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April 2025
Celebrating Earth Day 2025 If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how much impact can one person have, the answer is a whole heck of a lot! Earth Day’s origins go back to 1970 and a Wisconsin senator looking to raise awareness about environmental degradation. Since then there’s been remarkable change, including national and statewide legislation to clean up our waterways, air, and lands. The truth is, one person’s actions can have ripple effects that we could never imagine. Today, billions of people partake in Earth Day related activities.
The health of our planet directly impacts our health. Cleaner soils and rivers means healthier food and drinking water for us. We all have skin in this game, and we all have a role to play. From things like practicing leave no trace when you’re outdoors to protect species, divesting from fossil fuel in your retirement account and banking, to buying locally to have a smaller carbon footprint, or picking up trash on your local neighborhood walk to showcase the responsibility we all have to this planet we call home, there are lots of ways to steward our planet into the future. ~ Kate Prisby, Events and Programming Manager
President's Trailhead
There is a lot going on with KTA in 2025 as we progress on the second year of our five-year strategic plan. Efforts continue with Scott Farm planning; the site will eventually become KTA's headquarters. The Board has approved the lease of the Panther Run Cabin in Sproul State Forest as a base for our Trail Care efforts in the PA Wilds. ~Wayne Gross, KTA Board President
It's almost here! We hope you'll be able to join us at a Trail Care Event in 2025! The options are plentiful and varied. There should be something for everyone of any ability at any event. Be sure to check out the upcoming KTA Trail Care Webinar on April 15th (sign up here) for a more in-depth look at 2025's events, as well as descriptions and possibly demonstrations of the types of trail work accomplished by our volunteers.
View our 2025 Trail Care schedule here. Please note: the last event, on KTA's section of the A.T., was changed from October 25th to November 1, 2025.
2025 Trail Care Roadshow
During the month of March, Al and Jenn had the opportunity to reach some new audiences by hosting an informational table at three breweries throughout Pennsylvania. Thanks to Lindgren, Olde Bedford and New Trail breweries for hosting KTA.
Panther Run Cabin
Exciting plans have finally come to fruition! After nearly a year of emails, site visits and discussions with the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and KTA's Board, KTA has signed a lease agreement for a cabin in Sproul State Forest that will serve as a base for our trail maintenance efforts in the region. The rustic cabin offers three rooms full of twin beds, and a warm, dry space to gather, cook, and relax after a hard day's work. It is very accessible -- right off PA 144, just west of the Chuck Keiper Trail (in northern Centre County, in between Renovo and Snow Shoe). If trail work is not for you, but you'd like to get involved, consider joining the cabin crew. We will need help with painting, repairs, general maintenance, and continuing the deep clean of the cabin that we began last summer. On April 17-19, we'll spruce up the cabin and get a start on cleaning out the upstairs. More details to come, volunteer Thursday and or Friday. Saturday enjoy breakfast and a nice hike to a nearby waterfall or vista before heading home. Please email Al (germann@kta-hike.org) if you can make it, or if you could help with other cabin tasks.
Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend in the PA Wilds October 17-19, 2025
Listen to elk as they bugle, wander old growth forests, stroll along the Clarion River, make nature-inspired art, ride your bike, and much, much more. Join KTA when autumn is at its best, and explore the state-designated Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape. There will be activities for all mobility levels.
Activity registration goes live in mid-summer! 🥾Friday activities will be within half an hour of Ridgway and Saint Marys. 🥾Saturday activities will be within half an hour of Cook Forest State Park. 🥾Sunday activities will be dispersed so you can pick something on your route of travel home.
Lodging is already available, and can be booked here.
What are your Favorite Pennsylvania Hikes?
Keystone Trails Association is expanding website content about favorite Pennsylvania hikes, as suggested by our members, friends, and partners. Please take a few moments and share your highly recommended routes.
Congratulations to KTA Board President, Wayne Gross
Wayne was selected to receive Scouting America's regional Silver Antelope Award. He is from Canadensis, PA, and with the Minsi Trails Council. The Silver Antelope Award recognizes registered Scouters of exceptional character in their territory for their distinguished service to youth. Congratulations, Wayne!
Purchase The Arbiters and Support the A.T. at Lehigh Gap
In January 2025, Sunbury Press released The Arbiters, the second novel by Camp Hill-based author and KTA Executive Director, Brook Lenker. This coming of age tale is the prequel to his prior novel, The Restorers. Layered with adventure, romance, and the imperative of acceptance, the story transports readers to a simpler time (1975-76) and infuses them with an encouraging reminder: everyone can make a difference. In the story, a teenage band of characters find themselves immersed in a fight to protect their favorite stream and forest from plans for a hydroelectric dam and reservoir. The plot is especially poignant given a current proposal for a pumped storage hydroelectric project in York County, Pennsylvania, that would destroy a scenic gorge on Cuffs Run, a tributary to the Susquehanna River, and more than a mile of the Mason-Dixon Trail. Multiple organizations, including KTA, have appealed the issuance of the project’s preliminary permit. The Arbiters is set near Bethlehem along a fictitious tributary of the Lehigh River. Given KTA’s service as a maintaining trail club for the Lehigh Gap section of the Appalachian Trail, and noting that there are various, intermittent funding needs for that section, KTA is establishing a dedicated fund to support activities and improvements in that area. Proceeds of sales of The Arbiters through the KTA bookstore will benefit this new A.T. Lehigh Gap Maintenance Fund. Get your copy today.
