Keystone Trails Association
  • About
    • News >
      • Newfoundland 2024 Trip Report
      • Newsletter Archive
      • Meet PA Hikers
      • Trail Care Stories
    • Contact
    • About KTA
    • Work For KTA
    • Strategic Plan
    • Volunteer with KTA
    • Our People
    • Our Story
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Press
    • Multimedia
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Advocacy >
      • Kids Trail Ambassador Program
    • Donate >
      • Monthly Giving: Keep Trails Alive
      • Planned Giving: The Heritage Society
      • Giving for the Future: Endowment Fund
      • Hike to Give: 100-Mile Trail Challenge
    • Membership
    • Events >
      • KTA Philadelphia Group Hike
      • KTA Leave No Trace Level One Training
      • Wales 2025
      • Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2025 >
        • KHOW 2025 Program Lineup
      • 2026 St. John Trail Care >
        • 2026 St. John Lottery Interest Form
      • Backpacking for Beginners 2025
  • GET OUTDOORS
    • KTA Gear Loaner Program
    • Trails
    • Pennsylvania Hiking Trail Trailers
    • Maps
  • Trail Care Program
    • FAQs Trail Care
    • Report a Trail Issue
    • 2025 Weekday Trail Cares
    • #10 WRT
    • #11 CKT CO
    • #12 Pinchot
    • #13 BTP
    • #14 CKT CO
    • #15 GET
    • #16 CKT weekend
    • #17 2025 Trail Love ANF
    • #18 GPSP/MDTS
    • #19 CKT weekend
    • #20 A.T. section
    • Trail Love Events
    • KTA’s A.T. Section
  • Hiking Awards
  • Store
  • CLUBS
    • Hiking Clubs
    • KTA Grants-to-Clubs
    • Report Club Hours
Trail News

10 Ways to Hike the Same Trail for a New Experience

6/5/2023

 
Not able to travel very far for a hike, but want to feel like you're heading out for an adventure? Try one of these 10 ways to hike the same trail for a new experience!
Picture

10. Change your pace
If you normally hike swiftly, try slowing down your steps. What else can you notice when you're taking your time? If you're typically out for a leisurely stroll, are you able to challenge yourself to hike a bit quicker (within your personal limits)? How does this impact your experience?

9. Start at a different time of the day (or night!)
A trail can feel completely different if you start early in the morning or hit the trail later in the day to catch the sunset. How does it feel to be hiking while listening to the chirping of early morning birds vs the crickets as the sun is going down?

8. Travel the opposite direction
A change in perspective can reveal a whole new trail! If you're used to trudging up a section vs going down, or seeing the landscape change from a different view, hiking a loop in reverse could be a welcomed mental shift.

7. Watch and listen for the birds
Go to the library and grab a bird identification guide and head out to your favorite trail for a new adventure! Or, download the Merlin Bird ID app and identify the birds in real time by their songs.

6. Be mindful of the plants
Take a native plant book along in your backpack to see what is growing along the trail. Are they there just for the season? Are they safe to eat? Are they invasive? Knowing whats growing can add a layer of fascination and curiosity to your hikes!

5. Change who you're with
Do you normally hike alone? Invite a friend to join you! Similarly, if you normally hike with a large group, what would it be like to go with just one friend? Curating who you hike with can open doors for great conversations.

4. Make time to journal
Grab a notebook and jot down your thoughts as you hike. What's the weather like? What time did you start? What did you see? How did you feel? Documenting your experience can heighten your senses and your intuition. 

3. Take (or don't take) pictures
If you don't normally take photos while you're hiking, try setting a goal to take 5-10 photos. What caught your attention? How would you summarize the trail in pictures? If you normally take a lot of photos, try keeping your phone tucked away. Can you be totally present while walking? Rather than capturing it with a photo, can you simply capture it with your mind?

2. Plan to stay all day
Even if your hike will only take a couple hours, can you stop and take breaks to enjoy simply being outside? Pack some extra snacks and make your trail experience last all day.

1. Hike it in every season
Hiking in Pennsylvania means trails are always changing. You can hike the same trail multiple times a year and with each experience see something completely different like snow covered trees, changing leaves in autumn, luscious greenery, and bubbling creeks. 


What did you try? Tag us in a post on Facebook (@keystonetrails) or Instagram (@keystonetrails) to let us know! 

Comments are closed.
    Name:
    Email:
    Confirm that you are not a bot.
    ×

    Categories

    All
    Hiking Opportunities
    Hiking Tips
    Interviews
    News
    Press Release
    Trail Care
    Trail Stories

    Archives

    June 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    September 2022
    July 2022
    October 2021
    March 2020
    February 2020
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016

    RSS Feed

    Trail News Archive

    Keystone Trails Association

    Submissions welcome!
    KTA Editorial Guidelines
    Comments Policy

Sign up for our newsletter:

Name:
Email:
Confirm that you are not a bot.
×

Learn

Hike With Us
Find a Trail
Take a Class

Contact

Contact KTA
Our Team
​Manage Your Account

Get Involved

Volunteer with Trail Care
Become a Member
Get our Newsletter
Picture
© COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • About
    • News >
      • Newfoundland 2024 Trip Report
      • Newsletter Archive
      • Meet PA Hikers
      • Trail Care Stories
    • Contact
    • About KTA
    • Work For KTA
    • Strategic Plan
    • Volunteer with KTA
    • Our People
    • Our Story
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Press
    • Multimedia
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Advocacy >
      • Kids Trail Ambassador Program
    • Donate >
      • Monthly Giving: Keep Trails Alive
      • Planned Giving: The Heritage Society
      • Giving for the Future: Endowment Fund
      • Hike to Give: 100-Mile Trail Challenge
    • Membership
    • Events >
      • KTA Philadelphia Group Hike
      • KTA Leave No Trace Level One Training
      • Wales 2025
      • Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2025 >
        • KHOW 2025 Program Lineup
      • 2026 St. John Trail Care >
        • 2026 St. John Lottery Interest Form
      • Backpacking for Beginners 2025
  • GET OUTDOORS
    • KTA Gear Loaner Program
    • Trails
    • Pennsylvania Hiking Trail Trailers
    • Maps
  • Trail Care Program
    • FAQs Trail Care
    • Report a Trail Issue
    • 2025 Weekday Trail Cares
    • #10 WRT
    • #11 CKT CO
    • #12 Pinchot
    • #13 BTP
    • #14 CKT CO
    • #15 GET
    • #16 CKT weekend
    • #17 2025 Trail Love ANF
    • #18 GPSP/MDTS
    • #19 CKT weekend
    • #20 A.T. section
    • Trail Love Events
    • KTA’s A.T. Section
  • Hiking Awards
  • Store
  • CLUBS
    • Hiking Clubs
    • KTA Grants-to-Clubs
    • Report Club Hours