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June 2025
I love the long days of June, when fireflies light the darkness and the green riches of nature beckon us outside. Like our recent webinar, those serene evenings underscore the importance of quiet - a fleeting condition in a world inundated with anthropogenic noise. Minimizing the human cacophony is implicit in the principles of Leave No Trace, outdoor ethics to live by and encouraged by KTA. Learn all about them at our August workshop in the Allegheny National Forest. The next few months are packed with opportunities to learn, explore, and give back. For example, nearly every weekend, and several weekdays, offer hands-on maintenance experiences to give our trails a proverbial shine and put a glow of pride on the face of every volunteer. And thanks to such amazing volunteers, our presence at a variety of events and festivals has expanded this summer. Be sure to say hello if you see a KTA exhibit. In the meantime, relish this wondrous time of year and hit the trails, appreciatively and often. Take a friend and tell them about the oh-so-cool Keystone Trails Association. Together, we have, will, and can do great things for hiking and stewardship in Pennsylvania. ~ Brook Lenker, Executive Director.
President's Trailhead
It was a couple of days after college graduation in May 40 years ago, I found myself loaded with a backpack and hiking up the approach trail to Springer Mountain to begin a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. But how did I end up there? It was from being introduced to the A.T. while a youth. It was a Scout Troop leader who would take us Scouts on weekend hikes and week-long 50-mile backpack trips on the Appalachian Trail. It was an elderly lady at my church, a member of ATC, who would bring her copy of Trailway News that she had read, marked, and footnoted articles for me to read, inspiring a young person to dream.
Why do I bring this up? It's because we each have a role in mentoring young people and the next generation of hikers to lace up their boots, pick up their pack, Pulaski, and tools to hike a trail, make memories, and give back through trail care, donations, or volunteering their special skill sets. If you enjoy hiking, you may want to share the experience with others and work to preserve it for those you may never meet, who can walk a trail you helped maintain. ~ Wayne Gross, KTA Board President Read the entire President's Trailhead here.
Special announcement! Philadelphia Hiking Weekend Price Cut
Experience the Philadelphia Hiking Weekend with Keystone Trails Association: A Three-Day Outdoor Expedition, July 11-13, 2025! Learn more and sign up here.
Itinerary Highlights: Friday, July 11, 2025: 🥾 Lunch & Explore Reading Terminal Market for lunch 🥾 Philly By Foot Walking Tour facilitated by KTA Supporter Marianne Ruane, President of Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (approx. 4 miles) 🥾 “Friday Night Lounge” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art 🥾 Dinner at La Chinesca
Saturday, July 12, 2025: 🥾 Explore Wissahickon Valley Park with guided hike and presentation by the Friends of Wissahickon 🥾 KTA Philly Social, happy hour and dinner at Spruce Street Harbor Park
Sunday, July 13, 2025: 🥾 Browse the Italian Market to pick up lunch to go 🥾 Explore the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and hike the popular Wetland Loop Trail
2025 Trail Care Season
So far, KTA has held four successful events in May. After the Chuck Keiper Trail Code Orange to start the year, volunteers tackled the Reeds Gap Spur Trail (RGST) and White Mountain Ridge Trail Systems (WMRT) in Bald Eagle State Forest. A whopping 23 volunteers contributed 316 hours of trail work, working on 17 miles of trail! Work involved brushing the entire High Top Trail section of the RGST, as well as reblazing the Chimney Rocks/WMRT/Devils Elbow loop from red to yellow. Bald Eagle redesignated the WMRT from multi-use to hiking only.
Trail Care #3, on the Donut Hole Trail, featured a smaller, yet energetic group of eight volunteers, putting in 100 hours, who cleared all the blowdowns in Bull Run. They also cleared out lots of barberry and other thorns and rehabbed about 200 feet of sidehill along the lower portion of that section. The volunteers additionally tackled blowdowns and some brush along the section that parallels Hyner View Road. Bravo for a job well done!
