Foray Walk Locations
NEMF 2026
Mont Alto, PA | July 30-Aug 2, 2026
​​
Foray organizers have arranged a wide array of incredible walks throughout the foray. There's something for everyone!
Walk #1: Early Bird, Thursday
Michaux State Forest, Three Springs Road
This rocky, moss-covered trail follows Three Springs Rd and the East Branch of Antietam Creek at an elevation of about 1,500 feet. The surrounding forest is dominated by mature chestnut oak, northern red oak, eastern white pine, birch, and maple.
The understory features mountain laurel, blueberry, and sassafras, while smaller plants such as rattlesnake plantain, lobelia, and striped wintergreen can be found along the forest floor. The flowing creek and lush mossy terrain create a cool, quiet woodland setting. Difficulty: Easy
This trail passes through the 183-acre Mt. Cydonia Natural Area, which was established to protect the dozens of vernal ponds scattered throughout the landscape. These seasonal pools provide critical breeding habitat for a variety of reptiles and amphibians.
The forest is dominated by mature white oak, mixed oak, hickory, eastern white pine, bigtooth aspen, and birch and maple. Along the trail you’ll find a rich understory of mountain laurel, blueberry, sphagnum moss, club moss, rattlesnake plantain, and a variety of ferns. The combination of wetlands and mature forest makes this area an important and diverse ecological habitat. Difficulty: Medium
Walk #2: Early Bird, Thursday
Michaux State Forest, Mt. Cydonia Vernal Ponds
Walk #3: Early Bird, Thursday
Michaux State Forest, Pond Bank
Pond bank is a small pond that is popular with local fishers. There are forested wetlands behind the pond where a small ephemeral run trails and several small vernal pools are located. Difficulty: Easy
1,000' elevation. This trail follows an old logging road that runs alongside Mountain Creek, offering an easy walk through a mature forest corridor. The canopy is dominated by eastern white pine, white oak, chestnut oak, and red maple, with scattered bigtooth aspen and tall yellow-poplar.
The understory includes witch hazel and rhododendron, while the forest floor supports a variety of plants such as Jack-in-the-pulpit, sedges, cucumber root, and several species of ferns. The nearby creek and mixed hardwood forest create a rich and diverse woodland habitat.
Difficulty: Easy
Walk #4: Friday AM
Michaux State Forest, Woodrow Road Trail
Walk #5: Friday AM
Michaux State Forest, Meeting of the Pines
Bricker Clearing Trail is a moderate 2.4-mile loop with the option for a shorter out-and-back walk. The trail begins along the border of Meeting of the Pines Natural Area, home to the only known location in Pennsylvania where five different pine species grow together. The wooded trail can be rocky and overgrown in sections, winding through mixed pine forest with scattered chestnut oak, black tupelo, and birch. Along the way, spicebush, witch hazel, viburnum, and patches of milkweed add to the diverse understory. Difficulty: Difficult
Half-mile lollipop loop through the upper and lower sections of Happel’s Meadow, a 1,300-foot elevation mountaintop wetland fed by groundwater seeps, surface flow including Red Run, and direct precipitation. The trail passes through diverse wetland habitats, with rosebay rhododendron marking the transition between zones, and winds among red maple, oak, tulip tree, black gum, willow, birch, and scattered ash and hawthorn. Wetland edges are rich with skunk cabbage, jewelweed, jack-in-the-pulpit, ferns, sedges, cattails, rushes, and spicebush.
Difficulty: Easiest
Walk #6: Friday AM
Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve, John C. Birely Memorial Trail
Walk #7: Friday PM
Caledonia State Park, Thaddeus Stevens - Midland & Whispering Pines
One mile loop following two small creeks, passing a small dam and pond, with an optional 0.3-mile nature loop. The trail winds through hemlock and mountain Laurel dominated forest with birch, tulip trees, sassafras, witch hazel,oak, white pine, ferns, and rattlesnake weed.
Difficulty: Easy
This one-mile loop at roughly 1,100 feet in elevation winds through the former CCC camp that later served as a WWII POW camp, offering a quiet mix of natural and local history. The trail crosses Tom’s Run and passes through mixed pine, oak, and birch forest with black locust, tulip tree, and red maple scattered throughout. Along the understory, spicebush, ninebark, great rhododendron, willow, and witch hazel create scattered pockets of cover, while wetter areas support skunk cabbage, buttonbush, sedges, mosses, and a variety of ferns. Look for patches of Canada mayflower, partridge berry, and teaberry along the forest floor. Difficulty: Easy
Walk #8: Friday PM
Michaux State Forest, POW Camp Michaux
Walk #9: Friday PM
Mont Alto State Park, MSP Pavilion
Mont Alto State Park is Pennsylvania’s oldest state park, encompassing just 24 acres along the West Branch of the Antietam Creek. Despite its small size, the park contains a surprisingly diverse mix of habitats centered around the creek corridor, shaded picnic areas, and mature woodland surrounding its historic pavilion.
