Hemlocks to Hellbenders

Pawpaws: The sweetest secret in Pennsylvania’s forests with Dr. Eric Burkhart

Here’s a trivia question for you. What is the largest edible fruit tree native to North America? It’s not the persimmon. Or the wild apple. And it’s not the cherry tree. 

New fish ladder helps native species safely travel the Susquehanna River

In 1608, English explorer and soldier of fortune John Smith left Jamestown, Virginia, on a mission to chart the upper Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries - including the S

Discover Pennsylvania's hidden trails and wild places with Purple Lizard Maps

There’s something about a trail map that just makes me excited for an adventure. The contour lines, the roads, the trails, the bodies of water, the towns. Trail maps – wh

Laurel Caverns State Park - Descend into one of Pennsylvania's natural wonders

There’s no law or policy that requires Pennsylvania to keep creating new state parks. Over the history of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – and it

Loyalsock State Forest - Endless Mountains offer waterfalls, vistas and hikes for your next adventure

CORRECTION: The Loyalsock Trail and the Old Loggers Path is maintained by the Alpine Club of Williamsport. When people find out that I’ve visited every state park, I oft

Bilgers Rocks - Create your own adventure through a towering rock city

What’s the best gift you’ve been given? It’s a tough question. I’ve been fortunate to have received a lot of great gifts over the years. The minibike from my parents. The

New to nature? Find free inclusive, guided activities with Centred Outdoors

For every Pennsylvanian that grew up stomping through creeks, wandering through the woods and exploring our magnificent forests, there’s many more that are just discoveri

What's killing Pennsylvania's trees and how DCNR’s fighting it

The more time I’ve spent outdoors, the more I’ve learned about the threats our trees face here in Pennsylvania. It seems like every other day I’m finding out about a new

Little Buffalo State Park - Activities, events and history bring visitors year-round to Perry County

Little Buffalo State Park is the place that kicked off my love for Pennsylvania’s state parks. I’ve told this story many times, but I’ll do it quickly here right now.  I

Appreciating the sound of silence with Quiet Parks International

What does it mean for a place to be truly quiet? It’s a question I’ve been pondering over the last several months following a webinar from the Keystone Trails Association

The arduous task of creating a trail from scratch with Appalachian Dirt

There’s a lot of thoughts that float through our minds when we’re out on the trails hiking. Am I in the right career? Is that snake poisonous? Look at that beautiful view

Upper Pine Bottom State Park - Don't blink or you'll miss it

Driving down Route 44 from Lycoming County to Montgomery County, you may be able to spot a brief break in the trees and rhododendrons. It’s so quick that if you blink, yo

Little Pine State Park - Surrounded by mountains, filled with activities

If you’ve ever stood beside a cold mountain stream at first light — mist rising off the water, hemlocks towering overhead and the gentle sound of moving water— then you a

Washington Crossing Historic Park - Experience the American Revolution's boldest endeavor

It’s December 26th, 1776. Gen. George Washington has just successfully gotten 2,400 men from the Continental Army across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jer

Trough Creek State Park – Where rugged cliffs, creeks and waterfalls shape a wild landscape

When I was on my journey of running one mile in all-then 121 Pennsylvania state parks in 2021, I took notes after every run. It was an effort to make sure I would remembe

Pymatuning State Park - Explore the largest lake in Pennsylvania, where ducks walk on the backs of fish

Pymatuning State Park is big in every sense of the word. It is the largest state park in Pennsylvania. Its Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest lake in Pennsylvania. And i

Celebrating Pennsylvania's historic place in America's 250th birthday

The story of the United States of America cannot be told without Pennsylvania. Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell. Benjami

Exploring ancient rock carvings in the Susquehanna River with Paul Nevin

Hundreds of years ago, a group of Native Americans living along the lower Susquehanna River made an indelible mark on the valley. At what is now known as Safe Harbor, the

Hemlocks to Hellbenders Season 4 Trailer

Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great o

Feeling posh? Try one of Pennsylvania's new state park glamping sites

For a long time, there’s been this mostly unspoken rule that “real” outdoor experiences have to be rugged. You’ve got to rough it, hike ten miles in the rain, sleep on th