Last weekend, the forecasted rain held off, and a great crew of 14 hardy volunteers, contributing 196 hours, worked on 13 miles of the beautiful Black Forest Trail during Trail Care #4, clearing downed trees and encroaching mountain laurel, and freshening blazes. We also worked on two miles of the South Link Trail. The Pump Station Fire Tower cabin, courtesy of Tiadaghton State Forest, afforded a great communal space to gather and nosh on all the food everyone brought.
Above are before and after photos on the Black Forest Trail
June 2025 Trail Care Opportunities
Check out the 2025 Trail Care schedule here. Below are the remaining opportunities in June. More volunteers are sought for all of these events:
🗓️ #5 June 7th - National Trails Day
📍Lehigh Gap - KTA Section of the Appalachian Trail
🗓️ #6 June 12 - 15
📍 Mid State Trail - Everett Region
🗓️ #7 June 19 - 22
📍 Woodbourne Forest Preserve
🗓️ #8 June 26 - 29
📍 Mid State Trail - Tioga Region
Weekday Trail Care
The scheduled event in May was canceled due to a miserable forecast of rain, with the added wrinkle of already saturated trails. We'll try again in June, helping out Central Pennsylvania Conservancy on the trails at Port Royal Wetlands Preserve. This is a great opportunity for beginners - this will just be half a day of trail work from 9 AM to approximately 1 PM. Some tasks include: removal of invasive species, clearing debris off trail, removing brush alongside trail, leveling uneven trail sections. KTA will provide all tools, gloves, etc., as well as instruction. Join us for ice cream or a beverage afterward. More info and sign-up on the website here.
KTA Trail Care in the Virgin Islands
February 1-8, 2026: Save the date for an exciting opportunity! KTA Trail Care will be traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a service trip on the tropical island of St. John! More details will be forthcoming in the July newsletter, including costs and when the lottery will open. Join KTA's Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training for this opportunity to escape winter weather in PA and help revitalize trails and historic sites, assisting the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park staff and volunteers. Accommodations will be mainly double occupancy, and on the rustic side, with provided tents with cots on platforms in the volunteer campground. Volunteer work will likely occur from 8 AM to 2 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The work can be physical and demanding, but during off time time, we're welcome to explore the island and reefs. Stay tuned for more information on this fun and rewarding opportunity!
Lehigh Gap East Appalachian Trail parking lot
Keystone Trails Association maintains the Lehigh Gap East Appalachian Trail parking lot. It is a gravel lot on the east side of the Lehigh River, just off PA Route 248. It is one of the most heavily used A.T. parking lots in the state because of its strategic location in the Lehigh Valley and is the closest access to the trail from the Philadelphia region. On nice weekend days during hiking season there can be as many as 30 cars in the lot. Because of its heavy use, it periodically develops potholes and needs to be regraveled.
Recently KTA received funding to regravel the lot from Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Appalachian Trail office of the National Park Service. The work was done by Livengood Excavators of Walnutport. They added gravel then used power rollers to pack it down. The lot is now in the best shape it has been in several years. KTA thanks ATC, the APPA Park Service office and Livengood. ~ Jim Foster, KTA Volunteer
Trail Love: ANF Edition
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. Save-the-date, September 27, 2025. Registration is opening soon!
Backpacking for Beginners
Are you a day hiker looking to try backpacking? Have you ever wondered what to carry on an overnight trip into the woods? Have you backpacked before but want to refresh your skills? Come build your outdoor knowledge and confidence with a two-weekend in-person workshop and two optional online sessions. We'll go over how to pitch a tent, stow your food safely, what to carry in a first aid kit, find the right backpack, and much more.
The course starts with a one-day workshop in the Quehanna Wild Area on September 13th, followed by a two-day trip on the JP Saylor trail on September 20-21st. Click here to register or learn more.
Pennsylvania Hiking Awards
This is your year to achieve a Pennsylvania Hiking Award! ⭐ 🏆 Apply here!
And ANNOUNCING...
🏆 PA TEEN HIKER AWARD Applicant must be 13-18 years old and have hiked at least 50 miles on any trails in Pennsylvania in the current award season.
