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March 2025
"Make your voice heard! Drastic federal funding and staffing cuts are having dire effects on important conservation and recreation work of agencies and organizations across the country. Your next adventure to cherished public lands may be in jeopardy. From the Allegheny National Forest and Valley Forge National Historical Park to the Appalachian and North Country National Scenic Trails, Pennsylvania is feeling the painful impacts of reckless executive branch decisions. So many programs are involved, it’s difficult to communicate the full scope of implications to activities and services critical to accessing, enjoying, and stewarding nature. Basic functions like forest management, weather forecasting, wildfire suppression, and pollution prevention are under siege and programs to fight climate change are subject to elimination. The KTA community believes in healthy air, clean water, and the protection of natural resources. Haphazard actions, detrimental to so many, have no precedence or place in America. If these recent developments are unacceptable to you, like they are to so many others, speak up and speak out by contacting your senators and congressional representatives. Thank you for your efforts." ~Brook Lenker, Executive Director
KTA President's Trailhead
"Spring is soon here! The maple sap flows here in the Poconos – a harbinger of a Pennsylvania spring yet to come.
I want to thank you for your efforts in furthering our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. At a pivotal grassroots level, each of you is making a difference. Whether through trail maintenance, volunteering with local hiking clubs, adding your voice to advocacy issues affecting our trails, or leading a local hike, we thank you." - Wayne Gross, President of the Board, Keystone Trails Association
2025 Trail Care Season: We're very excited to get our hands dirty, and see all you wonderful returning Trail Care veterans, as well as meet new volunteers! We're busy inventorying tools and PPE and collaborating with the Trail Care Committee on standardizing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for tool use and safety, as well as PPE requirements. We are also researching different methods of registration for Trail Care events, to mitigate issues encountered with Google Forms last year. Event sign-ups should be available for all events by the end of March. View our trail maintenance schedule here.
2025 Trail Care Roadshow: Plan to come out and meet Jenn and Al and other interesting trail maintenance folks, in a relaxed and fun setting, during KTA’s Trail Care Roadshow! During March, you’ll have three opportunities to find out, in person, what trail maintenance is really like, what to expect, and how easy it can be to get involved and make an impact. We’ll have brochures, handouts, and other first-hand information, as well as some giveaways. If you've volunteered before, we'd love to have you on hand to share some stories and why you love Trail Care! More info here. The dates are:
🍺 Friday 3/14 at Lindgren Brewing in Duncannon 4-9 pm (with a brewer-led hike to Hawk Rock beforehand!) 🍺 Friday 3/21 at Olde Bedford Brewing in Bedford, 5-9 pm 🍺 Friday 3/28 at New Trail Brewing in Williamsport, 4-9 pm
Trail Maintenance Training Academy April 4-6: Registration is open for this training weekend in Adams County, and 8 of 14 spots remain. Topics covered will include trail construction basics and best practices, water diversion, and risk management, as well as chainsaw sawyer/swamper safety. Meals and lodging included; sign up by March 24.
KTA Slackpack: Mid State Trail: Everett Region
Are you ready to conquer Pennsylvania's wildest footpath? Join us for an unforgettable weekend on the Mid State Trail with the Keystone Trails Association!
Don’t worry about the plans, the maps, meals, or your heavy pack. The KTA Slackpack Program takes care of all that. KTA will shuttle participants to the trailhead in the morning and back to base at the end of the day, and lead and sweep the group along the trail. All you have to carry is a day pack!
Activity sign-up for Spring Hiking Weekend has been incredibly popular since opening up in mid - January; despite offering many more activities than usual, numerous events are already full. Activity registration is required, and we encourage you to sign up for activities before you book your lodging to ensure there are activities still available that meet your interests.
🎉 Exciting News! The Keystone Trails Association has officially launched our Gear Loaner Program! 🥾
Are you looking to explore the great outdoors but don’t have the necessary gear? Look no further! Our Gear Loaner Program offers a variety of equipment to help you enjoy your adventures without the financial burden.
Enhance your preparedness to explore the outdoors. Know how to minimize your impact on nature and how to tend to injuries.
Join KTA for a Leave No Trace Level One Training in the foothills of the Allegheny National Forest on August 1-3, 2025. Participants will receive an internationally recognized certification for outdoor Leave No Trace instruction.
