Neversink Mountain Preserve, PA

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Neversink Mountain Preserve - Berks Nature

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.31472, -75.89233

Klapperthal Parking

TRAIL MAP: 

Neversink Mountain Preserve Trail Map - Berks Nature

DISTANCES: 

Hike: Neversink Mountain Preserve - 5.2 miles

          accessed by biking

Bike: Union Canal Towpath to Schuylkill River Trail to Exeter Scenic River Trail - 33.3 miles

THE HIKE: 

Having cycled in from the Union Canal Towpath, bike locked up and on with the hike portion.

Continuing up on the blue trail ...

... passing by the Kapperthal parking area.

Orange comes in from the left; I would be returning that way.

Continuing on blue/orange, the trail ascends very steeply on loose gravel so I was glad I decided to do the steepest part uphill.

Leaving orange and turning right on blue.

Blue continues up the power cut so I took green which is steeper, but a bit nicer.

Back on orange/blue for a short road walk.

Blue leaves to the right then orange goes left; it will be orange looping around the mountain the rest of the way.

Reading Pagoda

Where the first part of the hike was pretty busy, I encountered nobody else looping around the back of the mountain.

After ascending another steep gravel section, views of Reading looking back.

The trail gets overgrown for a while but it is passable.

Views of the Schuylkill River.

Coming back around to the other side of the mountain, it gets busier again.

Back at the beginning where orange joined blue, now turning right on blue to retrace.

Back at the bike for the ride back.

Union Canal Towpath and Schuylkill River Trail Thun Section, PA with Exeter Scenic River Trail

ABOUT THE PARKS: 

Union Canal Trail - Berks County

Schuylkill River Trail - Schuylkill River Greenways

Exeter Scenic River Trail - Exeter Township

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.37277, -76.00872

Rebers Bridge Parking Area

TRAIL MAPS:

Union Canal Trail Brochure and Map - Berks County

Schuylkill River Trail Map - Schuylkill River Greenways

Exeter Scenic River Trail Map - Experience Reading

DISTANCES: 

Bike: Union Canal Towpath to Schuylkill River Trail to Exeter Scenic River Trail - 16.8 miles

Hike: Neversink Mountain Preserve - 5.2 miles

Bike: Exeter Scenic River Trail to Schuylkill River Trail to Union Canal Towpath - 16.5 miles

THE BIKE AND HIKE: 

From the parking lot a left across the bridge over Tulpehocken Creek then right on the Union Canal Towpath.

Tulpehocken Creek

At the Stonecliffe Recreation Area the Union Canal Towpath ends and becomes the Schuylkill River Trail.

It's a bit rough at first.

The trail turns right on a quiet road for a short distance ...

... then right on a bridge ...

... over the Schuylkill River.

Just after the bridge it's a right along the bridge into one way traffic and bike lanes the wrong way which is odd but the trail sign is there.  It was very short and no cars came my way.

Back on the trail to the right but this part gets pretty dicey.

There is a lot of litter, trash and garbage bags along the way.

Then when the paved trail becomes this dark surface, there is a huge homeless encampment with tents all along on the right between the trail and the river.

Just past that when the trail is paved again, it is very nice the rest of the way.

I was heading to Gibraltar where I would connect to the Exeter Scenic River Trail.

There is only one major road crossing along this entire route.

Coming up to Gibraltar ...

... where the trail continues slightly right for a 3.5 mile on road section.  This is where I turned left.

Crossing Philadelphia Avenue at the light ...

... and continuing straight on Gibraltar Road on a very wide shoulder to the bridge over the Schuylkill River.

Just after crossing the bridge, left into the Exeter Scenic River Trail parking lot.

It is a very scenic trail along the Schuylkill River.

After 2 miles at the end, entering Neversink Mountain Preserve ...

... through a tunnel under the railroad.

I had to walk the bike up the trail a bit to find a spot where I could lock it up.

Perfect spot!  Now on with the hike.

HIKE: Neversink Mountain Preserve

After the hike, bike retrieved and walked down back through the tunnel ...

... to retrace the entire bike route.

Back on the Schuylkill River Trail.

Back through the homeless encampment where someone did ask me for a cigarette as I rode by.  Haven't had one of those in 16 years.  It's sad when you are homeless and all you want is a cigarette but I get it.  Cigarettes can take over your life and it is very hard to break free.

I missed getting back on the trail through the quiet road section because the sun was in my eyes but it works out because the trail can be accessed at the end of this road. 

Back through this shady section ...

... to Stonecliffe Recreation Area where the Schuylkill River Trail ends and the Union Canal Towpath begins and the trail becomes nice again.

Just after this bridge ...

... left across the bridge on Rebers Bridge Road ...

... back to the parking lot.