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

Thursday, September 1, 2022

Saturday October 15, 2022 - It's a Wedding and a Hike!

 Short hike listed in invitation sent to club members. See details in invitation!

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


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