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July 2025
A long day's hike on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail has a way of clearing the mind and emphasizing the little things which instill a profound sense of gratitude. I was fortunate to assist with a portion of KTA's June slackpack on the northern 40 miles of this challenging footpath. I had quality time to mingle with our fantastic father-daughter hike leading team, a fun and engaging band of participants, and a journalist from Johnstown who proved his mettle. I even had the joy of hiking with one of my own daughters, although she had a bit more spunk to her step than her father. Along the way, we spotted a black-phase rattlesnake, reveled in the music of forest songbirds, and basked in the beauty of blossoming mountain laurel blanketing the slopes. Interesting rock gardens and carpets of fern, wet from afternoon storms and showers, added whimsy and serenity - a harvest for the senses. Evenings in Ligonier provided cultural and nutritional bounty, a great example of Pennsylvania's small town potential and how low-impact outdoor recreation helps nurture commerce. How lucky I am to experience these places and befriend these people. What a pleasure to see the enthusiasm, creativity, and attention to detail of my colleagues. The adventure was a microcosm of KTA, always striving to welcome, satisfy, and inspire a diverse community of explorers from every corner of the Commonwealth. The remainder of 2025 continues to unfurl opportunities to garner more skills, discover new routes, and give back through volunteering. I hope our paths cross in these journeys. If I look dazed, it may be because I find myself in a dreamscape of keystone wonderlands, interspersed with the greatest of people. ~ Brook Lenker, Executive Director
2025 Trail Care Season
Volunteers digging new trail at Woodbourne Forest Preserve, Susquehanna County
Trail Care volunteers have been rockin' it! June was another super busy month, with an event every weekend. On National Trails Day, June 7, fourteen volunteers dodged rainstorms and contributed 70 hours of labor on the section of the Appalachian Trail maintained by KTA. Two water bars saw a serious makeover by one group. Others reworked a ditch by a road, and, since there will be much less water traveling down the trail, filled in an erosional gully, too. A few days later, the focus became the notorious Everett Region of the Mid State Trail (MST) - 90 miles of the longest and wildest footpath in PA. Twenty-two hardy volunteers racked up 304 hours, clearing all of the MST's Section 2, as well as some parts of Section 1, 3, and 4! Eleven of those volunteers came from the REI Distribution Center in Bedford, and included many first-timers. During the third weekend of June, KTA Trail Care volunteers returned to Woodbourne Preserve in Susquehanna County where, in 2006, a week-long KTA crew helped build a 3.6-mile-long trail. This year, 12 volunteers contributed 172 hours of pride and sweat to build four footbridges, relocate sections of trail out of wet areas, and rough in an entirely new 0.75-mile trail. On the last weekend in June, the Trail Care posse headed to the northernmost part of the Mid State Trail, the Tioga Region. Across 74 miles, twenty-one fantastic volunteers installed bog bridging, cleared blowdowns, cut back encroaching vegetation, relocated & blazed trail, and, with DR mowers, managed to groom every crucial, mowable section. What a month. A big thanks to all the incredible volunteers! ~ Jenn Ulmer, Manager of Trail Maintenance & Training
Team members from Bedford's REI Distribution Center volunteered during KTA's MST Everett Region Trail Care
July & August 2025 Trail Care Opportunities
Check out the 2025 Trail Care schedule here. Below are the remaining opportunities in July and August. More volunteers are sought for all of these events:
📆 July 10-13: # 9 ⛏ ALLEGHENY FRONT TRAIL 📍 Moshannon State Forest
📆 July 17-20: #10 ⛏ WEST RIM TRAIL 📍 Tioga State Forest
📆 Friday, July 25: #11 ⛏ CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL 📍 Sproul State Forest
📆 August 7-10: #12 ⛏ PINCHOT STATE FOREST TRAILS 📍Tobyhanna State Park
📆 August 21-24: #13 ⛏ BUCKTAIL PATH / ELK SF TRAILS 📍Sinnemahoning State Park
📆 Friday, August 29: #14 ⛏ CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL 📍 Sproul State Forest
Weekday Trail Care
In June, volunteers lopped vegetation along the main loop at the Port Royal Wetlands Preserve, identifying a wide array of birds and plants as they went. The July event will switch to Greg's Woods a Central Pennsylvania Conservancy's (CPC) preserve that offers more shade. This is a great opportunity for beginners and those local to Juniata and surrounding counties to check out CPC's awesome propertiess and give trail maintenance a try. We work from 9 AM to approximately 1 PM. Tasks may include removal of invasive species, clearing debris off trail, removing brush alongside trail, and or leveling uneven trail sections. KTA will provide all tools, gloves, and safety equipment as well as instruction. And how about joining us for ice cream or a beverage afterward? More info and sign-up on the website here.
