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Neversink Mountain Preserve Trains transported flocks of Philadelphians to the 900-foot summit of Neversink Mountain in the late 1800s. There, a lavish hotel and fresh mountain air awaited them. Though visitors no longer arrive in droves, the mountain hasn’t lost its magic. “People that live in Berks County don’t think of Neversink Mountain as a resource they can use,” says Tami Shimp, vice president for development and community relations for the Berks County Conservancy. “It’s been a best-kept secret. Now we’re in the process of really promoting it.” Squeezed between the city of Reading and the Schuylkill River, Neversink encompasses 900 acres of varying terrain. Its name derives from the American Indian word “navesink,” meaning “fishing ground.” On the mountain’s south side exist boardwalks over wetlands, dubbed “the cove,” and rare butterfly species. (The insects thrive on the grass and shrub species growing next to the power lines near the mountain.) “When you’re in the cove, you feel like you’re in the middle of a 4-million-acre preserve,” Shimp says. “You can’t hear anything. It’s like you’re in your own little world.” The famed Witch’s Hat Pavilion, a popular remnant of the old hotel, still stands atop the mountain. Hikers can also see the eyecatching pagoda on Mount Penn’s summit from Neversink’s peak. Since Neversink includes pockets of private property, Heisey advises hikers to stay on the trails at all times. By summertime, if not sooner, the mountain will include improved signs and educational kiosks. If you go, don’t forgot to stop and smell the mountain laurel abundantly growing by June.
Candlewood Mountain Following an old American Indian trail, the Housatonic Range Trail keeps Dale Geslien coming back for more. “The most interesting feature is an area of megaliths, including the ‘corkscrew,’ which presents a challenging area to negotiate as well as interesting geological rock formations to observe,” the Connecticut Chapter trip leader and AMC regional director says. Kelly’s Slide, a steep section of slab, leads to the mountain’s 991-foot summit. Viewpoints provide panoramic vistas of the Housatonic River. Though Candlewood seems a world away, Geslien was recently reminded of its proximity to a city setting. “The very first time I completed the trail…I came out to this beautiful field,” she says. “I tried to go there again but now there’s been clearcutting and roads have been added. It was very disappointing.” Geslien’s hikes transcend recreational enjoyment; they are her chance to promote areas in need of protection. “There’s a lot of environmentally conscious-minded people… who are looking to preserve open space,” Geslien says. “We need to get the word out to people who’ve never even heard about the Highlands region.”
- Fred Durso, Jr., managing editor of AMC Outdoors, enjoys hiking through the Schuykill River Watershed on the Schuykill River Trail, one of his favorite Critical Treasures.
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View of Reading, Pa. from atop Neversink Mountain Preserve. Photo by Kim Lewis.
