Hikers once again will be picking their pace and path through Pennsylvania’s bountiful outdoors when Hiking Week 2013 begins on May 25, offering participants a variety of organized hikes across the state.

“A wealth of healthy hiking activities is offered to all ages and abilities thanks to the cooperative efforts of the co-sponsoring Keystone Trails Association and our bureaus of state parks and forestry,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan said.

“Entering its 12th year, this event has become increasingly popular as we reach out to the uninitiated and offer a wide variety of highly organized hikes,” Allan said. “The ‘welcome mat’ is out to novices and trail-hardened veterans alike, inviting them to hike in our state parks, forests and municipal greenways in this annual salute to healthy exercise and the serenity of those very special outdoors places.”

The nine-day Hiking Week, offering more than 70 organized hikes, concludes Sunday, June 2, and encompasses National Trails Day on June 1. The co-sponsoring trails association and DCNR have been encouraging suggestions on new hikes that could be added to this year’s schedule online.

Special events planned by DCNR and the Keystone Trails Association will take place in parks, forests, cities and towns across the state. All of the scheduled hikes have leaders and include a variety of lengths and terrain -- from easy strolls along urban greenways to strenuous treks in some of Pennsylvania’s rugged mountain areas. Special hikes include night hikes; wildflower walks; hikes for people with disabilities; and pet and geology walks.

A goal of more than 100 hikes has been set, with state forests and parks across the state being asked to schedule and oversee activities. Organized in 1956, KTA is an umbrella organization made up of 44 hiking and outdoors organizations in and around Pennsylvania. 

5/27/2013