Take a Wilderness First Aid class with KTA November 1-2, 2025 near Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water. This training certification is valid for three years and includes adult CPR.
Apply for a KTA Mini-Grant
The KTA Grants-to-Clubs program funds KTA member organizations for projects beneficial to trails, their organization's vitality, and the practice of hiking (e.g., giving people a positive trail experience).
Sample projects may include (but aren't limited to):
Tools for trail maintenance
Materials for trail improvements (e.g., lumber for a bridge)
Trail signage
Van rental (e.g., van to shuttle participants or volunteers)
Facility rental costs (e.g., club events, exhibit space, etc.)
Food (e.g., for volunteers or club events)
Promotional materials for activities (stickers, brochures, advertising, t-shirts, etc.)
Insurance costs
Lodging and/or car rentals to attend KTA's November 15th Trail Club Symposium
The Spring 2025 round will award up to fifteen (15) $500 grants to qualifying organizations. Get additional details and complete the simple application by March 25, 2025 at kta-hike.org/grants.
KTA International Trips
Our participants shared their unforgettable Keystone Trails International Trip to St. John through beautiful haikus and stunning photos!
Each poem captures a moment of the breathtaking scenery and heartfelt connections made along the way. Here’s a glimpse of their creative expressions! Check out all of the Haikus here.
Interested in joining the next KTA International Fundraising Trip? Join us for an adventure to Wales in August!
Experience Welsh culture with KTA on a hiking adventure through the rugged mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the eclectic island of Anglesey. This trip is limited to 12 participants who will be preliminarily selected by a lottery. The trip is double occupancy only. For a chance to register, submit your name for the initial drawing, please complete the interest form linked here.
What are your Favorite Pennsylvania Hikes?
Keystone Trails Association would like to website content about favorite hikes, as suggested by our members, friends, and partners. Please take a few moments and share your highly recommended routes.
Join us for the Virginia Bluebell Appalachian Trail Hike on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2025! Experience the stunning bluebell wildflowers along the Appalachian and Conodoguinet Creek. This event celebrates the future of Scott Farm as a key hub for trail activities and conservation. Don’t miss this opportunity to appreciate a special place along the Kittatiny Ridge Register now to secure your spot!
KTA Loses a Friend
Keystone Trails Association grieves the lost of friend and supporter, James Hooper. Jim was devoted to nature and a committed hiker. He was a tireless advocate for development of the Mason Dixon Trail and was instrumental in its development and maintenance. His past nonprofit appointments included Chairman of the Adirondack Mountain Club Search & Rescue Team , President of The York Hiking Club, President of the Mason Dixon Trail Association. He was also a past representative with the Appalachian Trail Conference and Keystone Trail Associations.
Please consider a donation to the York Hiking Club (Treasurer, York Hiking Club, 510 Mundis Mill Rd., York, PA 17406) or the Mason Dixon Trail Association for upkeep and maintenance equipment in support of volunteers for these great nonprofit associations.
Meet A PA HIKER
👋 Meet Brendan, a KTA member and supporter from Butler County, PA!
Q: What type of hiking do you typically prefer most often?
A: "I think dawn hikes are best. I really enjoy seeing the world come alive. As a fisherman and birder, those times are also most productive and rewarding."
We're excited to share these new short 1-minute trailers for hiking trails in PA! This month we're highlighting the second trailer of 2025, the Golden Eagle Trail! A special thanks to Julie Queen, Caleb Fisher, and Erika Campbell for providing images for this video.
Backpacking 101 March 29, 2025 | Harrisburg, PA Join Keystone Trails Association & Dauphin County Parks and Recreation with a one-day seminar on backpacking basics. This training is geared towards avid day hikers who are interested in learning about backpacking from a group of experienced backpackers. Topics will include differences between day hiking and backpacking, clothing, footwear, gear (packs, sleeping bags, stoves, lights, stuff sacks, poles, tents), food preparation, campsite selection, potential dangers (ticks, waterborne diseases, bears, snakes), Leave No Trace and unique considerations for women with available resources (online and print). A light continental breakfast will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch to consume during the designated lunch break. Dress for indoor and outdoor activities. Register Here!
