Feel The Mountain Breezes Blow In Pennsylvania
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010Hiking 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 country that is abundant in natural and human history in America’s eastern woodland area. From a Pennsylvania cabin rental in Butler County or elsewhere in the scenic Alleghenies, one can unearth plentiful 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 levels. If you are simply getting started, the Clarion-Little Toby Creek Rail Trail is a skillfully marked, easy route that parallels the Clarion River for almost twenty miles. As an old railbed, the trail is quite level and for that reason an easy hike and is apt for biking in the spring, summer and fall months and cross-country skiing in the fall. With two excellent entrance points from bed breakfasts in the charming and historic towns of Ridgway and Brockway, the Clarion trail is an excellent starting point for viewing the Pennsylvania countryside on foot.
Speaking of picturesque 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 therefore a flat, 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 depart up the gorge and enjoy a feast for the senses that include ancient rock formations and spectacular waterfalls in a flourishing deciduous woodland teeming with wildlife. A person can almost picture what the region was like 300 years ago, when the continent west of the Appalachian Mountain range was unspoiled wilderness.
Individuals who are touring Pennsylvania for the first time should 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 find information on issues such as stretching, nourishment and gear as well as potential hazards such as poison ivy and oak. This group also organizes guided group hiking tours for those who are interested.
Another online resource for Pennsylvania hiking tours is Pennsylvania Hiking and Trekking Tours. This site features links to businesses and organizations offering set tours, which may be a fine alternative for newcomers to the state.