50 Hikes In Western Pennsylvania

A bestselling guide by the dean of Pennsylvania hikers.

Veteran trailblazer and outdoor activist Tom Thwaites, the author of two other Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes guides to Pennsylvania, has completely revised and updated this guide to the central portion of Penn's Woods. A wonderful area of wild country and wildlife, this region offers a vast network of maintained trail systems, yet is nevertheless lightly traveled. The author has added 11 new hikes to reflect changing trail conditions, and has re-hiked and checked each of the remaining hikes for this fourth edition. Each hike includes a topographical map, information on mileage, rise, and difficulty, and narrative on sights you'll see along the way.

A guide to 50 hikes and trails in the Keystone State. In this all-new first edition, hiking expert Matthew Cathcart (coauthor of 50 Hikes in the Catskills) delivers 50 hikes, walks, and day trips all throughout Pennsylvania. The hiking trails of Pennsylvania offer both novice and experienced hikers a tempting variety of natural terrain and human history. Sites featured in this comprehensive guide to the state’s offerings include the Whiskey Springs Rock Mazes, McConnells Mill State Park, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, and the Lehigh Gap Appalachian Trail Loop.

This edition of a classic hiking guide to one of the most-visited regions of Pennsylvania includes hikes at North Mountain, Valley Forge, Saint Anthony's Wilderness, the Delaware Water Gap, Gettysburg, and more.

A revised 5th edition of a classic hiking guide to one of the most-visited regions of Pennsylvania. Eastern Penssylvania offers a wealth of hiking opportunities: North Mountain is still wild and remote; the popular Poconos offer miles of litttle-traveled trails; and the Appalachian Trail follows South and Blue mountains on its journey across the state. This thoroughly revised and updated fourth edition includes hikes ranging from 4 to 22 miles in length. Each hike description includes step-by-step directions, a topo map, information on hiking time, distance and rise, and knowledgeable commentary on the human and natural history you'll encounter.

From a city of smokestacks to a city of culture, technology, and trees, Pittsburgh's revitalized city parks, abundant state parks, tranquil state forests, and enhanced riverfronts offer endless opportunities to hike and explore. 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Pittsburgh has something for explorers of every ability and interest. Diverse hikes include Frick Park, which can be combined with a visit to the Frick Art and Historical Center (free); Ohiopyle State Park, with views of the beautiful Youghiogheny River and Cucumber Falls; Beechwood Farms, where kids and adults can opt to participate in nature programs and walks; and Mt. Davis Natural Area, where hikers can stand on the highest point in Pennsylvania. History buffs will love Bushy Run and its museum and other historical site/hike combinations. Those seeking solitude will relish time spent walking in lovely Todd Sanctuary or one of the scenic and tranquil destinations of Forbes State Forest. Beautiful river, lake, waterfall, mountain, wildflower, and historical walks are all in your backyard. From the city's riverbanks to the Laurel Highland mountains of the south and southwest to the lakes and meadows of the north and northwest, every hiker will find trails to their liking in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Pittsburgh.

Gary Ashbaugh - I just finished reading your book. Boy, did that ever turn the clock back. I think that described life in those small towns to a tee. Congratulations on getting it published. TOWN and TIME ... My cycle of life began January 12, 1945, seven months before the end of WWII, in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, a borough of some 800 souls, where generations of my father's family had lived and died. Emlenton, which lies partially isolated in the hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, offered few outside distractions, so we relied heavily on our imaginations and the natural resources that surrounded us. The swimming holes along Richey Run Creek, the Indian cave below the town cemetery, and long hikes along the railroad tracks that followed alongside the majestic Allegheny River offered plenty of adventure and diversion. Our lives revolved around paper routes, baseball, pin ball machines, hotdogs, French fries, 5&10 stores, dances, and dating. The freezing cold winters involved basketball, deer hunting and fur trapping. A youthful fertile mind, interested in science, led to rocketry, homemade motors, crystal radios, moonshine, and motor scooters that provided a lifetime of memories. The stories shared are sometimes funny, poignant, and often laced with mischief. Emlenton seemed to be magical, and those times now seem idyllic. This is where I grew up, and this book is about the time, the place, the people, and the events that formed my coming of age in the 1950s.

An illustrated guidebook that describes forty-nine natural places in Pennsylvania to explore and enjoy. In this sequel to the popular guidebook Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania, Marcia Bonta describes forty-nine new outstanding natural places in Pennsylvania, featuring their old-growth forests, scenic rivers, spectacular waterfalls, rare botanical localities, outstanding wetlands, unique geological formations, endangered ecosystems, and special birdwatching areas. The book is divided into three sections--Eastern, Central, and Western Pennsylvania--and covers unique natural features in state parks, state forests, private nature sanctuaries, state game lands, county parks, environmental education centers, and a National Military Park. Each chapter discusses the flora and fauna of the site, as well as its unique features and also contains historical information so that people can learn about Pennsylvania's natural heritage without necessarily visiting the places. Bonta gives precise directions on how to reach each area, most of which are easily accessible from the major population centers of the state. In addition, she offers complete information on each site, including the best trails to follow, telephone numbers, hours, availability of group tours, and admission charges. A special section on sources and the detailed bibliography give readers more information on how to obtain maps and books that will add to their appreciation and knowledge of the places and natural history covered in the book. Most of the outings are not too strenuous and are ideal for families and groups of all kinds and ages. Aimed at a broad audience of naturalists, both armchair and active, More Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania will also interest birdwatchers, hikers, campers, fishermen, hunters, canoeists, and wildflower and plant enthusiasts. Anyone who is interested in outdoor Pennsylvania can use this book to discover and enjoy the natural beauty of the Keystone State.