Trail Maintenance Training Institute April 4-6, 2025| Biglersville, PA This is open to new and seasoned trail maintenance folks. We'll have chainsaw safety training, and sessions on water diversion and general topics. Registration includes food and lodging at Camp Nawakwa near Biglersville in Adams County. More information and registration available here.
Join Keystone Trails Association on Earth Day! Appalachian Trail Bluebell Hike and Spring Picnic at Scott Farm April 22, 2025 | Carlise, PA Enjoy beautiful Virginia bluebell wildflowers blooming in profusion along the Appalachian and Conodoguinet Creek. Learn about plans for the Scott Farm* property as the future home of Keystone Trails Association and an important hub for trail activities by conservation partners. The adjacent Kittatinny Ridge is a major flyway for migratory birds and an iconic landscape deserving amplified awareness and protection. 2:00 p.m. – Six-mile out-and-back hike to the top of the mountain 4:15 p.m. – Alternative half-mile out and back 5:00 p.m. – Picnic at Scott Farm with remarks by KTA and partners The event is free, but please register by April 18th! *The Scott Farm is located at 301 Bernheisel Bridge Rd, Carlisle, PA 17015 Register here!
Spring Hiking Weekend April 25-27, 2025 | Raystown Lake Join us for a weekend spent outdoors on trail, on the water, giving back to nature, biking, and more. We have activities for animal lovers, families, and those with limited mobility. Select your activities for the weekend today and explore lodging options at Lake Raystown Resort! The last day to register is April 10th. Learn more and register here.
Mid State Trail - Everett Region Slackpack May 2-4, 2025 | Everett, Pa Join us for some challenging hiking while basking in the beauty of PA in the springtime. Tiptoe, not among the tulips, but the sharp ankle-turning boulders and briars in Tiltrock Country atop the knife edge of Tussey Mountain, and take in the sweeping vistas. Saturday will be the most arduous; Friday's and Sunday's hikes are quite pleasant. You'll just need a daypack as we provide shuttling, meals, and planning, as well as three days of guided hikes. Registration does not include lodging, but we've arranged for a room block of special rates at our home base, the gorgeous Union Hotel in Everett. More details and registration available here.
Underground Railroad Hike June 22, 2025 | Lancaster, Pa Hike into the history of the Underground Railroad and the anti-slavery movement in Southern Lancaster County through the Lancaster Conservancy's Fishing Creek Nature Preserve. Close to the Mason Dixon Line, we will trace a path of emancipation for Freedom Seekers who crossed the Susquehanna on what would later be known as the Pilgrim's Pathway to Christiana. Learn more and register here.
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Slackpack II - Northern Section June 26-29, 2025 | SAVE THE DATE Registration opening very soon.
Philadelphia Hiking Weekend July 11-13, 2025| SAVE THE DATE
Leave No Trace Level One Training August 1-3, 2025 | Allegheny National Forest This training is geared toward hiking enthusiasts, trail maintainers, outdoor educators, and those working to preserve public and private lands for recreational use. The training will take place on trails in and around the Allegheny National Forest in western Pennsylvania. You'll receive a grounding in how to practice Leave No Trace as an individual and the skills to teach Leave No Trace to a broader audience. Learn more and register here.
Wales: Mountains & Coast Hiking Adventure | KTA International Trip Fundraiser August 3-14, 2025 | Save the date! Experience Welsh culture with KTA on a hiking adventure through the rugged mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the eclectic island of Anglesey. Spend three days exploring Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales. Hike to the top of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales. Not feeling up for the hike? Take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top! The second half of the trip will be spent exploring the Anglesey Coastal Path. The path traverses a landscape that includes farmland, coastal heath, dunes, saltmarsh, cliffs, and woodland. The trip includes roundtrip airfare from Dulles (IAD), ten night's lodging, all ground transportation, guided daily hikes, breakfast each morning, and lunches on hiking days. Optional transport to and from Dulles is provided at an additional cost. Luggage transport is included so that participants will never need to carry more than a daypack while hiking. Accommodations are in modern hotels/inns. Learn more and enter the March 5 lottery here! Price: $4,495 (double occupancy)
Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2025 October 17-19, 2025| The PA Wilds Save the dates and join us in the PA Wilds. This year will be a choose-your-own adventure model similar to last year but with activities in more centralized locations each day. Friday activities will take place within half an hour of Saint Marys/Ridgeway. Saturday activities will take place within half an hour from Cook Forest State Park. Sunday activities will be more dispersed so you can pick something on your route of travel home. We have secured room block rates at various locations in Saint Marys and Ridgeway. Keep an eye on our Events page to see when we start listing lodging options; activity options will be posted in mid-summer.
