Short hike listed in invitation sent to club members. See details in invitation!
BCHC is a hiking club that is located in Berks County, PA. The club was first organized in the Fall of 1921. This is the official club site. Anyone is welcome to attend our hikes. We list weekly hikes that range from short easy strolls to strenuous hikes. The type of hike depends on the leaders that volunteer to fill our quarterly schedules. This site lists some of the recent scheduled weekly Saturday hikes. Click on Web Version at bottom of mobile view to see membership information.
General Club Facts:
- Berks Community Hiking Club
- 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
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Saturday October 8, 2022 - Wyomissing Park
5 easy miles
Different terrains, a “walk in the park.”
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at parking lot close to Wawa on Lancaster Avenue
Directions: Drive west on Lancaster Ave. through Shillington. After passing WAWA at Museum Road, turn right into parking lot.
GPS: Approx. 2220 Lancaster Pike, Reading
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-698-6784
Friday, August 26, 2022
Saturday October 1, 2022 - Nolde Park
6-7 Moderate Miles
Be prepared for mud if weather has been wet.
Meeting Place: 9:30 a.m. at Church Road parking lot.
Directions: South on Rte 625, right on Church Road, approx. 1⁄2 mile on left.
For more information or further instructions, contact: 610-763-2808 or 484-824-2740
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Saturday September 24, 2022 - Lancaster County Backroads Hike
4.5 miles
This will be a loop hike on the back roads which have some moderate hills. Steady rain cancels. Maybe lunch at Shady Maple.
1st Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. behind the Dairy Queen on Route 724 in Kenhorst. Carpool to St. John’s Center on Rte 625 south of Bowmansville, approx. 12 miles.
2nd Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at St John’s Center Lutheran Church
GPS: 599 Reading Road, East Earl
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-750-4097
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Saturday September 17, 2022 - Saucon Rail Trail
6 Miles
This is a level, fine gravel trail. Lunch at Braveheart Highland Pub afterwards for those interested.
1st Meeting place: 9:00a.m. behind McDonald’s left of Walmart, 5372 Allentown Pike, Temple
2nd Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Water St. Park, Hellertown. We will meet at the Pavilion in the Park.
Directions: Head north on US-222 toward Allentown and get on I-78 East. Take exit 67 / Rte 412towards Hellertown. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp. Once on Main Street in Hellertown, look for Water St. and turn right, about one block. If you get to McDonald's, you went too far.
GPS: 90 West Water Street, Hellertown
For more information or further directions, contact: 484-284-0946 (2nd leader coordinating 1st meeting place phone: 610-468-5039)
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Saturday September 10, 2022 - Bartrum Trail
4-5 moderate miles
Hike from Hamburg Park to Bartram Trail via Schuylkill River Trail and return. Please bring lunch, it is a beautiful park and there are pavilions for dining. Please call if weather looks iffy.
1st Meeting place: 9:40 a.m. (please be prompt) at Redner’s, Leesport
2nd Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Hamburg Community Park, Park Road, Hamburg
Directions: From Rte 61 take slight right onto N 4th St. Continue to follow N 4th St past theintersection with old US 22. Turn left onto Island St. Island St becomes Park Road.
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-796-7602
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Saturday September 3, 2022 - Blue Marsh / Dog Beach & Switchback Trail
4+ Easy miles
NOTE: County Welfare Road is closed.
The hike will begin at the Stilling Basin off Palisades Road with a .35-mile switchback at the beginning. There
will be some moderate hills.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at top lot at the Stilling Basin Blue Marsh. If you don’t want to do the .35-mile beginning switchback, go to the bottom lot at the dam and wait for us.
Directions: County Welfare Road is closed. Take 183 North. At the CVS, turn left onto Christina Drive. At stop sign continue straight onto Upper Van Reed Road. Bear right to Rebers Bridge Road. At stop sign turn left then right to continue on Rebers Bridge Road. Turn right onto Palisades Road. The Stilling Basin will be on your left.
GPS: 1280 Palisades Drive, Leesport
For more information or further directions, contact: 484-557-7854
Saturday, July 23, 2022
Saturday August 27, 2022 - Antietam / Mt Penn Hike
5 moderate miles
A jaunt through the woods, postponed from 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 leftonto Antietam Road. Halfway up hill, turn left onto Angora Rd and proceed to trailhead on left.
GPS: 306AngoraRoad,Reading
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-505-9397 please text
Monday, July 18, 2022
Monday, July 11, 2022
Saturday August 13, 2022 - Ferndale Trail & Gravity Trail
6 Strenuous miles
We will be utilizing the entire Ferndale Trail beginning at Antietam Lake and ending at Drenkle Field. Of course, this isn’t the end of the hike. We then head to the tower, and on to Rotary Park where we connect with the Gravity Trail to return to our starting point. Almost entirely shaded but with lots of hills.
Meeting place: 9:30 AM at Antietam Lake, the large lot on the bend at the lake
Directions: Take Carsonia Avenue from Mt. Penn to Stony Creek Mills. At stop sign, bear slight left onto Antietam Road. Halfway up hill before the dam, turn left onto Angora Rd and proceed to trailhead on left.
GPS: 306 Angora Road on Google, not Mapquest [40.356368, -75.873709 on Google and Mapquest]
For morew information or further directions, contact: 610-850-1855
Monday, July 4, 2022
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Saturday July 30, 2022 - Enola Low Grade Trail - Quarryville Section
4-5 Easy miles
The trail is over 26 miles long so we will not be doing it all this day. We'll walk west for a couple of miles, turn around and walk east for a couple of miles.
1st Meeting place: 8a.m.at Ollie’s Outlet, 2251 Lancaster Pike, Shillington, to carpool. Leave at 8:08 and drive 31 minutes to Intercourse Fire Company for breakfast.
Directions: South on US-222 to Rte 340E, past Bird-in-Hand and go through Intercourse. Turn onto Shirk Road, the Fire Company will be on the left.
GPS: 10 N. Hollander Road, Intercourse
After breakfast we will drive 23 min. to Bushong Road Trailhead.
Directions: South on US-222, through Lancaster, east on 372 to Trailhead.
GPS: 112 Bushong Road, Quarryville
Foir more information or further information, contact: 610-562-8680 or 484-515-8001 or email Mercedes.Jurkiewicz@gmail.com
Monday, June 20, 2022
Saturday July 23, 2022 - Blue Marsh
4-5 Moderate miles
We will have refreshing lake views while hiking some of the trails in this local recreational park. Rain cancels.
Meeting place: 9:00 a.m. at Blue Marsh Visitor’s Center
Directions: Head north on 183. Just before Plum Creek Farm Market, turn left on Palisades to Visitor’s Center on the right.
GPS: 1268PalisadesDrive, Leesport
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-926-3452
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Saturday July 16, 2022 - Nolde Park
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
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Saturday July 9, 2022 - Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
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
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Saturday July 2, 2022 - Neversink Mountain
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