Approx 5 miles
Some major hills. Hike will be on roads that are unpaved and paved. Steady rain or snow cancels. Lunch afterward to be determined. This hike is not for those who don’t like hills.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Redner’s in Leesport, then drive 1 mile to hike location.
Directions: From Reading, go north on Rte 61 to Leesport
GPS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-750-4097
Easy to Moderate 4 miles
We will hike the Dog Lake and Switchback Trails.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Stilling Basin - Upper lot near the basin
Directions: From Route 183 north, turn left at the CVS onto W. Leesport Road. Turn right onto County Welfare Road. At stop sign, turn left onto Palisades Road, then right into the Stilling Basin
For more information or further directions, contact: Cell: 484-557-7854
5 moderately difficult miles (easier alternative)
Join our group as we hike once again through some of the well-marked trails of Monocacy Hill’s 428 acres. We will go down to the creek with the charming waterfall and up to the peak with beautiful views of the valley. We may also go by landmarks like the never-used railroad trestle and the homestead site of Sallie Shirey. Hiking boots/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 afterward, 1333 Old Swede Rd, Douglassville, 610-689-8000, https://www.vincenzosristorante.org.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. in Geiger Rd parking lot. Parking in lot is limited – if parking on the road, park on the side next to the recreation area, NOT across the street at residents’ houses.
Directions: From 422 coming from Reading use the jughandle to turn left onto Limekiln Rd. Turn right onto Monocacy Hill Rd, right again onto Geiger Rd and right into the parking lot.
GPS:42GeigerRd,DouglassvillePA19518 [40.280955,-75.754068]
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-468-5039
Approx 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
Approx 5-6 miles
A nice walk with water views, mostly level with some ups and downs.
1st Meeting place: 9:00 a.m. at Weis Shopping Center in Oley, along Rt. 73. Carpool to trailhead if you can as there is not a lot of parking space at the park.
Directions: From Reading take Pricetown Road (Rte 12) to Breezy Corners and turn right on Rte 73 east. At Friedensburg Road traffic light, turn left, go past service station and turn left into shopping center parking lot.2nd Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot off of Deep Creek Road/ Snyder Road
GPS: 61 King’s Plaza, Oley
2nd Meeting place: 9:30 am, parking lot off of Deep Creek Road/ Snyder Road
Directions: Leaving Oley Weis, turn left towards Boyertown follow Route 73 to Route 663 north. Stay on Rte 663 until you make a right onto Deep Creek Road. Follow Deep Creek Road, make a right at Snyder Road, go 1/10 mile and turn left into parking lot.
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-223-6952
Approximately 5 easy miles
We’ll have some hills and roads and sidewalks. Steady rain or snow cancels. Lunch to be determined afterward for those who wish to join.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Redner’s in Leesport & drive a mile to hike location. DIRECTIONS: From Reading, go north on Rte 61 to Leesport
GPS: 5471 Pottsville Pike, Leesport
For more information or further directions, please contact; 610-750-4097
4 or 6 miles.
This is a different hike than January 20 although both hikes start at the same place. It is not the Oren Holl loop; it is an in-and-out hike. Be aware this is a mountain biking trail. Wear orange to be safe.
Meeting place: 9:30 am at Holl’s Trailhead off Highland Road.
Directions: From State Hill Road turn left onto Brownsville Road. Turn right onto Highland Road at Spitlers Collision (approx. 1.7 miles). The road is not maintained and very rutty. The trailhead is on the right.
For more information or further directions, please contact: 484-557-7854
5-6 miles, moderate to difficult
We will start the hike on Church Road. Rain or snow cancels.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. Church Road parking lot
Directions: From the traffic light at Rt. 724 and 625 in Kenhorst, proceed South on Rt. 625, 7/10 mile, turn right onto Church Rd and proceed 3/10 mile. Parking lot is on the left.
For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-223-6952
6 difficult miles
This hike begins with lots of mountain to climb, the objective being the Port Clinton Fire Tower. The Appalachian Trail is used briefly but Game Land roads are mostly traveled. Footing should not be too bad. After finding the fire tower, we retrace our steps for the downhill return. Best to wear orange. Snow, rain, or deep snow on trails cancels.
Meeting place: 10:00 a.m. at Game Lands parking lot on Swamp Pike Road.
Note: Pine Swamp Rd is a semi-circle. It intersects Hawk Mountain Rd twice. These directions
access the parking area from Pine Swamp Rd's western most intersection with Hawk Mountain Rd.
Directions #1: From northbound Route 143, turn left on Hawk Mountain Rd (Sunoco station at inter- section). Continue on Hawk Mountain Rd past the first sign for Pine Swamp Rd to roughly the base of the mountain where Pine Swamp Rd will be seen to the left. There is a white house at this intersection. If you start climbing the mountain, you went too far.
