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January 8, 2024

A short First Day Hike in Lock Haven

When we were first married, my wife and I used to traditionally take First Day hikes on January first, every year. Then we had a kid. We adopted my son, Paul Matthew, in 2014. I love being a parent, but I have to say that there is nothing like a baby to keep you in the house. They’re like an ankle monitor that you have to feed. However, Paul is nine now. And I enjoy doing things with him, so this year I brought up the idea of getting back into the First Day Hikes.

January 5, 2024

A First Day Hike at Parker Dam State Park

Just ten hours after watching the Times Square ball drop celebration on TV and ringing in the new year for 2024, I found myself at Parker Dam State Park to celebrate the start of a fresh year with their annual First Day Hike. What is a First Day Hike? They’re held on the first day of the new year at lots of Pennsylvania state parks. These free hikes are guided by staff and volunteers from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and they’re typically anywhere from 1 to 3.5 miles long.

January 4, 2024

A Ray of Wilds Sonshine

The Wilds Sonshine Factory is a unique destination on several fronts, primarily for their signature product line – distilled spirits made from sunflower seeds, but also for the Factory’s push on educating visitors on some of the region’s outdoor resources that have tattooed this region in the PA Wilds for generations. Writer Ray Hunt took a "Hooky Day" to visit the Wilds Sonshine Factory and learn about the inspiration behind it.

January 3, 2024

Stargazing Sanctuary: Exploring the Dark Sky at Cherry Springs State Park

Nestled amidst the picturesque Dark Skies landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds sits a haven for stargazers and nature enthusiasts — the awe-inspiring Cherry Springs State Park. To understand the magic of the Commonwealth’s first Dark Sky Park, Christian Alexandersen spoke with Park Manager Ben Stone for the season premiere of the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast. The episode – “Cherry Springs State Park – Spend a night in the stars”- premiered January 3, 2024. 

December 31, 2023

Year in Review: Top 10 PA Wilds blogs of 2023

For those of you who didn't get a chance to keep up with the blog all year, we're counting down the Top 10 blogs for you to catch up on all things PA Wilds before 2024 arrives. Starting with #10 and ending with #1, check out the most read blogs of this year!

December 29, 2023

BIRD LORE: Appreciating our feathered friends

Peek outside your window any day in North Central Pennsylvania and you are certain to see a variety of beautiful birds.  For instance, having a family of cardinals as your neighbors is one of the privileges of living in our rural area.  Birds are in such abundance here that it is easy to lose perspective of how truly blessed we are to have so many of them living amongst us.  

December 28, 2023

Meet Your New Year’s Resolution on the West Branch Susquehanna River

As the New Year approaches, so too do the hopes, inspirations, and goals of our upcoming resolutions. Do you have yours yet? Let the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) help! Here are some resolution ideas that you can meet with us in 2024 on and along the Susquehanna River, part of which includes the West Branch Susquehanna River in the PA Wilds region.

December 27, 2023

Red in the winter woods

This time of the year, even the woods are decked out for the holiday season! Red is used in celebrating and decorating for winter solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and symbolizes many things. There are many plants with red berries or stems that add a festive contrast to the neutral whites and browns of a winter woods.

December 26, 2023

Start your 2024 on the right foot with a First Day Hike

Go take a hike! No, really. You can start the new year on the right foot (literally) with guided hikes at many state parks throughout Pennsylvania, including several in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

December 21, 2023

Snowmobile season begins in the Allegheny National Forest

Snowmobile season is officially open in the Allegheny National Forest, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The season started at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023, and snowmobile trails will remain open until 12:00 p.m. on March 31, 2024. Sufficient snowfall is needed for the trails to be usable.