Hiking in Pennsylvania is not like hiking in the Rockies or High Sierra and that’s a good thing! A hiking adventure in the Keystone State presents a much different experience in a venerable area of the nation that is drenched in native and human history in America’s eastern woodland region. From a Pennsylvania cabin rental in Butler County or elsewhere in the scenic Alleghenies, one can unearth abundant opportunities not only for hiking and backpacking, but for a diverse range of outdoor activities ranging from fishing and wildlife watching to whitewater rafting and canoeing.

There are also hiking trails in Pennsylvania for all ages and fitness ranges. If you are just getting started, the Clarion-Little Toby Creek Rail Trail is a properly designated, gentle route that parallels the Clarion River for roughly twenty miles. As an old railbed, the trail is quite level and as a result an easy hike and is great for biking in the spring, summer and fall months and cross-country skiing in the fall. With two tremendous access points from romantic travel inns in the charming and historic towns of Ridgway and Brockway, the Clarion trail is an excellent starting point for seeing the Pennsylvania countryside on foot.

Speaking of scenic hikes, you are no doubt aquainted with Arizona’s Grand Canyon but did you know that Pennsylvania had its own Grand Canyon as well? The Pine Creek Rail Trail is another old railbed and for that reason a level, easy hike that extends the length of the Keystone State’s breathtaking Pine Creek Gorge. Set up your base of operations from one of the cabin rental accommodations in Colton Point, then start up the gorge and enjoy a delight for the senses that consist of ancient rock formations and spectacular waterfalls in a lush deciduous woodland teeming with wildlife. A person can almost visualize what the region was like 300 years ago, when the continent west of the Appalachian Mountain range was uninhabited wilderness. 

Folks who are visiting Pennsylvania for the first time may consider going to Keystone Ramblers, a website that is a broad guide to hiking in that state. In addition to a guide to various hiking experiences, you will stumble on information on issues such as stretching, nutrition and equipment as well as potential hazards such as poison ivy and oak. This group also creates guided group hiking tours for those who are interested.

Another online resource for Pennsylvania hiking tours is Pennsylvania Hiking and Trekking Tours. This site has links to businesses and organizations offering set tours, which may be a fine option for newcomers to the state.
 
 

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 30th, 2010 at 8:23 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.