Help Promote Hiking in Pennsylvania!
Keystone Trails Association (KTA) is passionate about promoting and preserving the incredible hiking trails throughout Pennsylvania.
We’re currently crowdsourcing video and photo footage to create engaging promotional videos, and we would love your help! Last year, we produced ten videos celebrating various hiking trails across the state. This year, we’re focusing on state forest hiking trails. Do you have trail footage you are willing to share? We are looking for videos and images on the following trails!
Allegheny Front Trail, Bucktail Path, Chuck Keiper Trail, Donut Hole Trail, John P. Saylor Trail, Lost Turkey Trail, Pinchot Trail, Quehanna Trail & Thunder Swamp Trail
At a recent trail maintenance event in Pittsburgh celebrating International Women's Day, KTA distributed postcards for participants to express concerns and opinions to their congressional representatives and US Senators. The participants put pen to paper with gusto. They wrote about drastic cuts to programs, regulations, and jobs within the federal government and the dismantling of essential environmental safeguards and services. Hikers relish the importance of clean air and water and well-managed public lands, and perhaps you also have concerns you'd like to express. We'll have similar postcard-writing opportunities at our upcoming Spring Hiking Weekend at Raystown Lake, but whether or not you're joining us for the event, engage your lawmakers every chance you get. State lawmakers need to hear from us, too. More Sundays of hunting may soon be reality if bipartisan legislation passes and gets signed into law. Meanwhile, destructive proposals like the Cuffs Run pumped-storage hydroelectric project in York County need attention. Attorneys representing KTA and several conservation partners have appealed the issuance of a preliminary permit by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We remain hopeful that the tide will turn on this threat, and the cornucopia of bad ideas coming at us. Stay vigilant, but get outside often to invigorate your soul. ~Brook Lenker, Executive Director
Meet A PA HIKER
👋 Meet Richard, a KTA supporter from Berks County!
Q: What makes hiking in Pennsylvania special/meaningful to you?
A: "I usually hike with my dog who immensely enjoys being on trails. Hiking also helps me control type 2 diabetes and my moods."
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. Registration has closed.
KTA Webinar: 2025 Trail Care April 15, 2025 - 6:00 pm Are you curious about trail care? Join Jenn and Al, the KTA Trail Care team, for a virtual show-and-tell about our 2025 schedule and projects. You'll also learn more about the tools used for trail maintenance. Registration is free, but required. Sign up here!
Join Keystone Trails Association on Earth Day! Appalachian Trail Bluebell Hike and Spring Picnic at Scott Farm April 22, 2025 | Carlisle, 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 Three days outdoors in Huntington County with good people is just around the corner! Open spots remain for Friday’s: Pack Mules Primer & Mountain Biking for Beginners. Saturday’s openings include: Lincoln Caverns Exploration & Bat Program, Kayaking Cove Exploration, Intro to Archery, & Council Meeting. Sunday join the: Penn-Roosevelt State Park Hike, Standing Stone Trail Run, Shorbs Summit Hike, or Live Staking and Lower Trail Exploration. You can register for the entire weekend or one day. The last day to register for options that include meals is April 10th. Activity registration, no meals included, closes on April 14th by 3 pm. Refunds cannot be issued after April 10th. See activity descriptions 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.
Quiet Outdoors Webinar May 27, 2025 - 6:00 pm Learn more about the importance of quiet in our lives with presentations by Matt Mikkelsen (Secretary and Executive Director of Wilderness Quiet Parks), Brook Lenker (Executive Director of Keystone Trails Association), and Marci Mowery (President of PPFF) Tune in here!
Appalachian Trail Hike at Little Gap May 29, 2025 - 2:00 pm | Little Gap An easy 4 ½ to 5 mile lollipop hike along the ridgeline of the Lehigh Gorge near Slatington in Lehigh & Carbon Counties on a portion of a recently rerouted Appalachian Trail section affording spectacular views of the area. The hike leader is Jim Foster, coordinator of KTA's A.T. section group that maintains this portion of the trail. Learn about the work done to remediate this Superfund site and restore it to a natural state. After the hike, enjoy dinner (on your own) and conversation at a local restaurant. Register and learn more 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.- (registration almost at capacity)
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Slackpack II - Northern Section June 26-29, 2025 | Ligonier, PA Join us to hike the northern section of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (appx 41 miles.) The registration fee includes three days of guided hikes, shuttles to and from the lodging and trail, three breakfasts, three lunches and lodging in Ligonier at Thistledown Inn. A full "what to bring" list will be provided to registrants. Information about parking and meeting locations and times will be provided to registered guests prior to our slackpack! Learn more and register here!
