Adventures in Berks

From land, to air, and on the water, Berks County has lots of adventures awaiting.

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Looking for adventure? It’s just outside your door. Berks County has something to offer anyone ready to get out of their comfort zone and try something new. Whether you prefer to explore by land, air or sea, there is fun here for everyone.

Conquer the Mountains

If you’re searching for the view from above without leaving the ground, look no further than the Pinnacle trail in Hamburg. Ranked as the highest local point of the Appalachian Trail, the Pinnacle lookout offers stunning views of the Lehigh Valley from 1,000 feet  above the surrounding valleys and woodlands.

To reach the trailhead from Hamburg, follow Route 22 east to Reservoir Road. You can pick up the trail from the parking lot at the end of the road. Hike up the gravel trail leading from the parking lot until you see the AT trailhead, marked by white blazes, on your right. For two miles you will hike a segment of the AT to Pulpit Rock. From here, you get a sweeping view of the valley. On a clear day you can even spot the Pinnacle, although from this vantage point it is only a small outcropping just off the main ridge.

Continue along the AT for another three miles to reach the Pinnacle, which will be marked by a massive pile of rocks along the trail. You can hike out to the rock face for a priceless view of the valley and climb down the rocks to explore a series of small caves below it. When you’ve soaked in your share of the sights, continue along the trail to the west. It will flatten out and eventually turn into an old fire road. From the road you will pass two trails branching left. Both will take you back to the parking lot – the first will make the hike a total length of seven miles: the second adds two more.

The Pinnacle hike is typically rated as moderate, but be sure to consider weather conditions and your hiking experience before taking on a seven- to nine-mile loop. You usually need to work a little for the good views, and this hike is no exception. The trail is rocky, there are sev- eral steep inclines to contend with, and the full loop can take four or five hours, excluding the time spent at the overlooks. It is also important to note that this trail is dog- friendly and can see a lot of traffic in the nicer weather.

Before heading out, be sure to pack properly for a day in the woods. Take plenty of water and snacks or a lunch, consider the weather and take appropriate outerwear, and be sure to wear proper footwear. You can find a printable map of the trail at alltrails.com or eastcoasthiker.com. And remember, leave no trace. Stick to the trails and pack out any trash you bring with you.

Reach for the Skies

They say the best view is from the top,  so take to the skies and get a view of Berks unlike any other: from 3,000 feet. The Reading Air School of Flight, located on the north ramp of the Reading Regional Airport, is Southeastern Pennsylvania’s foremost authority in flight instruction. It is the only flight school in town with full-time instructors on staff as well as a full-time aircraft maintenance department to provide you with the safest and most thorough learning environment.

A private pilot’s license is a passport to local adventures. Take family and friends to breakfast upstate, or beat the shore traffic with a quick, 45-minute flight to Ocean City, NJ. If you’re ready to earn your wings, Read- ing Air offers instrument rating training and licensing for private, commercial and instructional flying.

Not sure if flying is right for you? Reading Air offers affordable discovery flights that allow you to take off, fly and land with an instructor’s guidance. Flights include 30 minutes of ground training and 30 minutes of in-air, hands- on flight instruction. In just one flight you will know if this particular brand of adventure is for you. Of course, if you just want to go along for the ride, you and up to two of your friends can book an air tour in Reading Air’s Piper aircraft and spend 10 scenic minutes soaring the local skies.

For local air adventurers who already have a private pilot’s license, seize the opportunity to join a community of pilots at the Reading Aero Club (RAC). Also located at the Reading Regional Airport, the RAC is one of the oldest continuously operating flying clubs in America. Since 1932, the club has provided a place to socialize, develop friendships and learn more about flying. They also offer a chance to give back by participating in several nonprofit and special events each year, including Angel Flights, for seriously ill patients who need treatment far from home; Veterans Airlift Command, providing transportation for wounded warriors and veterans; and animal rescue flights to deliver pets from overcrowded shelters to loving homes. For more info visit readingaeroclub.org.

