Registration is now open for Keystone Trails Association's Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend, which will be held October 18-20, in York and Lancaster counties.

Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend allows visitors and local residents to explore PA's beautiful and unique Susquehanna Riverlands.

This region is one of eight conservation landscapes identified by the  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

This multi-day, multi-location event is hosted by Keystone Trails Association (KTA), a statewide organization committed to promoting, protecting, preserving, and providing hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania.

This event is being presented by Explore York.

“As the official tourist promotion agency for York County, we’re proud to be the presenting sponsor of Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend,” said Melissa Beaverson, Destination Marketing Director for Explore York. She added, “This weekend-long event not only highlights our beautiful outdoor spaces but also supports local businesses and boosts tourism, contributing to the overall economic health of the community.”

Community partners participating in Keystone Trails Association’s KHOW include Adventure Explorations, Black Cat Yoga, Burning Bridge Tavern, Cedar Meadow Farms,

Coach Trish, Dave Martin, Discover Columbia, Discover Lancaster, Explore York, Foundation for PA Watersheds, Franklin & Marshall College, Hemlocks to Hellbenders, Horn Farm Center, Lancaster Conservancy, Lancaster County Bird Club, Lancaster County Environmental Center, Let’s Roll Electric Bike Shop, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Mason-Dixon Trail System, Master Watersheds Stewards, Penn State Extension, York County, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light, PA Parks & Forests Foundation, Susquehanna Natural Heritage Area, Susquehanna Style, TCO Fly Shop, The Common Wheel, Watershed Alliance of York, York County Economic Alliance, York County Parks and Recreation, York Hiking Club

The Lancaster-York region features many incredible outdoor recreation opportunities, including the Mason-Dixon Trail, a 193-mile hiking trail offering spectacular views along the Susquehanna River!

In York County, the river bluffs rise about 800 feet above the Susquehanna. This section of trail is designated as a National Recreation Trail.  It is one of a collection of other exceptional trails that complement the region’s grandeur.

The Susquehanna Riverland landscape includes cold, clean streams for trout fishing, miles of rail trails accessible to all, hiking paths with ties to the Underground Railroad, landmarks that share stories of indigenous peoples that call these shores home, and dozens of nonprofit groups working to improve the health of our forests, rivers, air, and farmland. 

All of these can be explored at this year’s Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend. 

Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend allows participants to create their own experience by choosing from guided outdoor adventures, educational opportunities, and stewardship activities that highlight local organizations and natural and cultural assets of the region.

We believe one of the best ways to conserve Pennsylvania is to help people create a connection to the land. By offering events such as this, we hope participants notice the beauty of PA's environment and the connection it has on their wellbeing.

Experiences like this can spark interest in advocacy and stewardship efforts to protect these special places for generations to come and improve conditions for the wildlife that call them home.

Importantly, they also help support Pennsylvania’'s growing outdoor recreation economy.

“Keystone Trails Association is thrilled to host this impactful event,” says Brook Lenker, Executive Director of KTA “Amazing partners, exquisite venues, and the extensive and exciting array of activities promise unforgettable adventures. Sign up and experience the spirit of the Susquehanna Riverlands.”

Click Here for a video overview of the Riverlands Hike.

Registration for KHOW is now open.   

Interested in getting involved with KHOW? Contact Kate Prisby, KTA Manager of Events and Programs at prisby@kta-hike.org. 

This event is funded in part by Explore York, PA DCNR, Brookfield Renewable and Pennsylvania American Water, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, LandStudies and Wellspan Health.

Media sponsors include; Susquehanna Styles and Hemlocks to Hellbenders.

The Keystone Trails Association offers a robust trail care program with volunteer opportunities available on PA trails, serves as the statewide voice of the hiking trail community and trail advocate in PA’s capital, and offers a wealth of hiking opportunities throughout the year that both long-time hikers and the next generation of hikers can enjoy together.

[Posted: September 3, 2024]

9/9/2024