Dec 1, 2022 - Welsh Mountain Preserve

MARK G will lead a 4 miles hike of easy to moderate difficulty in the WELSH MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE in the memory of Herb Van Horn. This hike will be in two parts. The first part will be an easy one half mile ADA loop ending back at the parking lot. The second part will continue for another 3.5 miles utilizing the blue trail mostly. The Lancaster Conservancy limits a non-registered group hike to 15 hikers or 5 vehicles parked at Preserve’s parking lot. Please pre-register for this hike by calling or emailing the hike leader. 

MEET: 10:00 A.M. @ Northeast corner of Clocktower Plaza in Morgantown, next to Zou’s Garden Restaurant. We will carpool to the Preserve’s parking lot. 

GPS ADDRESS: 2846 Main St, Morgantown, PA 19543 Coordinates: 40.15196599462299, -75.89901703619125 

DIRECTIONS FROM READING: Take US-422 East toward Pottstown. After 3 miles take an exit to I-176 South toward Morgantown. After 9.5 miles take exit 2 toward Clocktower Plaza. This exit will terminate at the intersection with PA-23. Go through the intersection for another 450 ft., take a right. The Clocktower Plaza is straight ahead. Park by Zou’s Garden Restaurant

NOTE: Inclement weather cancels this hike. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Mark G. - 484-467-8976, mgonchar@ieee.org to register or questions

Nov 24, 2022 - Elverson

JODY will lead an easy 3.75 mile hike in Elverson Borough. We will mainly be walking on sidewalks and macadam and gravel trails. Please wear orange for visibility. We will stroll through the Elverson cemetery and look at some of the old gravestones and then follow the bed of the Hogback Railroad, part of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad, to the Wildflower Trail, which leads to the new community of Blue Rock. Near the end of the walk, we will stop at Jody's house for light refreshments, and those who are interested may go next door to say Hi to Clyde. There is one long but not very steep hill.

MEET: 10:00 A.M. at the Livingood Park parking lot on Rte. 82 South.
(Google 117 South Chestnut Street, Elverson, PA 19520). Park in side lot. There is a porta potti at the back of this lot. Happy Thanksgiving Day. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Jody 610-400-4660 with questions or in case of wet weather, or severe wind chills, to be sure hike is still on.

Nov 17, 2022 - Warwick Park

MERILEE will lead a hike in Warwick County Park. We'll take the Horse Shoe Trail onto the Charcoal Trail and then back to the Horse Shoe Trail along French Creek. These forests provided much of the raw timber used to make charcoal for the region's iron furnaces. We'll go to PA's only surviving Fink Truss, a pedestrian footbridge built in 1870. This hike will be 5-6 miles with a difficulty level of 4. There are 4 moderate hills. Lunch option is The Inn at St. Peter's Village. 

MEET: 9:30 AM at the parking lot for Warwick County Park, 382 County Park Rd., Pottstown, Pa. 19465 

DIRECTIONS: 222 S to 422 E to I-176 E exit toward Morgantown. Take exit 2 toward PA-10N/PA-23 E. Turn left onto PA-10 N /PA 23 E for 9.3 mi. turn right onto County Park Rd., turn left into Warwick County Park. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Merilee 610-750-3115 with questions

Nov 10, 2022 - Lebanon Valley Rail Trail

 KAY will lead a hike on the LEBANON VALLEY TRAIL from Cornwall (big barrel parking lot). Plan for an easy in and out hike on the Trail towards Mt. Gretna. Destination will be route 322, it is about 2 miles one way. 

1st MEET: 9:30 A.M. at Ollie’s parking lot to carpool. GPS: 2251 Lancaster Pike, Shillington. 

2nd MEET at Trailhead: 10:00 A.M. GPS: 119 Schaeffer Road, Lebanon 

TELEPHONE: Leader Kay 610-796-7602 with questions.

Nov 3, 2022 - Bordner Cabin

 LES will lead a hike of about 4 miles to the Bordner Cabin in Swatara State Park. This is a relatively flat hike along the scenic Swatara Creek. The creek is crossed via an unexpectedly magnificent curved bridge. The very interesting Bordner Cabin itself, was built by a high school shop teacher and his students, years ago. 

1st MEET: 9:00 AM @ Old Church Rd. parking lot of Blue Marsh Lake. 

2nd MEET: 10:00 AM @ Sand Siding Trailhead, Route 443.
DIRECTIONS: Take Route 443 west from Pine Grove. Continue past Route 81. Proceed another 3-4 miles. Look for the Twin Grove Campsite on the right. Immediately past the campsite look for a dirt road to the left and travel down this road to the parking area. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Les 610-850-1855 with questions.