Wilderness First Aid Training November 1-2, 2025| Mill Run, Pa Wilderness First Aid is a two-day introduction to general medical concepts and basic life support skills. It is targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures. Learn more and register here!
KTA Trail Club Symposium November 15, 2025| South Mountain Conservation Landscape Trail clubs and maintainers save the date! Consider applying for our KTA Club Mini-Grant for your transportation needs.
Featured KTA Store Item
The Guide to the Quehanna Trail provides you with the information you need to explore this wild area of Penns Woods. Comes with two, full color maps (11" x 17"), printed on both sides of water-proof paper, showing the four quadrants of the Quehanna Trail, Cutoff Trail, East Cross-Connector Trail, West Cross-Connector Trail, and the Old Sinnemahoning Trail. Each map also shows the elevation profile of the Quehanna Trail.
Join leaders from Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry to help shape its future. Throughout March, Elevate is hosting a series of statewide sessions that gives outdoor oriented businesses in the Commonwealth opportunties to share ideas on the creation of a new, statewide industry alliance for outdoor recreation businesses. Elevate is an effort to move towards the creation of a statewide capacity building organization to represent the needs of the growing outdoor recreation industry in Pennsylvania. Learn more and register at Elevate
Pick Up Pennsylvania is part of the national Great American Cleanup from March 1st through May 31st. Communities are asked to organize and conduct local cleanups – recruit volunteers, promote your event, and report your results for inclusion in statewide and national cleanup totals. Pick Up Pennsylvania
"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy kicked off its year-long Centennial Celebration by debuting a new vision and brand identity that renews its dedication to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and highlights its collaborative efforts to bolster the health, resilience and connectivity of the A.T. landscape for all." - The Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The United States Postal Service has released The Appalachian Trail Stamps! Learn more at USPS
KTA partner, Central Pennsylvania Conservancy is in the news! "The Letort Spring Garden Preserve is now ADA-compliant, and Camp Tuckahoe land will be transferred to DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry in District 1, Michaux State Forest" - Fox43
The Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest, which has honored student and adult amateur photographers since its launch in 1984, is an annual statewide contest that rewards photographers who snap unusual or eye-catching images of litter across the Commonwealth. Learn more and enter the Lens on Litter Contest by October 31, Pennsylvania Resource Council
Other PA Club & Org Events
3/13: Forest Health, Insect, and Disease Update and Core webinar, presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry's Division of Forest Health and Penn State Extension. Register and learn more at Penn State Extension
3/16: The AT Museum welcomes Kip Redick, author of American Camino: Walking as Spiritual Practice on the Appalachian Trail, on Sunday, March 16th at 1:30pm at Bosler Memorial Library in Carlisle. Kip is professor of philosophy and religion at Christopher Newport University. Learn more at Appalachian Trail Museum
4/6: UltraTrek Challenge at Bear Creek Mountain in Macungie, PA, is a scenic trek through the trails and winding paths of the mountain. The event features 7, 14, 21, and 28-mile race options. UltraTrek
5/13: Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation's 16th Annual Parks and Forests Awards Banquet. PPFF
5/21: We are excited circulate the date of the 2025 Pennsylvania Envirothon. Hosted this year in Windber, PA. Learn more at Pennsylvania Envirothon
6/7-6/8: The Penn States Campus Recreation Team invites you to be a part of theirLeave No Trace event. Each year Leave No Trace selects nominated outdoor spaces that need our collective care and attention
6/14-6/20: 30th Annual Delaware River Sojourn, celebrate the 2025 River of the Year! Learn more and register at Delaware River Sojourn
6/29: Appalachian Trail Mueseum's Art & Culture Festival- save the date
8/2: The Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo in Sunbury. Pa. Learn more at Susquehanna Greenway
9/21-9/23: The Greenways and Trails Summit in Harrisburg, PA. Learn more and register with WeConservePA
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