The forest includes umbrella magnolia, maple, scattered oak, and hemlock, along with several pine species influenced by the park’s close connection to Meeting of the Pines Natural Area. The understory is made up of viburnum, mountain laurel, and elderberry, while the forest floor and stream edges support black cohosh, smooth Solomon’s seal, sarsaparilla, columbine, Joe-Pye weed, and striking cardinal flower in wetter areas. Difficulty: Easiest
Pine Grove Furnace State Park is a 696-acre park within Michaux State Forest known for its rich forest diversity and scenic mountain landscape. The park features two mountain lakes (Laurel Lake and Fuller Lake) along with more than 10 trails, including 1.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail and its symbolic halfway point. Visitors will also find the Appalachian Trail Museum and a small general store within the park.
Mountain Creek winds through the area, supporting a wide variety of habitats that make all-day mushroom exploration especially rewarding. Forests include pine, hemlock, oak, birch, tulip tree, sycamore, chestnut, black locust, magnolia, hickory, black tupelo, alder, American hornbeam, and spruce. The understory is equally diverse, with sassafras, dogwood, spicebush, giant rhododendron, viburnum, and swamp azalea. Along the forest floor, cucumber root, mayapple, ferns, sedges, and mosses thrive in the moist mountain conditions, while meadow openings support seasonal wildflowers and native grasses. Difficulty: Easy
Walk #10: Saturday All Day
Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Mountain Creek Trail to RR Trail
Walk #11: Saturday AM
Old Forge Picnic Grounds, AT - Chickadee - Rattlesnake Run - AT
This 1-mile loop offers an easy walk around East Branch Antietam Creek and through a diverse woodland of mature hardwoods and conifers. Towering oaks, hemlocks, pines, tulip trees, birch, locust, and sassafras form a varied canopy, while witch hazel, spicebush, dogwood, and blueberry fill the understory. Along the trail, dogbane, Canadian lousewort, wild yam, striped wintergreen, rattlesnake plantain, and other native orchids can be seen scattered across the forest floor. This is a great spot to pack a lunch, with two pavilions and picnic tables available near the trailhead. Amenities include pit toilets and fresh spring water from a nearby tap. Difficulty: Easy
Mont Alto Trail is a 1-mile out-and-back walk that follows the West Branch of Antietam Creek through a small valley nestled between Oak Knob and Pine Knob. The shaded creekside corridor features hemlock, pine, hickory, and scattered oaks, with American holly appearing throughout the area. Mountain laurel lines portions of the trail, while skunk cabbage and Virginia creeper thrive in the moist ground along the creek.
Difficulty: Easy
Walk #12: Saturday AM
Michaux State Forest, Mont Alto Trail
Walk #13: Saturday AM
Michaux State Forest, Carbaugh Reservoir
At roughly 1,300 feet in elevation, this one-mile in-and-out trail follows the edge of Carbaugh Reservoir through a quiet, forested landscape rich in both natural and cultural history. The trail winds along the shoreline and crosses several small mountain runs that feed the reservoir, creating a cool, shaded corridor lined with towering pine and hemlock, mature oak, and red maple. Dense rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets border sections of the trail, while teaberry and wild blueberry spread across the forest floor. The surrounding 780-acre area was established to protect important archaeological sites where early Native Americans once quarried stone and crafted spear points and arrowheads. Carbaugh Run is also designated as a Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area, supporting a diversity of sensitive wildlife. Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Walk #14: Saturday PM
Michaux State Forest, Turtle Trail
From the Mont Alto State Park parking area, follow Mont Alto Trail for approximately 0.5 mile. (If driving, an alternate parking area is available along Staley Road near the trail crossing.) Continue across Staley Road, where Turtle Trail begins on the right. From here, a one-mile loop follows a mossy path alongside Red Run through a cool, shaded forest of mature eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, mixed oak, birch, and tulip tree. Along the trail, keep an eye out for cardinal flower, partridge berry, Virginia creeper, sassafras, black locust, wood aster, and American golden saxifrage. Complete the route using the Turtle Connector and follow Staley Road back to Mont Alto Trail. Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Walk #15: Saturday PM
Michaux State Forest, Strawberry Hill
.8 mi in and out, Picturesque, family-friendly trail along Middle Creek with views of quiet pools and riffles, passing mature red oak and eastern white pine with hickory, beech, walnut, and redbud; mayapple, ferns, skunk cabbage,and spicebush along the stream. Difficulty: Easy
Walk #16: Saturday PM
Michaux State Forest, EUB Camp Haul Road
This easy, approximately half-mile out-and-back trail is less of a hike and more of a leisurely meander down an old logging road and across a grated bridge, following the headwaters of the Conococheague Creek. The trail passes through mature hemlock and eastern white pine, with scattered swamp white oak, red maple, and hickory adding to the canopy. Along the moist creek corridor, skunk cabbage, jewelweed, rattlesnake root, and dogbane thrive alongside several species of sphagnum moss, ferns, and sedges. A small spring can be seen feeding into the creek, adding to the quiet character of the walk. A picnic table along the route offers a place to rest, making this an ideal spot for those looking for a slower-paced experience rather than a strenuous hike. Difficulty: Easiest
