Saturday April 25, 2020 - Schuylkill River Trail

[Ed. This hike was quickly improvised because the original hike for this date was an excursion to Philadelphia. That hike will be rescheduled for a friendlier time.]

Hike was canceled.

Meeting place: 9:00 am, parking lot at Rt 724 & Gibraltar Rd & Proudfoot Dr (near Cedar Hill Flowers)

GPS: 699 Old River Road, Birdsboro

For more information and further directions, contact: 610-823-9023

Saturday April 18, 2020 - Pinnacle Hike via Pinnacle Side Trail

7-8+ difficult miles

Join us on an In and Out hike to the Pinnacle. We will hike Reservoir Road to the Appalachian Trail. Get ready for hills and rocks on this hike that may exceed 7 to 8 miles.

Meeting place: 9:30 am, Hamburg Reservoir Parking area, end of Reservoir Rd. 

Directions: 61N to Hamburg, bear right onto South 4th St., go approx. 1 mile, then turn right onto State Street, travel approx. 2.2 miles then turn left onto Reservoir Rd, continue for 1.1 miles to the parking area

GPS: 402-450 Reservoir Road, Lenhartsville

For more information and further directions, contact: 610-301-4342

Saturday April 11, 2020 - Blue Marsh Hike

Approx. 5 easy miles

Hike with leader on this spring hike as we hike over to the boat launch area and back. Lunch later of course!

Meeting place: 10:00 am, Blue Marsh Spillway parking area

Directions: 183 North, left onto County Welfare Rd., right onto Palisades Drive, left to Blue Marsh Lake area toll gate

For more information and further directions, contact: 484-824-2740

Saturday April 4, 2020 - Nolde Forest

Original hike  was 5 moderate miles - Hike cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.

Saturday March 28, 2020 - Warwick Furnace

4 to 5 moderate miles

This will be a road hike with very little traffic and moderate hills in a very charming valley in Chester County, near Warwick Park. See the newly opened and recently excavated 18th century furnace.

Meeting place: 9:30 am at Warwick Park to carpool, as parking at site is limited 
GPS: 191 County Park Road, Pottstown

DIRECTIONS: Rt. 176 S to Morgantown, East on Rt. 23 for 9 miles to Knauertown. Turn right onto County Park Rd (between houses in the village), proceed 1⁄4 mile to park entrance on left, turn left past office to lower parking lot.

For more information & further directions, contact: 484-948-5084

Saturday March 21, 2020 - French Creek State Park

Approx. 6 moderate miles

Follow Kathy as she leads this hike on the green-blazed Lenni Lenape Trail. This trail is rocky and hilly, although some say it is the easiest trail in French Creek S.P. Tick spray suggested. Rain or snow cancels.

Meeting place: 9:30 am at Hopewell Visitor Center off Rt. 345.
GPS: 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson

DIRECTIONS: East on Rt. 422 to Rt. 345 South to Birdsboro. Continue on Rt. 345 then turn right onto Mark Bird Lane

For more information & further directions, contact: 610-603-9461

Saturday March 14, 2020 - Valley Forge National Historic Park

Approx. 6 easy miles

As you hike the trails try to imagine Gen. Washington’s winter encampment of 1777-1778 when 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what became the 4th largest city in America. Few examples of the original 1500 log huts and fortifications remain. This hike is on mostly paved trails among rolling hills and is beautiful hike on a sunny day. Rain, snow, sleet or ice cancels.

1st Meeting place: 8:30 am at Boscov’s East (east end of lot), Bus. Rt. 422 East, Exeter 
2nd Meeting place: 10:00 am, Valley Forge Visitor’s Center
GPS: 1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia

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

Saturday March 7, 2020 - Middle Creek Hike #2

3-5 miles (depending on conditions)

Will it be another “meander in the mud” hike or will there be snow around? Maybe we will see snow geese as they are on their annual migration.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at Middle Creek Visitor’s Center
GPS: 100 Museum Road, Stevens

DIRECTIONS: From Rt. 272 South, take Rt. 897 North 14 miles to Kleinfeltersville, then first left after stop sign onto Hopeland Rd, then 2 miles to the Visitor’s Center.

For more information or further directions, contact: 610-589-5575 or cell – 610-507-5600

Saturday February 29, 2020 - Crow's Nest Preserve Hike

4 to 5 moderate miles, circle hike

Join hike leader Herb for a leap year winter hike through the fields and woods at this nearby natural area. We will stop at the Natural Lands Trust Visitor Center to get warm. Dress for the weather and wear waterproof footwear as the land alongside French Creek can be muddy.

Meeting place: 10:00 am at Crow’s Nest Visitor’s Center
GPS: 210 Piersol Road, Elverson

For more information & further directions, contact: 484-252-9493 or email herbvanhorn@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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
2nd 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

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