Ned Smith Center

Another gem for hiking in Central Pennsylvania is the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Arts.  Nestled in Millersburg, Dauphin County, this site has miles of hiking trails that are well marked and well maintained.  To get there from route 22 in Harrisburg, take the Halifax exit.  Follow 225 over Peter's mountain until you come to route 147 North.  Follow 147 North to route 209 North.  From route 209, you will turn right onto Water Company Road - well marked with both a street sign and an indicator of Ned Smith Center.  Travel down Water Company Road and you will see the entrance to Ned Smith Center on your Right. 

Park in the parking area and follow the path to the right of the building - just to the right of the handicapped spaces in the picture below.

Once you get to the end of the concrete walkway, you will see the entrance to the walking trails.

The first set of trails you come to are the North Trails.  These are three nested loops that have a great view of the creek you can cross and the other ridge line managed by the center.

When you finish exploring the North Trails, you continue down your original path to the bridge that crosses the creek.  Please note - as you are crossing the creek, you are getting closer to the area that allows hunting.  The line of demarcation is the Rail to Trail Trail.  It is recommended that you wear orange any time you hike on any of the center's trails during hunting season.  If you do not have orange and are hiking while the gift shop is open, they have vests they can loan you.

The totem, above, is at the far end of the bridge.  You will turn right and follow the trail up the hill.  When you come to a Y in the trail, stay left and you have a gentler climb to the rail trail.  When you get there, turn left.  Shortly, you will come to the Hemlock Trail on your left.  This is the only other trail that does not travel through hunting territory.

This trail loops back onto the path you just followed - there was a sign for it not long after you branched left at the Y.  This trail has a nice, roped off sitting area overlooking the creek.

Although our hiking was limited due to the hunting, it was a nice day and someplace that we would like to hike more extensively.

Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area

Today and tomorrow, we will take a break from Thanksgiving desserts to meet travel locations.  Today, it is Joseph E Ibberson Conservation area in Halifax, Pennsylvania.

To find it, cross Peter's Mountain into Halifax on route 255.  After you reach the bottom of mountain, you will come to Camp Hebron Road - turn right.  There was a PADCNR indicating the turn when I visited.  Follow Camp Hebron Road until you see the sign above on your right.  The parking area is a one way road and, when you are parked, you have a wonderful view of the valley.

When you are ready to begin, there is a sign board that includes a brochure.  In that brochure is a map, so take one along just in case.  There is also a wooden board that gives a nice overview of the available trails.

Just beside that trail is the beginning to the Evergreen Trail - blazed in red.  I started on this trail and followed it to the left to where it met the blue Victoria trail.  The trails are very well marked.

I stayed on the blue trail - it crossed the beige Rock trail and the pink Whitetail Trail then turned into what appeared to be an old road and started to climb the mountain.

At the top of the mountain, you will come to the end of the blue trail and a steel gate.  Just across the gate you will see white blazes and another trail - this is the Appalachian Trail.  The view from the top is quite nice, but you can only see it when there are no leaves on the trees.  You can, at this point, turn left onto the AT and follow it to the blue trail and continue to follow it until you come to the pink trail.  I did not take this option, I walked back down on the blue trail.

Not only is there a better view after the leaves fall, Abby has a great time playing in the piles of leaves on the way back down to the pink trail.

As you walk back down the mountain, you will find where the pink trail crosses your path.  Turn left onto the pink trail.  Continue to follow the pink trail - it will join with the yellow trail for awhile.  When the pink and yellow trail diverge again, you will be at the pond.

There is a bench on the far side of the pond.  If you would like to sit for awhile, continue past the pond and turn onto the next left trail.  You will see a trailer ahead of you and the bench is just behind that.  If you see the Eagle Path, in blue, it can be taken, but it is very close to the water and was not as well maintained when I was there.  Continue on the pink path until it meets back to the red path - there will be a small cottage where they meet.  At this point, you have done 2.5 to 3 miles (depending on how many side trips you take around the pond, etc) - a mile less if you don't climb to the top of the blue trail.  If you want to have a slightly longer walk, bear right and follow the red trail back to where you started.  If you want to get done, turn left and head back to the parking area.

To learn more, go to http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/josepheibberson/index.htm