Some are rocky and rooted; the kind that required the development of sturdy, rubber-soled footwear and four-inch-wide mountain bike tires.Others are wide and smooth; perfect for pleasant, tree-lined strolls; leisurely bicycle rides; leashed dogs; and joggers.
Then there are those designed for shoed hooves. And, finally, don’t discount the type that only can be floated with a boat.
They all are trails. Their users range from hikers and walkers, riders of bicycles and horses,joggers and trail runners to canoers and kayakers.
If the latter don’t seem to belong on the list, consider that there are now at least 25 water trails within Pennsylvania – recreational corridors with specific start and end points for use by small-craft boaters. For all of the information you need to enjoy them, visit FishAndBoat.com and search for “water trails.”
Our Alleghenies are rich in trail resources. We have dozens of rail-trails, including the Great Allegheny Passage – widely considered to be within the Top-10rail-trails in the nation.
The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, extending for 70 miles from Johnstown to Ohiopyle, was made for backpackers with overnight camping areas and shelters every 10-12 miles. There are at least 18 state parks and state forest recreation areas, and every one of them offer trails.
Mountain bike trails traverse our ridges, and the Allegrippis Trails system above Raystown Lake is a mountain-bikers’ mecca. Thousands of riders were just there, the weekend of May 19-21, for an annual festival.
Then there are all of the trails offered by our National Park sites, county parks and municipal parks.
Here’s the question: Do you use any of these trails? If not, why not?
Some people deserve a pass because their advanced age or disabilities render them physically unable. But even for most of these folks, rail-trails can accommodate certain types of wheelchairs;their nearly flat, even surfaces are excellent (and beautiful) places to get fresh air and begin walking for better health.
Not knowing where to go – or what type of trail would best suit you – is not an excuse. Not with National Trails Day coming up on June 3.
Visit AmericanHikingSociety.org for starters, then click on the “National Trails Day” tab and the “Find an Event” button. Once you’ve inserted your information in the boxes and clicked on “Search,” you should find options for yourself and family members, including kids.
Another good resource is the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ events calendar, which includes scheduled hikes and related activities at state parks and in state forests. Go to events.dcnr.pa.gov, click on June 3 on the calendar, and you’ll find dozens of listed events with descriptions and contact information.
National Trails Day events within our region include organized hikes of varying lengths and conditions at Keystone, Ohiopyle, Prince Gallitzin and Trough Creek state parks. Trail maintenance days on Laurel Summit near Jennerstown and at Ohiopyle offer the opportunity to give a bit back to Mother Nature.
Powdermill Nature Reserve near Rector is hosting a package of family oriented programs that day, which will include two guided hikes – one easy and the other more challenging. Don’t mention to the kids that these Powdermill programs are educational, and they’ll just think they are having fun. E-mail .
If bicycling is more of an interest, Adventure Cycling is hosting a weekend Indiana/Cambria County Tour, June 2-4, that will feature the Ghost Town and Hoodlebug trails and a variety of low-traffic roads. This ride will cover 139 miles. E-mail .
And the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy is hosting its annual river sojourn on the Stonycreek, Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas rivers (basically the Kiski-Conemaugh Water Trail), June 1-4. Go to ConemaughValleyConservancy.org, click on “Recreation” then “Sojourn.”
Of course with our wealth of trails around here, every day could be “Trails Day” for us. But National Trail Day, June 3, would be a great time to become a more-regular trail user.