Philadelphia Hiking Weekend July 11-13, 2025| SAVE THE DATE KTA has secured hotel accommodations at the hip Yowie Hotel! Registration opening in late April!
Leave No Trace Level One Training August 1-3, 2025 | Allegheny National Forest Get Certified in Leave No Trace while exploring the Allegheny National Forest foothills! Calling all hiking enthusiasts, trail maintainers, outdoor educators, and those working to preserve public and private lands for recreational use. Learn the intricacies of low-impact outdoor recreation and receive an internationally recognized training as a Level One Leave No Trace instructor (formerly called Trainer). Learn more and register here.
Wales: Mountains & Coast Hiking Adventure | KTA International Trip Fundraiser August 3-14, 2025 | Registration has closed
Backpacking for Beginners 2025 Save the date for a four-part series geared towards backpacking for beginners. Session One: September 13, 10am-4pm on Quehanna Trail Session Two: September 16, 6-7pm Pre-Trip Online Check-In (Optional) Session Three: September 20-21, on the JP Saylor Trail Session Four: September 30, 6-7pm Planning Your Next Adventure Online Celebration (Optional) Registration will be opening soon!
Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2025 October 17-19, 2025| The PA Wilds The Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape is the home to bugling elk, old growth forests, the Clarion River, and peoples who relied on the land for farming and economic prosperity. Explore the region's landscape and history October 17-19. Activity registration begins mid-summer. Rooms (block rates) and camping can be booked now. Lodging is already available, and can be booked here.
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!
WeConservePA has opened a request for proposals (RFP) for workshop session presentations for the 2025 Pennsylvania Greenways & Trails Summit. As a planning committee member, KTA and partners are very interested in seeing proposals for sessions relating to natural surface trails. The deadline for submission is April 15, 2025.
Explore Northeastern Pennsylvania's expanding “spine” trail network with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. These interconnected trails link communities, parks, and historic sites, offering endless outdoor recreation opportunities.
Have you been bitten by a tick? The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab can analyze your tick, testing for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Order your test online and learn whether you’re at risk before symptoms appear.
International Senior Long Distance Hiking- This anonymous survey is an academic research effort by sociologist, public health practitioner and fellow senior long-distance hiker Heidi R. Ballard. Heidi has partnered with The Great Outdoor Challenge (Scotland) and The Appalachian Long Distance Hiking Association (US) to distribute the survey. The survey seeks to understand the inspirations, motivations, challenges and benefits of 50+ year old people who currently engage in occasional or frequent long-distance hiking.
Winners of the 2024 Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation photo contest will be showcased in a gallery exhibit in the State Capitol East Wing Rotunda during the month of April with a special reception to be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 8.
The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) has a new resource to help you plan your next canoe or kayak adventure. SGP, along with the Susquehanna River Trail Association, recently published a new Middle Susquehanna Paddling Booklet. The booklet features four itineraries for paddling the Susquehanna River between Sunbury and Harrisburg.
The annual PA IPL Bike & Hike is a tour of Pennsylvania's great outdoors. The various routes both highlight the beauty of our state as well as bear witness to our extractive past and present. We seek to nurture hope for a clean & just future in our state. The 2025 theme is Caring for Every Body: Moving Through Nature.
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
4/12-4/13: Summer Gear Swap hosted by Tussey Mountain benefitting Rothrock Trails Alliance; learn more at Rothrock Trails Alliance
4/29: Trail Care Academy webinar presented by the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail : Invasive Species Identification and Management. Register with the PHNST here
5/13: Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation's 16th Annual Parks and Forests Awards Banquet. PPFF
5/16: Eight day Wilderness First Responder Course provided by Wilderness Medical Associates; learn more and sign up with Gettysburg College
5/16- 5/18: The 2025 Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Training Summit. Learn more and register at PSARC Summit
5/16- 5/18: The Appalachian Trail Days Festival in Damascus, Virginia. Learn more about the biggest event of the year in Damascus and the world's largest celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture!
5/21: We are excited circulate the date of the 2025 Pennsylvania Envirothon. Hosted this year in Windber, PA. Learn more at Pennsylvania Envirothon
5/23: Celebrate the launch of the Cumberland Valley Ice Cream Trail with CAEDC and the Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce! Every attendee who signs up for the trail will receive one free kid-sized cup. Learn more at Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation
6/7-6/8: The Penn State Campus Recreation Team invites you to be a part of their Leave No Trace event. Each year Leave No Trace selects nominated outdoor spaces that need our collective care and attention
6/7-6/11: Hybrid Wilderness First Responders at Yellow Breeches Educational Center in Harrisburg. Only 3 spots left, $500. Registration via Blue Mountain Medic.
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 Museum's Art & Culture Festival- save the date
8/2: 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
11/22: The Appalachian Trail Museum is pleased to announce that the 2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Bavarian Inn Resort & Brewing Company, located at 164 Shepherd Grade Road, Shepherdstown, WV.
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