KTA Trail Care in the Virgin Islands
**Note: Dates changed to Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2026**
Save the dates for an exciting opportunity coming in 2026. Travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a service trip on the tropical island of St. John! Join KTA's Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training to escape winter weather and help revitalize trails and historic sites with the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. Volunteer tasks will likely occur from 8 am to 2 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The work can be physically demanding, but there will be time off to explore the trails, beaches, reefs, and cultural sites on the island. Stay tuned for more information about this fun and rewarding trip. Check out our KTA Events website on July 15, when we will open the lottery for the chance to reserve a spot.
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Slackpack Recap
Thank you to our leaders, Terry and Shawna, for guiding last weekend's Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) Slackpack. Hikers enjoyed over 40 miles of hiking through one of Western Pennsylvania's premier hiking trails. A special thank you to journalist Josh Byers for joining KTA and covering the slackpack in The Tribune-Democrat. Learn more about the LHHT here.
PA Game Commission Improves Habitat Along the Appalachian Trail
The Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Committee recently toured a portion of the A.T. corridor proximate to Bake Oven Knob atop the Kittatinny Ridge on State Game Lands 217. The group comprised of representatives from various trail organizations and staff from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources listened with keen interest to PA Game Commission personnel leading the field excursion.
Oak savannah restoration is underway on the mountain—with benefit to a variety of wildlife. Songbirds approve. A showy scarlet tanager punctuated the morning with regal red and black plumage. Ecological tools like controlled burns paired with select thinning, small clearcuts, and seeding with native grasses and forbs to create a landscape mosaic appealing to the eye. In addition to the bountiful acorns and hickory nuts, shrubs such as serviceberry and mountain ash offer fruits important to forest animals.
The improvements bring hikers a change from the dense woodlands experienced on long stretches of the A.T. and other eastern trails. They provide fauna with the diversity and food sources needed to thrive, whether resident or transitory species.
The A.T. is a magical trail and this project enhances its allure, like nearby environmental restoration activities surrounding Lehigh Gap. Kudos to the Game Commission for leading this impressive effort, steeped in partnership, and paying dividends from a wise and abundant investment in nature. ~ Brook Lenker, Executive Director
KTA Gear Loaner Program
"The KTA Gear Loaner Program exceeded my expectations. Not only was it brand new, it was quality brands that withstood the test of 27 miles on the Old Loggers Path. We all know backpacking gear is expensive so I was so grateful to take advantage of this free program! It was a great opportunity to test out some gear before I would make a large purchase in the future." - Savanna Lenker, KTA Member review of the KTA gear loaner program.
Learn more about KTA's Gear Loaner Program or reserve your gear here!
Great Outdoors Reading Challenge
Keystone Trails Association has premiered our Great Outdoors Reading Challenge. We will be annoucing the next five titles in the August Keystone Hiker! These books are primarily about Pennsylvania or written by PA authors. They include adventure, reflection, history, overlooked perspectives, and lessons learned outdoors.
Featured KTA Store Item
We Were There, Too, by Gwenyth L. Loose is one of the feratured books in the KTA Outdoor Reading Challenge and is available here.
The history of the Appalachian Trail is often attributed to men like Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery, but many talented women also played crucial roles alongside them. Notably, the formation of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in 1925 was organized by a woman. This book highlights the significant contributions of overlooked female trail-builders.
Pennsylvania Hiking Trailers
The 73.2-mile Quehanna Trail is a loop through portions of two state forests and three counties in northcentral Pennsylvania. The main trailhead is at Parker Dam State Park in northern Clearfield County. The trail passes through two State Game Land units and, for 34 miles, traverses the Quehanna Wild Area.
A special thanks to Caleb Fisher for providing images for this video.
Meet A PA HIKER
👋 Meet Elizabeth, a KTA supporter and Pennsylvania hiker!
Q: What are some of your favorite hiking trails in PA, and what makes them your favorite?
A: Gallitzin State Forest has some of my favorite trails! The County Line Loop trail is probably my favorite because the vistas are incredible!
KTA Philadelphia Hiking & Afternoon Social July 13, 2025| Philadelphia, PA Join Keystone Trails Association for an afternoon in the Wissahickon Valley. We invite you to join KTA hiking leaders, Shira Blady and Brian MacNamara, followed by a Philly hiking social! This event is open to the public and is an excellent opportunity to connect with local trail clubs and fellow hikers. Registration is free, but required.
KTA Webinar: “America’s forgotten fruit” the pawpaw by Horn Farm Center July 29, 2025 | Virtual Join Andrew Leahy from the Horn Farm Center in York, PA, as we remember “America’s forgotten fruit,” digging into the natural history, ethnobotany, foraging, and future of the pawpaw. We’ll explore questions like: how did a tropical fruit get here? Why did it recede from the popular imagination (and why is it making a comeback)? What did George Washington have to say about it? And why on earth can’t you find it in the grocery store? Registration is free, but required.