Thursday Oct 27, 2022 - Swatara State Park

BEV will lead a moderate 4.5 mile hike on 3 mountain bike loops in Swatara State Park in Northern Lebanon County. We will hike section loops A, A1 and A2. We will meet at the trail head at the Mountain Bike complex (NOT Trout Run). 

MEET: 10:00 A.M. at State Park Lane trail head. NOTE: there are no facilities at the Mountain Bike trailhead; however, Trout Run does have facilities. Trout Run is on the right before State Park Lane. If you are going to stop at Trout Run, please allow extra time. 

DIRECTIONS: Interstate 78 to Interstate 81North. Exit at first Exit (Lickdale/Ft Indiantown Gap, Route 72). Left at light on top of exit. Left at the next light (North on route 72). Continue on Route 72 until it changes to Route 443 East. 0.9 miles to the entrance to State Park Lane, turn right, continue to the parking lot on the left. (The sign for State Park Lane is hard to see, it is opposite of Chapel Drive.) If you get to Twin Grove RV Resort, you went too far. 

If you come over the mountain and through Pine Grove, use 443 west. State Park Lane is on the left 2.4 miles after Twin Grove RV Resort. 

For those who use GPS, 0 Chapel Dr., Jonestown, PA 17038 should get you to the entrance to State Park Lane. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Bev 484 665-0196 or 610 603 6876c the day of the hike. 

RAIN AT 9:00 AM DAY OF HIKE CANCELS HIKE.

Thursday Oct 20, 2022 - Ontelaunee Lake

LES will lead a 2 part hike of about 5 total miles at Ontelaunee Lake. There are scenic relatively flat trails on this hike. Some ground may be lumpy, the grass may be long. Part one is approximately 3 miles, partly along the lake. We return to the parking area and head in the opposite direction on a 2 mile sojourn toward the headwaters of Peters Creek. 

MEET: 10:00 AM @ Maidencreek Rd, Maidencreek Township,
    approximately 40.460834, -75.899562
 

DIRECTIONS: Access begins from Route 73 between Routes 222 and 61. 

From Route 222 proceed west about 1/3 mile till Route 73 begins a long slow left bend. Do not follow Route 73 but go straight onto Calcium Rd. 

From Route 61 cross the dam, pass the lake, and pass the first road to the left, Calcium Rd. You cannot access Calcium Rd from this direction because a bridge is out. Instead stay on Route 73 as it bends right and take the first left, a hard left, which is the other end of Calcium Rd. 

Once on Calcium Rd, take the first right turn onto Maidencreek Rd. There are several parking areas along this road. Go about .8 mile to the first location with parking on both sides of the road. This is immediately prior to the bridge crossing Peter's Creek. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Les 610-850-1855 with questions.

Thursday Oct 13, 2022 - Swatara State Park

BEVERLY will lead a moderate 4.5 mile hike on 3 mountain bike loops in Swatara State Park in Northern Lebanon County. We will hike section loops A, A1 and A2. We will meet at the trail head at the Mountain Bike complex (NOT Trout Run). 

MEET: 10:00 A.M. at State Park Lane trail head. NOTE: there are no facilities at the Mountain Bike trailhead; however, Trout Run does have facilities. Trout Run is on the right before State Park Lane. If you are going to stop at Trout Run, please allow extra time. 

DIRECTIONS: Interstate 78 to Interstate 81North. Exit at first Exit (Lickdale/Ft Indiantown Gap, Route 72). Left at light on top of exit. Left at the next light (North on route 72). Continue on Route 72 until it changes to Route 443 East. 0.9 miles to the entrance to State Park Lane, turn right, continue to the parking lot on the left. (The sign for State Park Lane is hard to see, it is opposite of Chapel Drive.) If you get to Twin Grove RV Resort, you went too far. 

If you come over the mountain and through Pine Grove, use 443 west. State Park Lane is on the left 2.4 miles after Twin Grove RV Resort. For those who use GPS, 0 Chapel Dr., Jonestown, PA 17038 should get you to the entrance to State Park Lane. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Bev 484 665-0196 or 610 603 6876c the day of the hike. 

RAIN AT 9:00 AM DAY OF HIKE CANCELS HIKE

Thursday Oct 6, 2022 - Hopewell Lake

KAY will lead a fairly easy hike from Hopewell Lake to Scott’s Run Lake and return in FRENCH CREEK STATE PARK. Only 1 small hill. Mostly shady except for the dam breasts. 

MEET: 10:00 AM @ Hopewell boat launch. 

TELEPHONE: Leader Kay 610-796-7602 with questions or if weather looks iffy.