6-7 Moderate / Strenuous miles
Expect some hills as we meander through these woodland trails.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Sawmill parking lot off Rte 625
Directions: Rte 625 two miles south of Rte 724 and Kenhorst Shopping Center
GPS: 2910 New Holland Road, Reading
For more information or further directions, contact: 484-824-2740
5-6 miles
This hike will visit Valley View overlook with a hill to climb to get there. Lunch at The Kville after the hike
Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Visitors Center
Directions: From 272 south, take Rte 897 north for 14 miles to Kleinfeltersville, then take the first left after the stop sign onto Hopeland Road, then travel 2 miles to the Visitors Center.
GPS: 100 Museum Road, Stevens 17578
For more information or further directions, contact: 717-949-2056
6 miles - strenuous, difficult
We will hike for half a mile thru streets of Mt Penn from Antietam Valley Shopping Center parking lot to the
start of the East Ridge trail and continue hiking the Neversink trails for 5 miles, finally retracing our steps
back to the parking lot for a 6-mile hike. Wear comfortable hiking shoes. Bring water.
Note: Inclement weather cancels the hike.
1st Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at the northwest corner of the Antietam Valley Shopping Center parking lot. DIRECTIONS: From Reading take US-422 east to Mt Penn exit. Turn left onto E Neversink Rd (signs for St Lawrence/Mt Penn). After 0.6 miles, turn left onto US-422 BUS W/Perkiomen Ave. After 1.3 mile, make a sharp right onto PA-562 E/St Lawrence Ave. After 0.2 mile make a right into the Antietam Valley Shopping Center parking lot. The NW corner is next to the bank.
GPS: 2962 St Lawrence Ave, Reading [40.32817077351543, -75.87895581601859]
2nd Meeting place: 9:40 am at intersection of Fairview Ave and S 27 St, Mt Penn. Street parking only.
For more information or further directions, contact: 484-467-8976
6 Moderate miles
This loop hike at Blue Marsh passes the Old Dry Road Farm on our way to inspecting the buildings at the transplanted Hottenstein homestead. We then connect to the main trail for a mile before returning via Sterner Hill and Landis roads. Expect a good variety of terrain.
Meeting placde: 9:30 a.m. at Spring Creek trailhead on Brownsville Rd
Directions: Take State Hill Rd to its end at Brownsville Rd. Turn left onto Brownsville Rd and travel 2.9 miles. The parking lot is on the right at a bend in the road at the bottom of a hill. Normally there is a drop off turning into the parking lot, take it slowly.
GPS: Approx. 1143 Brownsville Road, Wernersville [40.369922, -76.080776]
For more information or further directions: 610-850-1855
4 Easy miles
Join me as we hike over the former "mule bridge" leading to the Union Canal trail. Starting at the Berks Leisure Area parking lot we'll hike the trail and then cross over to Penn State Berks Campus to explore that trail. Watch for Great Blue Herons along Tulpehocken Creek and maybe a few other early signs of summer. This is a rerun of March 12 hike that rain and snow cancelled!
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Berks Leisure Area
DIRECTIONS: Berkshire Blvd past Fox Movie Theater, at the stop sign turn right onto Tulpehocken Road, then left into the parking lot, just after Country Meadows.
GPS: 1901 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-750-2748
4 Easy miles
This hike will be mostly in the woods. Possible lunch stop afterwards. Call leader for more details.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Conrad Weiser Middle School and carpool to hike start.
Directions: From Sinking Spring, head west on Rte 422 through Wernersville. Just before you get to Robesonia, turn right onto C.W. School Road, and right again to parking lot. If you get to Ozgood’s, you went too far.
GPS: 347 Penn Avenue, Robesonia
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-507-5600
4 Easy miles
The Wyomissing Park System is comprised of over 350 acres and is easily accessible. Mr. Ferdinand Thun purchased the land and structures on both sides of the Wyomissing Creek in 1929. We are going to walk along the stream through the pine forest and loop back to the Museum. This is a beautiful, easy walk.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Reading Museum
Directions: Heading south from Penn Avenue in West Reading, 5th Avenue becomes Museum Road. Turn right on Parkside Drive South, and right again into museum parking lot.
GPS: 500 Museum Road, Reading
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-698-6784
5 Moderately Difficult miles
Join our group as we hike through some of the well-marked trails of the Monocacy Hill’s 428 acres. We will be going down to the creek with the charming waterfall and up to the peak with the beautiful views of the valley. We may also go by landmarks like the never-used railroad trestle and the homestead of Sallie Shirey. Hiking boots and poles are recommended as the climb is a bit rocky. For those who don’t wish to climb to the peak, an alternative path that meets up on the other side is a possibility.
Lunch at Vincenzo’s after hike https://www.vincenzosristorante.org/ 1333 Old Swede Rd, Douglassville 610-689-8000.
Meeting place: 9:30 AM in Geiger Rd parking lot. Parking in lot is limited – you may need to park on the road leading to the lot or around the corner – but always on the side next to the recreation area. Do not park across the street where there are residents’ houses.
Directions: From 422 coming from Reading use the jug-handle to turn left onto Limekiln Rd. Turn right onto Monocacy Hill Rd, right again onto Geiger Rd and right into the parking lot.
