KTA Hiking Weekends feature 3 days of hiking, camaraderie, and looking ahead to the future of PA's trails.
What to expect
Each day, participants break into smaller groups and head out on guided hikes, led by local hiking club members who know the trails and keep you on the right path. You can join just for the hikes or stay with us for the whole weekend to enjoy the fellowship and evening programs. (See the full agenda below.)
About the hikes
Typically, we aim to have six hikes offered Friday afternoon, eight or more hikes offered Saturday, and eight or more hikes offered on Sunday. Most hikes will be within 15–45 minutes away from the retreat center, but no more than an hour. A mix of hike distances and difficulties are offered across the weekend, generally in the range of 2–10 miles, although there can be outliers! We try to keep each group under 15 people for everyone's safety and enjoyment.
Where you'll stay
Lodging (either a hotel-style room, bunk stay, or campsite) will be provided at Twin Pines Camp, Conference, and Retreat Center in Stroudsburg, PA. "Twin Pines is located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This 205-acre facility is the continuation of a camping program which began in the early 1920's in Allentown, Pennsylvania." No pets allowed.
Each day, participants break into smaller groups and head out on guided hikes, led by local hiking club members who know the trails and keep you on the right path. You can join just for the hikes or stay with us for the whole weekend to enjoy the fellowship and evening programs. (See the full agenda below.)
About the hikes
Typically, we aim to have six hikes offered Friday afternoon, eight or more hikes offered Saturday, and eight or more hikes offered on Sunday. Most hikes will be within 15–45 minutes away from the retreat center, but no more than an hour. A mix of hike distances and difficulties are offered across the weekend, generally in the range of 2–10 miles, although there can be outliers! We try to keep each group under 15 people for everyone's safety and enjoyment.
Where you'll stay
Lodging (either a hotel-style room, bunk stay, or campsite) will be provided at Twin Pines Camp, Conference, and Retreat Center in Stroudsburg, PA. "Twin Pines is located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This 205-acre facility is the continuation of a camping program which began in the early 1920's in Allentown, Pennsylvania." No pets allowed.
Who should attend this event?
Anyone who enjoys group-hiking while exploring PA's trails is welcome to attend! You do not need to be a member of KTA to join us. In fact, this is a great opportunity to see what KTA is all about and make a few new friends.
Anyone who enjoys group-hiking while exploring PA's trails is welcome to attend! You do not need to be a member of KTA to join us. In fact, this is a great opportunity to see what KTA is all about and make a few new friends.
Weekend Agenda
Friday
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Check-in
1:00 PM: Hikes depart
6:00 PM: Dinner (on your own)
8:00 PM: Program: "100 Years of the Appalachian Trail" by Jim Foster: The concept of a hiking trail from Georgia to Maine began in 1921 with a famous article by A.T. visionary Benton MacKaye. Jim Foster will present a talk with pictures on the first century of the Appalachian Trail. He'll include the founders, those who built the original Trail and sustained it over the years, along with several important hikers. Jim is a volunteer and life member of KTA, a long time A.T. volunteer and a "2000 Miler" who hiked the entire Trail in 2007.
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Check-in
1:00 PM: Hikes depart
6:00 PM: Dinner (on your own)
8:00 PM: Program: "100 Years of the Appalachian Trail" by Jim Foster: The concept of a hiking trail from Georgia to Maine began in 1921 with a famous article by A.T. visionary Benton MacKaye. Jim Foster will present a talk with pictures on the first century of the Appalachian Trail. He'll include the founders, those who built the original Trail and sustained it over the years, along with several important hikers. Jim is a volunteer and life member of KTA, a long time A.T. volunteer and a "2000 Miler" who hiked the entire Trail in 2007.
Saturday
8:00 - 3:00 PM: Check-in
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Hikes depart
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Council Meeting
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Program by the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Pocono Black Bear program by Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center
8:00 - 3:00 PM: Check-in
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Hikes depart
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Council Meeting
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Program by the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Pocono Black Bear program by Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center
Sunday
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Hikes depart
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Hikes depart
The Hikes
Friday
Keystone Trails Association Appalachian Trail Section # 1 - (Hike Filled) 6.5 miles/3.5 hours (moderate) : A.T. south From Little Gap 6.5 mile hike on recently rerouted A.T. Spectacular views of Lehigh Valley
Mt. Tammany via Red Dot (Mt. Tammany Trail) and Blue (Pahaquarry Trail) - 3.6 miles/2.5 hours (moderate) : Climb Mt. Tammany with views of the Water Gap.
