Laurel Highlands Historical Village

Be Proud of Who You Are - Be Proud of Your Heritage

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Hiking Clubs

Here are a collection of websites for various hiking and outing clubs and organizations in and around central Pennsylvania. Many of these clubs conduct day hikes, on weekly and monthly basis, as well as leading overnight backpacking trips. These hiking club provide a great opportunity to interactive with others that share your interest in hiking and backpacking.The organizations listed here provide an opportunity to give back to the trails that we all love. Monetary donations and membership dues to these organizations help support trail maintenance. The money that they collect purchases supplies for keeping trails clear from brush, paint for blazing trais, as well as purchasing lumber and hardware for bridges and signage. Even better yet, take advantage of your membership and volunteer. Trails in Pennsylvania are maintained by volunteers and without their help we wouldn’t have nearly as many opportunities to enjoy the solitude of Penn’s Woods as we do today.

Source: Hiking Clubs – PAHikes

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Stone Valley Rec. Area

The Stone Valley Recreation Area is located within a 7000 acre experimental forest owned by the Pennsylvania State University. The recreation center itself includes a 72-acre lake, a resident camp facility, a day use recreation site, the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, and more than 700 acres of varied eco-systems. Included on this recreation area are over 25 miles of trails suitable for hiking, snow-shoeing, and cross country skiing.The Stone Valley Recreation Area is a great place to hike with kids. You’ll find a number of easy trails, including the Lake Trail and Homestead Trail. The 9-mile Ironstone Trail, a spur of the Mid State Trail, also passes through the recreation area.

Source: Stone Valley Rec. Area – PAHikes

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Shingletown Gap

Shingletown Gap is a heavily used area for hiking, biking and walking dogs. But don’t let that keep you away. Even though it is very popular it is still a beautiful place to take a nice stroll or a short hike.Located in Rothrock State Forest, the trailhead for this hike is easily accessible from State College, only miles from downtown, along route PA45, by the town of Shingletown.There are many trails in the Shingletown Gap area. These trails are used for hiking and also for mountain biking. Some of the trails will lead you up the mountain and connect to the Mid State Trail. Trails in the Shingletown Gap area are blazed blue or blazed red. Some of the trails are still blazed with the older blazes such as blue and white or white with a red stripe.

Source: Shingletown Gap – PAHikes

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Scotia Barrens

The Scotia Barrens, located west of State College, is largely owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and is designated as State Game Lands 176. The Scotia Barrens derives its name from two features in the area. Scotia was a small iron ore mining village created in the early 1880s by Andrew Carnegie. You will find remnants of the iron ore era while hiking in the Scotia Barrens. The barrens is a natural habitat that supports plant species adapted to grown in severe conditions. Scotia Barrens contains large growths of pitch pine and scrub oak. A large variety of birds call this area home and bird watching is a popular activity for those visiting the Scotia Barrens.There are many trails that criss-cross Scotia Barrens. All of these trails are suitable for hiking, with many used by bikers as well. Some trails are designated for equestrian use. Since these trails reside in the state game lands, fluorescent orange attire is required to be worn from November 15th to December 15th.

Source: Scotia Barrens – PAHikes