THE WIKI COMMUNITY

Friday, 20 August 2010

Feel The Mountain Breezes Blow In Pennsylvania

By Wesley Mathews

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 offers a much different experience in a beautiful part of the country 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 find abundant opportunities not only for hiking and backpacking, but for a plethora 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 merely getting started, the Clarion-Little Toby Creek Rail Trail is a well designated, easy route that parallels the Clarion River for almost twenty miles. As an old railbed, the trail is fairly level and as a result an easy hike and is apt for biking in the spring, summer and fall months and cross-country skiing in the fall. With two outstanding access areas from bed breakfasts in the quaint and historic towns of Ridgway and Brockway, the Clarion trail is an excellent starting point for seeing the Pennsylvania countryside on foot.

Speaking of beautiful hikes, you are no doubt familiar 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 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 rentals in Colton Point, then get on your way up the gorge and enjoy a treat for the senses that consist of ancient rock formations and wondrous waterfalls in a thriving deciduous woodland teeming with wildlife. One can practically imagine what the vicinity was like 300 years ago, when the continent west of the Appalachian Mountain range was uninhabited wilderness.

Individuals who are visiting Pennsylvania for the first time should consider going to Keystone Ramblers, a website that is a comprehensive 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, diet and equipment as well as potential hazards such as poison ivy and oak. This group also pulls together guided group hiking tours for those who are interested.

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

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