General Club Facts:

Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
See Membership Information section on how to join our hiking club!Other subgroups within the BCHC are the "Thursday Wanderers."Most hikes are followed by a dinner stop. We call ourselves "The Eating Club with a Hiking Disorder"! Dues are $15.00 annually****Hiking and Trail Guidelines: ** Be courteous & stay behind the leader unless directed otherwise.** Offer $.15/mile to driver when carpooling. * *In the event of inclement weather, the hike may be canceled.** Please leave your pets at home.**If unable to keep a club commitment, please find a replacement. * Wear blaze orange during hunting season (Sept 1 to last day of Feb). * Appropriate footwear and attire should match the type of hike.** If you leave the hike early, notify the hike leader or ask someone to do that for you.** Bring water and food as the hike description and weather demand.* * Hiking involves risk. Come out prepared and know your capabilities. Each hiker is responsible for their own safety and well-being. Contact us at: Berks Community Hiking Club PO Box #3611 Reading, PA 19606

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Saturday February 22, 2020 - Mt Penn Hike

5 to 6 moderate to difficult miles

Utilizing numerous Mt. Penn trails, Les will take us past several stone cellars, Rotary Park, and Vulture Rock. There will be several steep climbs. The hike includes road walking along Skyline Drive which affords scenic views of Reading on a clear day. Snowy or icy roads cancel this hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at William Penn Fire Tower on Skyline Drive 
GPS: 2500 Skyline Drive, Reading

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

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Saturday February 15, 2020 - Warwick - Ephrata Rail Trail

5 easy flat miles, shuttle

Winter walk along the gravel, asphalt path starting in town and passing thru open fields of Lancaster County farmland. Dress for the weather. Lunch optional. Extreme weather, hazardous roads cancels this hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at Warwick Township Municipal Park parking lot
GPS: 315 Clay Road, Lititz

DIRECTIONS: South on Rte 222, then East on 772 (Rothsville). At E. Newport Road bear right, and then left on Clay Road.

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

Monday, January 6, 2020

Saturday February 8, 2020 - Soup & Sandwich Hike Along the Tulpehocken

5+ easy miles

Stroll along the Tully on a mid-winters’ day. We will stop at the lower dam on the creek and return after visiting the Gring’s Mill dam. Hot soup and some sandwiches will await at the Park Rangers Office. 
After-hike eats will be served around 1 pm.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the lower parking lot of the Berks Co. Park Rangers Office. 

GPS: 1901 Tulpehocken Road


For more information & further directions, contact:  610-909-5018 or 610-823-9023

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Saturday February 1, 2020 - Pinnacle Via Furnace Creek Trail

8.5 strenuous miles

Expect plenty of rocks as we hike with an elevation gain of over 1000 feet. We will arrive at the Pinnacle between 12:30 to 1:00 pm and remain there for approximately 40 minutes, so bring lunch while enjoying the view. Rain or snow cancels this hike.

Meeting place: 9:30 am at Hamburg Reservoir, end of Reservoir Road, off Old Rt. 22 
GPS: 400 Reservoir Road, Lenhartsville or 40.583405, -75.941681

DIRECTIONS: Take 61N, bear right onto South 4th Street, go approx. 1 mile, then turn right onto State Street, travel approx. 2.2 miles, then turn left onto Reservoir Road for 1.1 miles to parking lot.

For more information & further directions, contact: 610-247-5190 or naturerocks1024@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Saturday January 25, 2020 - Morlatton Village & Amity Gardens

4-5 easy to moderate miles

We will take a look at the Morlatton Village, an old Swedish settlement dating back to the early 1700’s, then we will cross into Amity Gardens to hike through the streets of more modern neighborhoods. Wear comfortable hiking shoes. Lunch after the hike is an option. Inclement weather cancels this hike.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at Morlatton Village Trailhead of the Schuylkill River 
GPS: 480 Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville PA

DIRECTIONS: from Reading, follow Rt. 422 East to Douglassville, then right onto River Bridge Road, then right onto Old Philadelphia Pike, then drive 150 yards to the trailhead parking lot on the left

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

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Saturday January 18, 2020 - Norristown Farm Park

Approx. 5 miles

One of the most unique parks in the Pennsylvania State Park System, Norristown Farm Park is a working farm in continuous use since colonial times. We will see some of the 15 historic buildings, the earliest dated 1764, along with woods and fields plus miles of trails with links to the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen trails. Lunch later at Collegeville Diner. Check with the hike leaders if the weather looks iffy.

1ST Meeting place: 9:00 am at Boscov’s East, Bus. Rt. 422 East, Exeter to carpool
2
nd Meeting place and GPS: 10:00 am, Norristown Farm Park, 2500 Upper Farm Rd, Norristown

Directions: After entering park, follow Upper Farm Road, pass Visitors Ctr, continue a short distance to lot #3 where rest rooms will be available. 

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-763-8376 & 610-796-7602

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Saturday January 11, 2020 - Middle Creek Hike

5 to 6 moderate to difficult miles

This will be a scenic hike along some nice wooded trails. 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 at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Visitors Center 
GPS: 100 Museum Road, Stevens

Directions: From Rt. 272 South in Adamstown, take Rt. 897 North 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.


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

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Saturday January 4, 2020 - Lenhartsville Loop

Approx. 5 easy miles

Join in on 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 also pass the remains of the 19th century Maiden Creek Iron Furnace. Lunch afterwards at C. J. Hummel’s restaurant.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at the rear of the side parking lot of C.J. Hummel’s
GPS: 28 Willow Street, Rt. 143 in downtown Lenhartsville

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

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Wednesday January 1, 2019 - New Years Day Hike - Historical Myerstown

Approx. 4.5 easy miles

We will hike historical areas of Myerstown, mostly on streets and sidewalks, where we will see the Isaac Meier House, a park, retirement homes (facilities available), a church, seminary and the Institute of American Deltiology. Deltiology is the study and collection of postcards. At the Institute we may meet Mr. Donald Brown who started this collection of over 1 million postcards, with a focus on North American postcards. We will also remember departed Club member Bob Morris who hiked with us last New Year.

Meeting place: 10:00 am, New Beginnings Church parking lot

Directions: New Beginnings Church is on the left side of Rt. 422 West and is also the entrance to Stone Ridge Retirement Community. After you go through the light at Dutchway Restaurant, continue past Country Fare and a small gas station. We will park in the lower lot of the church.

NOTE: Enjoy pork & sauerkraut or lunch around 1 pm at Dutchway Restaurant 


GPS: 430 East Lincoln Avenue, Myerstown

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

Monday, November 18, 2019

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

Thursday, November 14, 2019

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

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

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, November 2, 2019

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!🌲

Monday, October 28, 2019

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

Sunday, October 20, 2019

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

Monday, October 14, 2019

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