Detweiler Park. Photos courtesy of Calliope Pappadakis.
With its rolling hills, mountains and valleys, countless creeks and streams, the greater Harrisburg area is a hiking region that’s hard to beat.
For some, like Nina Brown of Steelton, the best hiking is not when it’s warm and green, but when the trees are bare and the views sparkling and unobstructed—the dead of winter.
“Many people don’t like to hike during the winter just because it’s cold,” Brown said. “I really enjoy it more during the winter just because you see more. The leaves are gone, there’s no bugs, less people.”
Brown hikes about seven miles each time out. Her favorite is Detweiler Park, located in Dauphin, less than half an hour’s drive from downtown Harrisburg at the base of Peters Mountain.
Owned and managed by Dauphin County, Detweiler offers more than seven miles of trails winding through various habitats.
The park is an easy trail for those new to hiking, Brown said. There’s some elevation through the woods, but it also offers open land that takes you through diverse nature scenes.
When in need of a more challenging winter hike, Brown heads for Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area, which features 12 miles of trails off Fishing Creek Valley Road.
Straddling Blue Mountain, Boyd has a variety of trails catering to different skill levels—novice to top tier. A power line overlook offers striking views of both sides of the mountain.
Brown’s most advanced winter hiking trail is Cove Mountain, 15 miles north of Harrisburg on the west side of the Susquehanna above Duncannon. Cove Mountain includes the popular Hawk Rock overlook, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding valley.
Many Options
Iordanes Daretzes, who lives in Susquehanna Township just outside the Harrisburg city line, is another winter hiking enthusiast.
“It’s peaceful, the air is cleaner, the leaves are coming down, and it’s quieter,” he said. “There aren’t as many people.”
Now in his 40s, Daretzes has been hiking all his life. He learned about pushing his body to extremes while in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“A lot of people get lazy in the wintertime,” he said. “I go out harder.”
He still likes a challenge, but with two kids frequently in tow—a soon to be 15-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son—he can’t get too crazy. His favorite venue is the Appalachian Trail.
“You can basically pull off the road and walk into the trails,” he said.
The Appalachian Trail is clean, well-maintained and clearly marked to alert hikers to hazards like cliffs or rocks. The rocky areas and snow and ice in the winter are enough to make it interesting.
Like Brown, Daretzes enjoys Detweiler Park.
“It has rocks, up and down elevations, is smooth and not that long,” he said.
Boyd Big Tree Preserve is another favorite.
“It has multiple trails,” he said. “If you do the whole park, it’s like six miles and you have the mountain.”
Besides these trails favored by Brown and Daretzes—Detweiler Park, Boyd, Cove Mountain and the Appalachian Trail—others in the region meriting a thumbs up from winter hikers include Wildwood Park in Harrisburg, Kings Gap west of Carlisle and Chickies Rock Overlook in Columbia.
Located off Chickies Hill Road, Chickies Rock trail is just half a mile but offers sensational views of the Susquehanna River. On clear days, you can take in Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville. The trail is dog-friendly and wide enough for strollers.
Be Prepared
If you’re going for a winter hike, prepare for the weather, which may include wind, cold and even snow and ice.
Dress in layers you can take off or put back on quickly, said Ellen Matis, who blogs about hiking for PA Wilds.
“Conditions can change on you—and fast,” she said.
Wear boots with good traction or add ice cleats to your boots. Make sure your pack includes water, protein-filled snacks, extra gloves and hats.
Wear orange when hiking in the winter because you may be sharing the forest with hunters. Don’t forget eye protection for when the white stuff is falling and whipping into your face, or when the sun hits the snow and blinds you.
Brown packs hand and feet warmers on the coldest days—and extra socks. Food-wise, she packs light because she isn’t out there too long, but always brings an apple and water.
Daretzes covers his neck and pulls his ski mask over his nose. He never goes out without gloves.
Importantly—bring plenty of water. Daretzes takes at least a gallon in his CamelBak.
“You can’t drive your car without gas, right? Without water, you won’t survive,” he said. “That’s your fuel.”
Also, always let someone know where you are and how long you’ll be gone, he said. Try making sure there are places you can get to with cell phone reception.
Brown recommends the AllTrails app as a good source for information about trails and hiking overall and to connect with the hiking community.
She takes a lot of photos while hiking and posts them on social media to encourage people to get out in nature. You can find her on Instagram at @whyeyethrive.
Daretzes urges people to give winter hiking a try, especially if you’re looking for a way to escape, unwind and connect with nature. You may just like it.
“Nobody has a perfect life, but when you come out here, nothing bothers you,” he said.
For more information on Pennsylvania Wilds, visit www.pawilds.com.
For more information on Dauphin County parks, click the “Parks and Recreation” link at www.dauphincounty.gov.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
