Pennsylvania flourishes with opportunities for hiking and other outdoor recreation. Hikers in western, central or eastern Pennsylvania can enjoy an excellent variety of hikes. Not only is Pennsylvania teeming with extensive hiking trails of different classifications, but also, canoeing, backpacking, birding, kayaking, white water rafting, skiing, fishing and hunting. A hiker will find terrain that ranges from easy, paved city park walks to the beauty of the mountains trails on a challenging hike.
Types
The Pennsylvania hiking clubs range from pure hiking organizations to outdoor recreation associations. The Philadelphia Trail Club and the Lancaster Hiking Club are pure hiking clubs, while the Explorers club of Pittsburgh is an outdoor adventure organization that includes hiking as well as other recreational sports. As a pure hiking club, The Philadelphia Trail Club provides opportunities to travel to other states and countries to hike famous trails such as the Peak District in England.
Size
Pennsylvania Hiking Clubs vary in size. Most, including the Philadelphia Trail Club are small with around 150 members. Clubs that include other recreational activities are larger and can have as many as 1,000 plus members.
The Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail
The Pennsylvania portion of the Appalachian Trail runs about 229 miles through eastern Pennsylvania. The trail follows the eastern side of the Allegheny Mountains to the Susquehanna River in the eastern section of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Trail Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club are just two of the many hiking clubs that help maintain and protect the trail.
State Park Trails
For hikers who enjoy an occasional solo hike, Pennsylvania State Parks offer a variety of trails. The park system trails lead hikers to stunning views of waterfalls, wetlands and old forests full with wildlife. Some trails are scenic or provide easy hiking. Others are self-guiding and educational trails. A few trails provide the hiker with rigorous exercise.
Each park office provides maps, trail guidelines and any self-guiding brochures specific to the park's own trail systems. The state park system also provides a variety of other recreational activities for the active hiker, as well as educational programs.
Club Outdoor Activities
Many of the Pennsylvania hiking clubs have schedules for multiple summer and winter sports beyond the regular scheduled hikes. The Allegheny Outdoor Club in northwestern Pennsylvania, for example, has biking, skiing and kayaking trips on their event schedule. Other clubs such as the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh include rock climbing, skiing, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, caving, cycling and backpacking in their schedules.
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