The PA Capital Region

Schedule of Hikes and

Activities - Open to All!

The most frequent, and one of the most enjoyable, activities of Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club and Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club are group hikes. We also have other group activities periodically, especially trail work outings serving the primary purpose of each organization. Between our two groups, we normally offer around 100 hikes each year! (Not all are listed on this web site.)
A volunteer hike leader has come forward for each one of these events, offering to share one of the Harrisburg area's footpaths with you.
Scroll down this page to see the current calendar of hikes.

You do not need to be a member of SATC, nor CVATC, nor any other organization, to come walk with us. Both CVATC and SATC welcome your membership, however. See you on the trail!

PA Capital Region Hiking and Activity Schedule | Scheduled Trail Maintenance Events
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Capital Region Group Hike Guidelines

In order to provide a safe, enjoyable, experience for all, over more than 70 years of combined existence our Clubs have evolved a few simple guidelines for participants in its group hikes. These are:

Meeting: Unless otherwise noted in the hike schedule, all hikes on weekends and holidays leave from entrance to the State Library, beside Fisher Plaza, behind the State Capitol Building, in center city Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Click for a PDF (350K) or JPEG (600K) version of a map showing where Capital Region hikes meet.
Should the street in front of the entrance to the State Library be closed, the alternate meeting site is the parking island in front of the East Gate Office Center on 7^th Street, opposite the Herr Street underpass. Five additional minutes will be allowed at the alternate site.
Greeting: At the beginning of each group hike, each participant is invited to join in a circle and say your name. You can use your first name, or not "circle," if you prefer.
Registration: All hikers are encouraged to register with the hike leader at the hike meeting point or at the trailhead before starting any scheduled hike. You can preview the registration form and its disclaimer here.
Pre-registration: For safety reasons with all D and E terrain rated hikes, and all hikes over 10 miles, please register with the hike leader before arriving at the meeting location unless the leader has hiked with you previously and knows your abilities. (Accordingly, the times and/or meeting points for these hikes might not be posted on this web site.)
Transportation: If you ride with someone, you should give the driver 10 cents times the highway mileage shown in the hike schedule to help defray the costs of transportation.
Pets: No pets are allowed on hikes or at other activities.
Leave No Trace: If you carry it in on an Capital Region group hike, please carry it out.
Smoking: NO smoking is permitted.
On the trail: We request that hikers stay between the leader and the "sweep." If you suddenly leave the hiking group without telling either the leader or the sweep, we will try to find you, possibly including calling authorities for search-and-rescue operations. If the volunteer hike leader is going too fast or otherwise not meeting your expectations, don't suffer in silence, but tell the leader in private.

We want the hike experience to be fun for you, and everyone else!

What are these letters and numbers in the hike listing?

Click here for the hike codes.

Where are these hikes?

Good question! If you're not from the area, or not familiar with the trails, click here for a comprehensive introduction to hiking near Harrisburg. To get you started on finding the trail we're going to, the county the hike is located in is noted in these hike listings.

2010

There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing!!
(Click here for ideas on what to wear...)

February 7, Sunday, 9:00 AM (CHANGED TIME FROM BUSHWACK BULLETIN)
Caledonia to Shippensburg Rd.
P: Brisk T: Rug L: 10.8 (Franklin/Cumberland Cos.)

Enjoy a pleasant late winter hike on the AT. This is a great section of the Appalachian Trail with some ascents and descents. We will be stopping for a quick lunch. If snow is deep enough, snowshoes may be used.
MEET at iron furnace parking lot, Bucher Hill Rd south of PA 174, Boiling Springs.
Alternate meeting place at Shippensburg Rd. AT parking lot at 9:30 AM
Leader: Sal Fulginiti, 713-0112, Tuscarora21@yahoo.com

February 10, Wednesday, 10:00 AM
Wildwood Mid-Week Hike
P: Leis T: Easy L: 3, 0 hwy miles (Dauphin County)

This is a short, easy 3 mile loop hike.
MEET at the Olewine Nature Center.
Leader: Susanne Donmoyer, 545-5308

February 20, Saturday, 10:00 AM
Tumbling Run Trail
P: Mod T: Rug L: 4-5, 0 hwy miles (Cumberland County)

Beautiful hike along Tumbling Run. Some scrambling, narrow, steep and wet areas. We will hike in and out. Bring lunch, snack and water.
MEET ONLY at the iron furnace parking lot in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
Torrential rain or ice will cancel. If in doubt, call leader.
Leader: Howard Davis, 729-0147, call by 8:30 AM, canoetrip@pa.net

February 28, Sunday, 1:00 PM
A.T. Scott Farm North to Cumberland Valley Viewpoint
P: Mod T: Rug L: 7.5, 45 hwy miles (Cumberland County)

March 26, Friday, 6:15 PM
Annual Meeting & Banquet

Presentation: KTA Vice-President Wanda Shirk, CBS show “Survivor” 2005 contestant - see Bushwack Bulletin for registration and other details.
LOCATION: Appalachian Brewing Company.

Following a ½ hour social time with refreshments, we will review Club activities, and enjoy our presentation.
LOCATION: Giant Foods grocery store, 3301 Trindle Road, Camp Hill - meet in 2nd floor Community Center, stairs far left of the doors, past the cafe.

PA Hiking Week
May 29 to June 6

September 11
Susquehanna Super Hike
(Lancaster/York Counties)
Registration opens in February.

Join the Keystone Trails Association for the second annual Susquehanna Super Hike, a 26-mile trail challenge in the lower Susquehanna Gorge of South Central Pennsylvania. Trail runners and hikers will battle over 4,200’ elevation gain along the course’s steep hills, rugged terrain and deep ravines. The course features spectacular river views including Urey Overlook, House Rock Vista and Pinnacle Overlook, scenic hollows like Oakland Run, Tucquan Glen and Kelly’s Run, and Wind Cave, one of the largest tectonic caves in the Eastern U.S.

Why not JOIN CVATC or SATC for pennies per day
to get the most complete hiking and trail work information in the Capital Region, in your own mailbox every quarter?

Pennsylvania sells about a million hunting licenses each year. Hikers NEED to know when their armed companions take to the woods.

We recommend wearing a blaze orange cap or vest each year from the last weekend of April through Memorial Day Monday, and from the first weekend of October through the end of January.

Strongly consider avoiding woods hiking altogether, from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the first two weeks of December.

It is THE LAW (scroll down to Section (c)21) to wear blaze orange on State Game Lands (the Darlington, Appalachian, and many other trails pass through State Game Lands) from November 15 through December 15.