Friday Night Hikes

Colyer Lake Trail is a 2.7 mile loop around Coyler Lake located near Center Hall, PA. Primarily used as a hiking trail, the trail can also be used for biking, running, or just to out and sit by the lake. The trail is mainly a slightly wooded area on one side with the lake off to the other side. With a clear path direction, well maintained and laid out, it's very easy to see the trail and make sure you're on the trail and not on private property off to the right of the trail. There are also several spots to stop along the trail to sit down and relax and enjoy nature. Which is nice if you're out hiking with children or just need a place to stop and tie your shoe. This is truly a great trail for anyone of any age who wishes to go out and enjoy a quiet walk.  Majority of the trail, the lake is off to the left and there are several openings along the way so there is always a great view of the lake and are usually able to see from one side to the other.  Col...

I've recently discovered that hiking after a root canal is not a fun time. However, I had to do it for the blog. Yesterday afternoon Scout and I went to hike Indian Steps Trail to the Mid-State Trail.  Indian Steps Trail is a 3.9 mile loop located near State College, PA. Located deep down a gravel road in the middle of Rothrock State Forest it's slightly difficult to find without using your GPS to get there.  The trail is mostly a vertical incline up the side of a mountain, or as some people would cal it, " A fairly large hill. " Mainly covered in leaves and sticks the trail is very rough and rocky and might be a challenging hike for those who aren't experienced hikers.  Once you've reached the top of the mountain you can either continue down the other side continuing on the Indian Steps Trail, or you can turn left or right and head to the Mid-State Trail.   For this hike I decided to go left and right and hike a few minutes each way...

Rewind a few days to right before Easter Sunday and you'll find me out on the Lakeside Trail in Howard, PA. The Lakeside Trail is a 4.4 mile trail that is in fact beside a lake. The trail is mainly a loop alongside Foster Joseph Sayers Lake . It's a slightly wooded area which at times can be very muddy, so be sure to wear your dirty hiking shoes. There are also a few smaller streams running down through the trail leading back to the lake so be sure to watch your footing or else you'll end up going for a swim!   Off to your left of the trail is the main lake where there's always plenty of people out fishing and enjoying the lake! The best time to enjoy the trail is over the summer or later in the spring so the trail has had plenty of time to dry up so you're not hiking through a swamp.  As for wildlife on the trail there isn't a whole lot to be seen, a few frogs, squirrels, chipmunks, and lots of fish off to the left in the lake!  The trail is ver...

Monday, April 22, 2019 is upon us and while this is a Monday. it's no ordinary Monday. Today is Earth Day!  Every year Earth Day has a new theme and this years theme is "Protect Our Species."  The number of animals living above the water has declined by almost 50% since 1970. Marine populations have also d ropped by 40% overall. Insect populations have declined by at least 75% in some places of the world. You may think that getting rid of insects is a good thing, but insects help our ecosystems, and many animals feed off of insects. So with insect populations declining, that in turn declines food for other species, which kills off over species and so on.  It has been estimated that nearly 85% of Earth's land surface has been impacted by humans which has affected many ecosystems where specific species used to live and have been forced to adapt or die off.  Finally, about a quarter of the world's coral reefs have been damaged beyond repair and three qua...

Normally, I wouldn't post about the same hike multiple times. However, last night's hike was the best hike I ever had! When it comes to hiking, I've always preferred to go in the afternoon when the sun is shining and you the views are as far as the eyes can see. Last night my friend Nate and I decided to hike Mount Nittany around sunset and it was the most amazing hike I have ever gone on.  As the sun was going down behind the clouds and over the mountain as we began our hike, I was rushing to get to the top because I was slightly afraid to hike in the dark . Unsure of the wildlife at night and unsure if we would be able to see the trail it was a rush against time. The higher up we got, the more I started to realize I was missing a whole different hiking experience. The way the sun shined down between the trees as it was setting, the way the wind blew ever so gently to keep you cool, but not cold, just the overall beauty of nature in the evening.  Once we finally ...

Today's hike was a relaxing 4 mile hike through the Spring Creek Canyon , along Spring Creek. This hike is located on Shiloh Road  off of I-99 near Bellefonte, PA. The hike is a 3 mile loop according to Alltrails.com . However for this hike we hiked from the starting point to the ending point straight ahead at rock road and along a state game lands trail.   The trail is a level, gravel path along the Spring Creek. When you first arrive to the trail, there are two signs informing you on the trail length , the trail width, the trial slope , and even the trail surface.  Fishing, running, biking, and hunting are other popular activities in the surrounding area.  This is a popular trail for fisherman and anyone who enjoys nature and taking their dogs for a walk. If you choose to hike along the State Game Lands there are benches placed around the creek if you plan on stopping to enjoy the creek, but be sure to keep your eyes open for signs so you don't...

Yesterday was the first truly nice day of the year in terms of weather. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, it was a perfect day for a hike. If you're a fan of skiing , mini golf , go karts, skateboarding, or just being outside, chances are you've heard of Tussey Mountain . Along with outdoor recreational activities , Tussey Mountain is home to lots of trails/paths for hiking as well as mountain biking.  Located in parts of the Rothrock State Forest , there are and ample amount of trials and paths to explore. This hike was mainly along the Longberger Path as well as the Three Bridges Trail.   The Longberger Path is a primarily  rocky path. However the path is very smooth and well laid out with a clear direction of where to go and always keep you on the path. The trail itself is about a 2.5 mile hike from point to point that comes across many other trails along the way. One of these trails is the Three Bridges Trail. The Three Bridges Trail   is...