Directions #2: From northbound Route 61, turn right onto Route 895. In Drehersville, turn right onto Hawk Mountain Rd. Climb the mountain, pass the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, go down the other side. Pretty much at the base of the mountain with a white house on the right, turn right onto Pine Swamp Rd.
FINAL Directions: From the westernmost intersection of Hawk Mountain Rd and Pine Swamp Rd, go about 1/2 mile on Pine Swamp Rd. Turn right onto a gravel lane. Go 1/10 mile to the parking lot.
GPS: Approximately [40.626004, -75.952234]
For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-850-1855
? miles
We will take a pleasant hike through Wyomissing Park.
Meeting place: 9:30 am a.m. at Wyomissing Quarry Soccer Fields parking lot
Directions: Drive west on Lancaster Avenue through Shillington. Go past the WAWA at Museum Road and turn right into the soccer field parking lot.
GPS: approx. 2220 Lancaster Pike, Reading
For more information or further directions, please contact:484-824-2740
Approx. 4 miles, very hilly
Hills are quite moderate but, there are a lot. Very pleasant walk through the woods. Be aware this is a mountain biking trail. WEAR ORANGE TO BE SAFE.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at Holl’s Trailhead off Highland Road.
Directions: From State Hill Road turn left onto Brownsville Road. Turn right onto Highland Road at Spitlers Collision (approx. 1.7 miles) The road is not maintained and very rutty. The trailhead is on the right.
For more information or further directions, please contact: 484-557-7854
6-7 miles, rated “vigorous” due to hills and distance
This is a “lollipop hike” taking Hopewell Big Woods Trail into French Creek State Park and the Six Penny loop. There are no restroom facilities at the parking lot. WEAR ORANGE as the hike starts in State Game Lands. Frozen precipitation actively falling at 9:30 or temps below freezing with icy roads cancels this hike. Bring lunch & a chair and/or a group can go out to lunch afterwards.
Meeting place: 10:00 a.m.
Directions: From Birdsboro, take 724 going East, for 1.3 miles. Turn R onto Center Road, (just before Fork & Ale), travel 9/10 mile to parking lot on left, next to a municipal building.
GPS: 165 Center Road, Douglassville, PA 19518 [40.247200, -75.792440]
Foir more information or further directions, please contact: 484-797-4234 or 570-706-8541
If you need to contact someone before the hike, keep in mind that many places where we hike have no cell reception. Voice mail is not received until well after the hike. Your best bet is to send a text message since texting uses a different technology and is more likely to get through.
Approximately 4 miles ....good pace (rain/snow cancels)
To start we will hike up the forest center to top from Sawmill Parking, continuing back down and up a couple times ... about 90 min. Hiking shoes/boots are best suited for Nolde.
Meeting place: Leaving Sawmill parking lot at 9:30a.m.
Directions: About 1 mile south from Philadelphia Avenue (RT 724) and New Holland Road (RT 625) traffic light, passing Church Road to Sawmill Parking entrance on the right.
For more information or further directions, please contact: 610-207-2308
Approx. 6 miles (3 miles out, 3 miles back)
We’ll walk along the shore of Lake Ontelaunee. Relatively easy, flat hike. Will be canceled in the event of
extreme cold, rain, or heavy snow. Lunch optional afterward at Rico Casa, 600 Shoemaker Ave., Shoemakersville (on Rte 61 across the street from Sheetz).
Meeting place: 9:30 am at Parking Area Ontelaunee Trails
Directions: From Reading, take US-222 north to Moselem Springs, then go west on 662. Alternatively, take PA-61 north to Shoemakersville, then go east on 662.
GPS: 1561-1599 Moselem Spring Rd, Hamburg
GPS: 40.500823,-75.888170
For more information or further directions, contact: 412-445-7319 or 412-445-7359
Join our "traditional" cool weather hike along the Maiden Creek and country roads in the hills near Lenhartsville. This is a moderate 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 afterward to be decided by the group. Extreme cold ( <20 degrees F ), ice or snow storm cancels.
Meeting place: 10:00 AM at the rear of the side parking lot of C.J. Hummels, Rt.143 Lenhartsville.
GPS: 28 Willow St, RT.143 in downtown Lenhartsville.
For more information or further directions, contact: 610-921-3252, or 610-451-5380 on day of hike.
4-5 moderate miles
We will hike on mostly gradual hills, but with a few short steep ones as we traverse Nolde Forest. Rain,
snow, or ice cancels. You can pack a lunch and eat at one of the picnic tables if the weather is warm and
sunny or do lunch out on your own.
Meeting place: 9:30 a.m. at the Sawmill Parking lot along Route 625.
Directions: From Route 724, turn south at the intersection of Route 625 (New Holland Road). Pass Church Road on the right. The Sawmill Parking Lot is a short distance past this on the right.
For more information and further directions, contact: 610-763-8376