Wind Gap A.T. Parking to Leroy Smith Appalachian Trail Shelter - 5 miles /4 hours (moderate) Wind Gap A.T. Parking to overlook at Smith Gap. (note there has been a distance change)
Preachers Camp Trail - Beltzville State Park - (Hike Filled) 5.1 miles/2 hours (moderate) : Explore beautiful Beltzsville State Park with 482 feet of elevation gain.
Cliff Trail and Raymondskill Falls/ Delaware Water Gap - (Hike Filled) 6 miles/ 3 hours (moderate) Winter views over Delaware River and majestic waterfall. NOTE: LIMITED PARKING CARPOOLING RECOMMENDED. We will start our hike with a visit to Raymondskill Falls. We will hike just under .15 miles down to the falls and take a few pictures. They can be quite nice depending upon waterflow. We will head back up to trailhead and cross Raymondskill Rd to pick up the Cliff Trail. We will climb ~ 350ft in about a mile, but then enjoy a relatively easy hike along the ridge and, weather permitting, enjoy some Spring views of the Delaware River. There are a few nice overlooks: Tri- State, Minisink, and Riverview. We will stop at the Milford Knob (663 ft.) for a brief break, then head back down to the trailhead (out and back). Total distance is about 6 miles and under 850 ft elevation gain; so we intend to move at about 2.5 mph. Please be prepared to keep up. With breaks this should take just under 3 hours. I don’t anticipate a water crossing, nor excessive rocks/ scrambling; however, I always I suggest well broken in waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support.
A fully charged cell phone is a good idea but service may be spotty. I love dogs, but not on this hike. Rain cancels. We will leave the Twin Pines Camp, Conference, & Retreat Center located at 3000 Twin Pine Rd, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 promptly at 1:00pm, and we will have a 1 hour drive to the trailhead. Parking at Raymondskill Rd. (41.2903342,-74.8397663), Dingman Township. Spots are limited so carpooling is encouraged. If you can’t find a spot, you can park at the Raymondskill Falls Trailhead lot which is about 250 ft. further West. All participants will need to sign the AMC liability release agreement just prior to the hike. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who will need to sign the agreement for them
Saturday
Tumbling Waters and Ridgeline Loops out of Pocono Environmental Education Center - 6.7 miles/5 hours (moderate) : Two loop trails over hilly terrain. Forests, ravines, wetlands; switchbacks, short cable-hold scramble. Stream with possible waterfall.
Mt Minsi Loop - Delaware Water Gap - 4.8 miles/3 hours (moderate)
Glenn Run Loop - 2.8 miles/2 hours (easy) : Loop trail through woods of Glenn Run Nature Preserve with overlook and lakeside stops.
KTA Appalachian Trail Section # 2 - (Limited Space) 6.5 miles/3.5 hours (moderate) : A.T. north from Lehigh Furnace Gap. 6.5-mile hike on recently rerouted A.T. Great views of western side of Lehigh Gorge
Bear Creek Preserve - (Hike Filled) 7 miles/4 hours (moderate) : 7-mile loop through Bear Creek Preserve with scenic overlook and three waterfalls along Shades Creek.
Appalachian Trail -Kaiser-Coppermine Loop - 6.5 miles/4.5 hours (moderate) : A.T.-Kaiser-Coppermine Loop hike + descending to Delaware River, visit to AMC Mohican Outdoor Center & Catfish Pond.
Delaware Water Gap to Sunfish Pond - 7.6 miles/4 hours (moderate) : Hike from first A.T. parking lot in NJ to scenic Sunfish Pond and back.
Camelback Mountain via Old Railroad Grade, North and South Trails - 7.2 miles/3-4 hours (moderate) : Beautiful hike with great cardio opportunities with 964 feet of elevation change.
Big Pocono Vista Loop-Indian South and Vista Trails - 3 miles/ 2 hours (moderate) Enjoy the BEST views in and of the Poconos from atop Big Pocono on Camelback Mountain. Optional lunch at Barley Creek Brewing Company. Loop with lots of rocks and easy scramble with cliffside views.
Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve Interpretive Walk, The Nature Conservancy - 1 mile/2 hours (easy) :The Tannersville Cranberry Bog is a National Natural Landmark and one of the first Nature Conservancy's nature preserves in Pennsylvania. The bog is home to pitcher plants, sun dew, cranberry, orchids, American Larch, and many of species unique to the bog and many wildlife species. This is an interpretive hike led by the Head Naturalist at Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center. The out and back hike follows wooded trails and wooden boardwalk through the southernmost low elevation boreal bog on the eastern seaboard. There is a separate fee for this hike: $5.00 per person. Payment must be made in the form of cash or check made payable to the Monroe County Conservation District or MCCD to the hike leader.
Sunday
Shades of Death Trail - Hickory Run SP - (Hike Filled) 2.5 miles / 2 hours (moderate) Out-n-back. Rated moderate due to roots and rocks. Very popular, scenic trail with stream-side hiking, cascades, rhododendron tunnels, rock features. On way home for central/western PA. Park at beautiful visitor center with e-charging. Hikers should anticipate others being on the trail as this is a popular path.
Blue Loop at Thomas Darling Preserve - 2.2 miles/1.5 hours (easy) : Rated easy. Stream-side hiking, cascades, wetland flora and fauna. On way home for central/western PA.
Choke Creek Loop on Pinchot Trail - 7.5 miles (corrected)/4 hours (moderate) : Rated moderate due to length. Stream-side hiking, cascades. Can be muddy. See KTA Trail Care work results in-person..
Wolf Rocks / Appalachian Trail - 4.6 miles/3 hours (moderate) : Lollipop route. Rated moderate due to rocks; some scrambling at vista.
Tumbling Waters Trail at Pocono Environmental Education Center in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - 3 miles/2 hours (moderate) : Loop trail. Start at PEEC HQ, Trail skirts Pickerel Pond and follows hilly terrain through forest, side switchback trail to Tumbling Waters Waterfall.
Big Pocono Upper Rim Walk/Hike - 3 miles/2 hours (easy) : Scenic walk/hike along the north side of Rim Rd to the South Trail near the park entrance and back along South Trail. Loop with interpretation of area history along the way.
KTA A.T. Section # 3 - 7 miles/3.5 hours (moderate) : Out and back hike from Lehigh Gap East parking lot on Winter Trail and A.T. featuring recent reroutes, new views of Lehigh Gap and remediated Superfund site
Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve Interpretive Walk, The Nature Conservancy - 1 mile/2 hours (easy) : The Tannersville Cranberry Bog is a National Natural Landmark and one of the first Nature Conservancy's nature preserves in Pennsylvania. The bog is home to pitcher plants, sun dew, cranberry, orchids, American Larch, and many of species unique to the bog and many wildlife species. This is an interpretive hike led by the Head Naturalist at Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center. The out and back hike follows wooded trails and wooden boardwalk through the southernmost low elevation boreal bog on the eastern seaboard. There is a separate fee for this hike: $5.00 per person. Payment must be made in the form of cash or check made payable to the Monroe County Conservation District or MCCD to the hike leader.
Registration Information
There are three types of lodging available at Twin Pines, each type includes all programs plus meals: breakfast, bagged lunch, and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and bagged lunch on Sunday.
You are also welcome to join us just for day activities.
- Standard rooms have twin size bunk beds and range in size from 4 person to 10 person bed rooms, plus private bath. Minimum 2 to a room, may be matched with roommate(s) based on availability. Linens are not provided.
- Hemlock lodge rooms are hotel style with one queen bed and one twin bed. Sold out.
- Tent Camping sites, bring your own tent. Platforms may be available. Sites are located near a shower house which may be open based on weather/temperature, portable toilets will be available if the shower house is closed. Children under 18 register at a lower price, must be accompanied by an adult.
You are also welcome to join us just for day activities.
- Guided Hikes are available each day. Choose from a selection of trails, led by local experts. No meals included.
- Saturday Program includes dinner and presentations by the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape and Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center.
- Council Meeting on Saturday afternoon. Several hikes will be planned to return in time for the meeting so council members may sign up for both. No meals included.