Leave No Trace Level One Training August 1-3, 2025 | Allegheny National Forest From knowing the permitting process of where you're about to backpack, storing food safely from wildlife, respecting wildlife and other people in the outdoors, and integrating risk mitigation through trip planning, this 16 hour course covers a lot. The internationally-recognized training includes a certification. Registration closes on July 15th at 8:00 am. 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 Online and in-person in September. Dip your toe into backpacking, or dust off an old skill set! This series will cover setting up a campsite, cooking systems, route planning, food storage, safety in the woods, and more. Registration closes August 23, and only a few open spots remain! Register here!
Trail Love: ANF Edition - National Public Lands Day September 27, 2025 | Allegheny National Forest Celebrate National Public Lands Day with KTA! During this celebratory one-day trail maintenance extravaganza, volunteers and community partners will tackle multiple trail maintenance projects on several trails in Allegheny National Forest. An optional forest camporee and cookout on Friday evening and breakfast and lunch will be provided during projects on Saturday. This event is being supported by Athletic Brewing Company's Two For The Trails grant program! Registration opening soon!
Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2025 October 17-19, 2025| The PA Wilds Registration opens later this month! The lineup includes 58 different ways to engage with the outdoors. Activities include options for all ages and all mobility levels including; hikes, pontoon tours, bike rides, forest bathing, lightning bug workshops, author talks, brewery tours, acid mine drainage reclamation & abandoned well outings, a bear workshop, elk, haunted tales, historical town and Civilian Conservation Corps tours, lumber museums, yoga, tai chi, rail trail strolls, fly fishing, plant identification, and more. Space is limited for each activity. Early registration is recommended. Book your room today, here!
Wilderness First Aid Training November 1-2, 2025| Mill Run, Pa Blisters, sprains, broken bones, open wound, illness, allergic reactions, heat and cold injuries can happen in the outdoors. When they occur down the trail, the response time from medics is much longer, and it's important to know how to help yourself (and others) until you can get to a medical facility. This 16-hour training gives you hands-on practice tending to injuries/illness and an opportunity to review what to carry in your first aid kit. Registration closes October 25th. Learn more and register here!
Public lands offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Visit DCNR’s website for more information about what to do at state parks and where to go on public lands, including local parks and for scenic views. DCNR encourages Pennsylvanians to check its Calendar of Events for seasonal programming happening across the state.
Michaux State Forest District is conducting a trail assessment of the trails south of Route 30 in the coming months. DCNR is seeking public input during this process to create the best sustainable shared-use trail system possible. There are a lot of quality trails and recreational opportunities in this section of Michaux. All forest users are invited to provide input! The survey will be open for a limited time! Share your ideas here.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission again is seeking input from the public in surveying wild turkeys this summer. The Annual Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey runs July 1 through Aug. 31. Turkey sightings can be reported through the Game Commission’s website: https://pgcforms.pa.gov/TurkeySightingSurvey.
The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC) held its annual picnic on June 8, 2025. The theme this year was “Happy 100th Birthday To The Appalachian Trail”. View photos from the celebration here.
Explore migration marvels of the Chesapeake Bay watershed: tundra swans, monarch butterflies, eels, and snowbirds. From the Bay Journal filmmaking team of Dave Harp, Tom Horton, and Sandy Cannon-Brown. Watch Chesapeake Rhythms by the Bay Journal.
Other PA Club & Org Events
7/20: The first annual River Valley Film Festival (RVFF) in Williamsport, Pa. RVFF will highlight Williamsport’s rich history and culture and introduce the filmmaking world to the city. A film about the life and legacy of Bob and Dotty Webber, Mountain Souls will be shown. Learn more at RVFF.
7/26: Cultural Resources Monitoring workshop to be held Saturday, July 26th, at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. For more information or to RSVP email Joe at joebaker@pa.gov.
Fall 2025: PA Master Naturalist is offering a training program for volunteers in Centre County this fall and is currently accepting applications. Interested? email: Josie Marino
8/2: Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo in Sunbury, PA. Visit KTA's booth! Learn more at Susquehanna Greenway
8/15- 8/17: Sierra Club PA's Annual Outing @ Hickory Run State Park: This free event is located at Hickory Run's Group Cabin Campground (think summer camp!) so you don't need to own a tent to participate. Beginning campers are encouraged to attend. If you'd prefer not to camp, you're welcome to join just for the day or find your own place to stay overnight nearby. Register and learn more with Sierra Club Pennsylvania
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 their 2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet. Tickets can be purchased through Appalachian Trail Museum.
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