GPS: 54 Geiger Rd, Douglassville [40.280955, -75.754068]
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-468-5039
4-5 Easy miles
We will follow the trail with a short detour near the end to my house for lunch. We will have food but you can bring your own. Rain will cancel the hike.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Berks Leisure Area
Directions: Berkshire Blvd. past Fox Theater. At stop sign turn RIGHT. Then LEFT into parking Lot.
GPS: 1901 Tulpehocken Rd. Wyomissing
For more information and further directions, contact: 484-557-7854
5 Moderate miles
We will hike the northern shore of the reservoir and maybe see some Virginia bluebells blooming. We will be hiking from the Red Trail parking lot on Knights Road. Parking is limited.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Weis Market parking lot in Oley to carpool. Share costs.
Directions: From Breezy Corners, go east on Rte 73. At Friedensburg Road traffic light, turn left, go past service station and turn left into shopping center parking lot.
GPS: 61 King's Plaza, Oley
For more information and further directions, contact: 484-948-5084
5 Moderate miles
A jaunt through the woods in early Spring. In and around trails through old orchard and up the mountain. Very steep climb concludes trip to the top.
Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Antietam Lake trailhead parking lot
Directions: Take Carsonia Avenue from Mt. Penn to Stony Creek Mills. At stop sign, bear slight left onto Antietam Road. Halfway up hill, turn left onto Angora Rd and proceed to trailhead on left.
GPS: 306 Angora Road, Reading
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-505-9397 please text
4 miles
Hike the Middle Creek and Elders Run Trails (loop) from the Laurel Drive parking lot. Easy walk along the scenic Middle Creek to Elders Run Trail on a former trolley bed. Elders Run Trail is a strenuous gravel uphill trail to the top of the ridge and then back down through the woods. We’ll pass the remains of the former Game Commission headquarters built in the 1930’s. Then it’s an easy trail through the forest back to the parking lot. Some areas are rocky and may be muddy. Hiking boots and poles recommended. Rain cancels.
Meeting place: 1:00 p.m. at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Laurel Drive Parking Lot.
NOTE: This was originally a morning start until MCWM told us it’s turkey season and we can only hike at 1:00 or on Sunday. Orange shirt or vest recommended.
Directions: Take 222 to Denver then take Steinmetz Road/Mt Airy Road to Forest Hill Road. Turn right on Forest Hill Road, then left on Kleinfeltersville Road and another left onto Laurel Road. Parking lot is about 1⁄4 mile on the left.
GPS: 399 Laurel Road, Newmanstown
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-636-9815
5 Moderate miles
The hike will be a mix of trails along the creek and in the hills in the valley. We'll cross the last covered bridge inside a major city. [Trip costs 1-way: 53 mi, toll EZ $5.50, toll noEZ $11.60]
Meeting place: 9:00 a.m. – Carpool from Boscov’s East parking lot. Share costs.
Direwctions to Northwestern Stables: From Boscov’s/Exeter, go west on 422 to I-176 (Morgantown Expressway), then south to the PA turnpike, and east on I-76. At Valley Forge stay on turnpike (I-276). Take Exit 333/Norristown onto I-476 toward Chester. Keep right 4/10 mile and take Germantown Pike 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Northwestern Ave.
GPS: 120 W. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-223-4568 or 610-208-0201
7+ Moderate miles
We will start & end on Old Church Road. There will be hills and one real long hill. We will be on the mountain and come back by an easy trail along route 183. Rain may cancel the hike.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Old Church Road Parking Lot.
Directions: From Rte 222 north, take Rte 183 north (Bernville Road) for about 6 miles. Turn left onto Old Church Road. Parking will be on left after turn.
GPS: Old Church Road, Robesonia
For more information and further directions, contact: 484-557-7854
Approx 5 Moderate miles
We will hike some of the old trails in the now closed Kaercher Creek County Park. We will see 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. There are multiple options for lunch afterwards—group choice.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Kaercher Creek Boat Launch parking area
Directions: Take Rt. 61 N. to Hamburg. Bear right onto 4th Street. At third traffic light, turn right onto State Street (old Rte 22). Proceed about 1 mile and turn right onto driveway into the former park, across from the old Hamburg Center. Look for the white and red sign for the Hamburg Soccer Association.
GPS: 3501Old Rte22, Hamburg
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-921-3252 or 610-451-5380 on the day of the hike.
5 Moderate Miles
Spring into spring while enjoying Antietam Lake and the surrounding falls. Starting at the Angora Road Trailhead, we will take the lower muddy trail to view the scenic falls to the Seidel Road Trailhead. We will then check out the Stone Walled Creek area which was originally the Hinnershitz Farm, barn, grist mill, and basin. The return will be on the drier upper trail. Expect mud so waterproof boots and poles are recommended. Optional lunch after the hike. Rain cancels.
Meeting place: 9:00am at the Antietam Lake Trailhead parking lot. Park in the larger lot.
Directions: Take Carsonia Avenue from Mount Penn to Stony Creek. At end of Carsonia Avenue at stop sign take a slight left onto Antietam Road. Halfway up hill make the left onto Angora Road. Follow curved road and proceed to Antietam Lake Trailhead parking lot on left side.
GPS: 306 Angora Road (40.3564372, -758736809)
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-914-1357
