Fort Hunter. Photo courtesy of Dauphin County Parks and Recreation.
Everyone knows it, but few can fully articulate it.
It’s that feeling of floating into the ether the second the sun sets on Labor Day. We might know the days have been getting shorter and the temperatures cooler, but it isn’t until the first week of September that those feelings awaken within our consciousness.
It’s autumn. It’s time to go outside. It’s time to explore the countless picturesque outdoor sites that Pennsylvania—and especially the Harrisburg area—provide.
“It’s one of my favorite things to do,” said Michelle McKeown, program and community engagement manager for Dauphin County Parks and Recreation. “This is the time of year I love to go on hikes and see the fall foliage. There are places around here that are absolutely gorgeous.”
McKeown isn’t the only one heaping praise upon central Pennsylvania’s autumn scenery. In its fall foliage report, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources claimed that Pennsylvania has a “longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation.”
It would take a lot to convince McKeown otherwise. While there are many options for any outdoor enthusiast within the area, she was quick to tout Detweiler Park and its “Introduction to Trail Running” program, which takes place Oct. 2, 9 and 16. Among the hiking elements it addresses for participants are pacing, safety and proper form.
“Detweiler offers some short walks, but the foliage is just fantastic,” McKeown noted. “And if you are interested in getting into hiking—but you might not know much about it—these programs really do help you get your feet wet. There are some great local organizations that offer these programs, and now is the best time of year to take them on.”
For those interested in learning how to experience the sights from water instead of land, McKeown pointed out that kayak training classes are also offered in and around the Harrisburg area this time of year.
If experience isn’t an issue, McKeown suggested a handful of trails that typically attract nature lovers in the autumn months. The Fort Hunter Conservancy will be the venue for a fall foliage hike on Oct. 19. Part of the “Adventure Awaits” series, attendees will be offered the opportunity to examine plants, trees and other foliage that paints the trail, which includes an extremely steep final portion.
A similar offering is set for Nov. 15, at Wildwood Park, where a group will gather to explore some of the park’s less-traveled trails. Clocking in at three miles, the hike is also part of the county’s “Adventure Awaits” series. Fans of Wildwood will be treated to a tree walk on Oct. 26, during which a volunteer will teach attendees how to identify trees using bark and leaves in their full color.
Still, as McKeown pointed out, immersing yourself in nature during autumn isn’t limited to trail hikes. A “Trick or Treat Trek” is slated for Oct. 26 at Fort Hunter Park, and it’s designed to get parents and children alike out into the wild, complete with treats at stops along the trail.
“It’s meant to be an alternative for Halloween for people who might not feel safe in their communities,” McKeown pointed out. “But it’s really fun because all the kids come dressed up in Halloween costumes.”
In all, she said, the Harrisburg area is a gold mine for activities that naturally spotlight the beauty of the area’s fall foliage. Between the state parks, countless trails and family-friendly activities, now is the time of year that leaves McKeown with little time to breathe.
“It’s definitely the busiest time of year for us,” she said. “I try to do what I can to enjoy it myself because I have a deep love and appreciation for nature and I also have a 4-year-old, who I hope has some of the same experiences I had as a child. I try to get him out in nature as much as I can because such an important part of my childhood was being outside and in the country.”
As for if she’s fully ready to see the calendar change into the autumn months, McKeown wasted no time expressing how she felt.
“Oh, this is absolutely my favorite season,” she said. “This summer has been so oppressively hot and humid, that I cannot wait for fall to really kick into gear.”
“When it’s 55 degrees in the morning, and I can comfortably put jeans on,” she quipped, “I’m like, ‘Yes!’”
For more information on Dauphin County Parks & Recreation, visit www.dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/parks-recreation.
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