miles, then we will hike the Horseshoe Trail to enter the watershed. Local trails will take us to the scenic reservoir surrounded by pines. We will return via a closed section of the old Rt. 82.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, parking area on Hay Creek Road (former Rt. 82), north of Geigertown, .8 miles north of where Mullen Hollow Rd ends at Hay Creek Rd 

Directions: From the traffic light in Gibraltar at the Turkey Hill, travel east on Rt. 724, take the first right turn (about 1.2 miles), cross railroad tracks, turn left on Old River Rd, then immediately turn right onto Rock Hollow Rd. Drive 2.8 miles on Rock Hollow, cross Cocalico Rd, then drive 1.1 miles to the first stop sign at Hay Creek Rd. Turn left and drive .7 miles to the parking area.

GPS: 2 Elk Trail Lane, Birdsboro, then stay on Hay Creek Rd another .1 miles 
NOTE: Snowy or icy roads cancels this hike.

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

Saturday December 7, 2019 - Annual BCHC Christmas Party - See Club Newsletter for Details, reservations required

Christmas party hike will be a shuttle to Antietam Lake for enjoyable time and good appetite!🌲

Saturday November 30, 2019 - Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

5-6 moderate to difficult miles

We will be led on a nice wooded trail hike in the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Weather permitting, we will start by hiking up a steep fire road to the Elders Run Trail. We will then follow Elders Run Trail to the Middle Creek Trail, then back to the parking area. There will be a long steep hill and stones to contend with. If there is much snow on the ground, we will find an alternate route. Bring water and snacks. There are several places in the area to stop for lunch after the hike.

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

Directions: From 272 South, take Rt. 897 North for 14 miles to Kleinfeltersville, then take the first left after the stop sign onto Hopeland Rode, then travel 2 miles to the Visitors Center.

GPS: 100 Museum Road, Stevens 

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

Saturday November 23, 2019 - Warwick County Park

Approx. 6 mod miles

We will be hiking on trails in and around Warwick County Park where in the 18th and 19th centuries, Warwick’s woodlands provided much of the raw timber used to make charcoal for the region’s iron furnaces and forges. Remains of the iron industry can still be seen at various charcoal hearths along old cart paths.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, at the parking lot next to the Park office

GPS: 191 County Park Road, Pottstown

NOTE: Inclement weather will cancel the hike. Call leaders if any questions. 

For more information and further directions, contact: 610-698-4293 or 484-797-4234

Saturday November 16, 2019 - Hibernia County Park

5 to 6 moderate miles

This hike will be in Hibernia County Park which consists of over 900 acres (we will only be hiking 5 to 6 miles!) of trails, woodlands, meadows, open fields, pavilions, camping and picnic areas.

1st Meeting place: 9:00 am, Livingood Park in Elverson 
2nd Meeting place: 9:39 am, Hibernia Park

GPS: Hibernia Park, 1 Park Road, Coatesville 

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

Monday November 11, 2019 - Veteran's Day Hike with the Veterans

6 easy milesThis is an annual tradition where the Veterans and others walk through towns along the 422 highway. We will start at the Wernersville Fire Co. for a brief memorial service. We will then walk to Robesonia for brief services at the school and memorial park. There will be a break and snacks, with restroom facilities, in Robesonia. We will then continue on to the park in Womelsdorf for the final service. A free lunch will be available along the way at Johnny & Hons Tavern and at the Womelsdorf VFW. There will be a bus or cars to take you back if you need to stop walking. A bus will also be at the end to take you back to Wernersville.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, Wernersville Fire Co.
NOTE: If you want your car at the end of the hike, go to the Womelsdorf VFW by 8:30 for the bus to take you to the Wernersville Fire Co.

Directions: From Rt. 422, make a right onto Stitzer Ave.

GPS: 111 Stitzer Avenue, Wernersville

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

Saturday November 9, 2019 - Nolde Forest

5 to 6 moderate miles

Hike with our leader in this late fall hike to see the leaves turn. Hopefully it will still be fall weather and winter has not arrived. Snow Cancels!!

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Sawmill parking lot

Directions: Off of Rt. 625, 2 miles south of Rt. 724 & Kenhorst Shopping Center GPS: 2910 New Holland Road

For more information and further directions, contact:  484-256-7619 (the leader with a map!) or “fmalley@ptd.net”

Saturday November 2, 2019 - Schuylkill Canal Park

Approx. 6 moderate miles

This hike will leave from Lock 60 in Mont Clare PA and ascend to a trail overlooking the Schuylkill River. We will stop at a small county-run farm to look at the animals, then return on a trail along the river. We can also explore Lock 60 and the Lock House. There is a steep ascent and descent and it may be wet and muddy, so be prepared. Lunch afterwards will be in Phoenixville. Heavy rain will cancel.

1st Meeting place: 9:00 am, Boscov’s East (east end of lot), Rt. 422 East, Exeter Twp

2nd Meeting place: 10:00 am, Lock 60 in Mont Clare

Directions: From Rt. 29 coming from either Phoenixville or Mont Clare, turn onto Towpath Road, a one lane road between the river and the canal, and proceed to the parking lot at the end. Towpath Road is at the Mont Clare end of the Rt. 29 bridge. 

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

Saturday October 26, 2019 - Governor Dick Park to Dinosaur Rock

6-7 moderate miles 

Follow the leader as he hikes by the Clarence Schock Memorial Park in Mt. Gretna. We will hike from Governor Dick Park to Dinosaur Rock and back to the parking area. There will be hills and stones to contend with. Bring water and snacks. There are several places in the area to stop for lunch later.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Environmental Center parking area 
GPS: 3283 Pinch Road, Lebanon, PA

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

Saturday October 19, 2019 - Pisgah Plane in Jim Thorpe

4.5 difficult and strenuous miles

It’s time once again for our annual “insanity” hike. For the adventurous or just plain foolish we will hike up the 29 degree, 2300 foot Pisgah Plane, a remnant of the Switchback Gravity Railroad built in 1827. There will be more history about this during the hike. Despite the hill, the view from the top is worth the climb. We will have lunch in downtown Mauch Chunk midway through the hike, returning to the cars on the now abandoned “bus road.”

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

Directions: From Rt. 209 in downtown Jim Thorpe, turn left onto Broadway, then make the first right hand turn 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 and further directions, contact:  610-921-3252; email: ecg8@juno.com

Saturday October 12, 2019 - French Creek / Hopewell Furnace

6 mod to difficult miles 

Join our group as we hike through some of the well-marked trails of the park’s 7,916 acres. Lunch after is always an option afterwards.

Meeting place:  9:30 am, Shed Road parking lot off of Rt. 345 near Hopewell Furnace 

For more information and further directions, contact: 860-861-5681

Saturday October 5, 2019 - Wyomissing Park

Approx. 4-5 easy to moderate miles

Hike with our leader for an early autumn hike through the beautiful Wyomissing Park.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot directly across from the YR Club 
GPS: 1722 S. Parkside Drive, Wyomissing

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-670-2412 or 610-750-2748

Saturday September 28, 2019 - Nolde Forest Hike

5-6 difficult miles

Re-visit Nolde Forest with Mark on this early autumn hike.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Sawmill parking lot, off of Rt. 625, 2 miles south of Rt. 724 GPS: 2910 New Holland Road

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

Saturday September 21, 2019 - Leesport River Trail

5-6 easy to moderate miles

Check out the Leesport area and river rail-trail with Doug. No hills, but bug spray is recommended. Lunch later at the Leesport Diner.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Redner’s Market, Rt. 61N in Leesport, then carpool about a mile to the rail-trail along the river

GPS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport

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