Local Hike: Hopewell Lake

I really enjoy adventuring around Hopewell Furnace because it's fun and historical. They also have quite a few living history days, so those are always a fun day to visit too. It was sheep-shearing day, so we saw lots of naked sheep. :)

We found a geocache with lots of treasure! 

These tadpoles were hanging out in a puddle of water.

Pete the Cat went with us on our adventure. He was on loan from the local library and he wrote a journal entry about his adventures. How fun is that? 

Local Hike: Hopewell Lake, French Creek State Park

French Creek State Park is located about 25 minutes outside of the city of Reading. It is a beautiful (and huge!) area loaded with trails, lakes, camping, boating, history, and even sheep! I've only just started to explore this park, but it has lots of great places to wander and get lost. We parked and started out at Hopewell Furnace NHS. We explored the herb garden, buildings from the 1700's, and watched a sheep get sheared before heading past the old kilns to the lake. The trail hugs the lake shore for part of the hike, and takes you over wooden bridges and muddy areas for the rest. We also really enjoyed dipping our feet in the water after getting a little bit muddy. :)

Distance: between 2-3 miles

Time: 1 hour for the hike, an extra bit for exploring Hopewell

Dogs & Kids: Yes & yes! 

Rating: 3.5/5
Hopewell & French Creek are a great place for a Sunday afternoon picnic and stroll (or paddle in the lake!). We love how close it is from home, but how far-off the city seems. :)

Local Hike: Neversink Mountain

 Local Hike: Neversink Mountain Preserve, Reading

A few friends & I went adventuring one Sunday afternoon late in the fall and were pleasantly surprised by the empty trails that can be accessed only 15 minutes from the center of Reading (not a small feat for a city of 80,000+). First, we hiked up to the Witch's Hat Pavilion, which had a nice view of the city & Pagoda. Then we went down the backside to view some of the old ruins in the area. In the 1920's there was a hotel, sanitarium, and railroad on Neversink. Now there are only a few ruins of the buildings and the trails winding through the woods. I'm looking forward to going back in the spring to find a geocache we missed (we found two) and explore the railroad ruins that we didn't find. One nice thing about Neversink is that there are many trail heads and different trails varying in distance and difficulty. A not so nice aspect is that parking is very limited, especially on nice days. The trails are very well marked, but make sure you print out a trail map before you get outside.

Distance: As long as you want

Time: 2 hours

Dogs & Kids: Yes & Yes

Rating: 4/5
If you're a local, have you hiked Neversink Mountain before? 

Local Trail: Bernhardt Reservoir

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Local Trail: Bernhardt Reservoir

Tucked away in the hills behind Reading is a quiet little spot only a few minutes out of the city. The Reservoir area is very small and is less than a mile around, but it's a nice place to have a picnic on a spring or summer day. I like it because it's only about five minutes away from my church, so it's very quick & easy to go here. As a bonus, there's a few Geocaches scattered around the area (including a multi-cache!) and the Muhlenberg Rail Trail is only about a mile away. Add in one of these two and you'll have a nice afternoon right in the city.
Distance: less than 1 mile
Time: 25 minutes
Dogs & Kids: Yes & Yes
Rating: 3/5
This post is part of my local hikes & trails series that I began last year. As the weather continues to warm up you can expect more photos and adventures of hikes in the area. :) If you have any questions, feel free to ask away!

Local Hike: Pinnacle Trail

 ^ I've done this hike in toe shoes twice, heavy hiking boots aren't required!

 ^ Bringing friends is always a good idea :)

Local Hike: Pinnacle Trail 

This hike is one of my absolute favorite day hikes. In the past year I've been up to the top at least five times, probably more. You can park at the Hamburg Reservoir lot and then hike either to Pulpit Rock or the Pinnacle. The blue trail takes you along Furnace Creek (it's lovely), then once you hit the ridge on top, you'll follow the white Appalachian Trail markers through the woods to the Pinnacle. At the top you can enjoy the view, sign the log book, enjoy a snack and explore the caves along the cliff face. It can get a little crowded on nice days, so we always go up early and are back down by lunch time. :)

Distance: approx 8 miles

Time: 3-5 hours

Elevation Gain: 1000+ feet

Dogs & Kids: Yes & 7+ (it's long hike)

Rating: 5/5
Other photos: Pinnacle in the Fall
This is the start of my "Local Hikes" series.. where I'll be featuring nice places in my area to get out in the woods. I'll also feature other trails from my travels if I get a chance. :) Even if you're not a SE Pennsylvanian, I hope you'll enjoy the photos!