Here is a sneak peek at the newly designed PA Teen Hiker Award patch!
KTA Webinar: The Underground Railroad of South Central Pennsylvania June 17, 2025 | Virtual With the Cumberland Valley being an historic gateway of travel, it became a natural route for freedom-seekers trying to make their way north. However, the area they would enter was the last that legally held enslaved people in Pennsylvania. Join Cumberland County Historical Society Education Director, Matthew March, to discuss the unique role that South Central PA, played in the 1840’s and 50’s. Registration is free, but required.
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. (join the waitlist for this event)
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Slackpack II - Northern Section June 26-29, 2025| Ligonier, PA Registration is now full.
Philadelphia Hiking Weekend July 11-13, 2025| Philadelphia, PA Reduced registration fee!! Join Us for an Adventure! Experience the Philadelphia Hiking Weekend with Keystone Trails Association: A unique three-day outdoor expedition, July 11-13, 2025! Register here!
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 Do you know how to keep animals out of your food bag while outdoors? Do you go around puddles on trails or through them? What are strategies for keeping your pets and fellow hikers safe and happy on the trail? Leave No Trace prepares you for all of these through teaching land ethics for outdoor adventures. Join KTA for this three day training. 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 Aspiring backpackers and former backpackers looking to refresh their skills are invited to attend this multi-weekend event in September. Our first weekend will give you a chance to carry a full pack without doing an overnight. The following weekend we hit the trail for a single overnight. 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 the 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 The PA Wilds are calling you, and they're saying to save the date for October 17-19. Program lineup is in the works. If you like hiking, biking, fishing, reading, watercoloring, history, hands-on conservation projects, observing wildlife, or are trying to improve your plant identification skills, this weekend will have something for you. Event registration will go live mid-summer. Lodging is live. Book your room today, here!
Wilderness First Aid Training November 1-2, 2025| Mill Run, Pa From cuts, sprains, illness, and stings there's plenty that can go afoul when outdoors. Learn how to tend to the most common wilderness injuries and what to have in your first aid kit so you're prepared to help others (or yourself). Learn more and register here!
Thanks to First Lady Lori Shapiro’s advocacy and the work of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that free menstrual products are now available in 68 Pennsylvania state parks. - DCNR
Congratulations to the 2025 Pennsylvania Class of DCNR Rangers and Park Managers! The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined staff and families at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County to celebrate the 2025 graduating class of the department's ranger and park manager trainee academy. - DCNR
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region is seeking feedback for their new survey on outdoor recreation in the four counties we serve. Take the survey Endless Mountains Heritage Region
Share your Susquehanna Greenway Partnership trail story! Your story can inspire others to explore the outdoors and helps the SGP improve and promote their trails. -Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Launches “Still Open. Still Awesome.” Campaign to Highlight Pennsylvania’s Open State Parks and Forests. - DCNR
Enjoy the Appalachian Trail this Autumn: Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew Registration is Open! Looking for a fall volunteer experience? Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew volunteers are needed to help with critical projects on the A.T. in Pennsylvania, including building new trail, repairing steps, and replacing bridges. No experience needed - Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Other PA Club & Org Events
6/7: The Warrior Trail Association of Greene County Association is hosting a public hike. For more information or to RSVP contact Frank at pecsunoco@windstream.net
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.
6/14-6/20: 30th Annual Delaware River Sojourn, celebrate the 2025 River of the Year! Learn more and register at Delaware River Sojourn
6/21: Join the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community at their annual Appalachian Trail Festival, from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Park in downdown Duncannon, PA, and walk up to High Street (between Cumberland and Ann Streets) to enjoy live music, food and beer stands, arts and crafts vendors, hiking and outdoor clubs, and activities for the kids (and kids at heart).
6/28 9 AM-1 PM: The inaugural Conservation Collectibles Showcase. Don't miss this unique opportunity to celebrate Pennsylvania's rich conservation heritage! Refreshments and food will be available for purchase and proceeds benefit Lancaster County Bird Club’s initiatives with Middle Creek WMA.
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. 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
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