Both Reading Air and the RAC have rental aircrafts available for local licensed pilots, so call your friends, pack your bags, and get ready for a high-flying adventure in the skies over Berks!

Take on the Open Water

If your adventure style is more wet and wild than high-flying, Berks County still has plenty to offer. The area hosts plenty of unique waterways; try grabbing a paddle and going exploring!

While canoeing and kayaking have become traditional favorites for traversing the open waters, a new trend has taken the paddling world by storm. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) has roots in surfing, but unlike traditional surfers who rely on waves for propulsion, paddle boarders use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. And there is an SUP style for everyone. Variations include recreational flat-water paddling, racing, surfing and whitewater. There are even boards for yoga and fishing. 

Fortunately for local paddlers, there is a 1,150-acre playground right in our back yard. Blue Marsh Lake is part of a 6,100-acre park you can explore by SUP, kayak or canoe. The park also offers hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, swimming beaches and day use areas. All of the lake’s boat launches are open to paddlers; however, the northern launch points are safer and more peaceful during busy boating season. Launching at the Sheidy Boat Ramp or Church Road access points off Route 183 in Leesport puts paddlers in a prime location for still water, limited power boat traffic, and several small inlets to explore. Other launches include the State Hill Boat Launch on Brownsville Road in Sinking Spring and the Dry Brooks Boat Launch and Day Use Area on Palisades Drive in Leesport. If you own a boat or board, it is important to note that the Sheidy location is a state launch where boat registrations are required. 

Before hitting the water, make sure you’ve packed your life vest; all paddlers are required to have one on their craft. You'll also need plenty of sunscreen, snacks and water. Review the PA Fish and Boat Commission boater safety guide at fishandboat.com for answers to all your water safety concerns. 

Don’t have your own boat? Adventure is still within reach. Blue Marsh Outdoors offers rental sit-on-top and sit-in single kayaks, tandem kayaks, canoes and paddle boards so you can find the paddling style that best suits you. The local outfitter also offers two convenient drop off locations at the Church Road access lot and the Dry Brooks Day Use Area when you’re ready to head back to dry land. But beware; you may not want to leave!

Make Reel Memories, Not Fish Tales

No one said being adventurous can’t also be relaxing. Whether you prefer to wade in local waters, travel to exotic lands, or even just float, TCO Outdoors has a fly fishing and outdoor experience for every schedule and skill level. 

First-time fly fishermen and families can attend TCO’s free Flying Fishing 101 seminars to learn the basics of casting and outfit rigging. The two-hour class is a great way to get introduced to the sport and to get the whole family together outside. If the fish just aren’t biting, you can find more intensive, hands-on training at Beginner Fly Fishing School. In this five-hour class, experienced instructors will educate you not only on fly fishing mechanics – choosing the correct equipment, basic knot tying and casting – but also on entomology, fish behavior, and how to read the water. Workshops are held on Sundays from 9am to 2pm, April through August.

More experienced anglers can find even more adventure with TCO’s fly fishing guide services. Their guides will customize a private trip to suit your needs. Whether you are new to fly fishing and want hands-on and personalized help; are fishing a new species, technique or body of water; or want to spend the day brushing up on tactics to be more successful, they can plan the perfect trip for you. Guide services can be in a half- or full-day format in many of the area's most popular creeks and rivers. Trips in and around Berks County include the Tulpehocken Creek and the Schuylkill, Lehigh, Susquehanna and Juniata rivers. For deeper bodies of water, float trips are also available. Trips can be scheduled year-round by appointment. 

Finally, fishing at home is fun, but fishing in Belize is better. TCO hosts several trips each year to exotic and prime fishing locales all over the world. Fish the famous waters of the Midwest, Montana or Colorado or try something new in the Bahamas, Cuba or Belize. Trips are booked a year in advance and fill up quickly, so keep your eye on the website for next year’s schedule. The friendly staff at TCO also hosts Q&A sessions in the store to better prepare you for your next big adventure.