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Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail 31-29 & Forbes Trail Brewing

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Laurel Highlands, PA

We had a snowy first day hike on the Laurel Highlands Hiking trail! Despite how many times I’ve been hiking in the LH region, this is actually my first time on the 70 miles LHHT. While this short section didn’t have any major views or points of interest, it was incredibly peaceful walking through woods blanketed in fresh snow. After our group hike, we moseyed out to Forbes Trail Brewing in Stoystown for some delicious brews in a cozy taproom.

THE HIKE: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (31-29)

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours (due to snow)
Trail use: Foot traffic only
Parking: Space for about 30 cars at the Route 31 parking area. No facilities

Find the Parking lot: 40.06082620624829, -79.27375174542976. Turn right off Route 31 onto Fire Tower route, there will be a sign for Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park. The parking lot will be on the left just under a mile down the road. Be aware that this road is unpaved and likely won’t be maintained in the winter.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) is a 70.3 mile backpacking trail in western pa that stretches from Ohiopyle to Seward. This trail is known for its incredible beauty but also its challenging and rugged terrain. If you’re considering a thru hike, be sure to check out Tory’s awesome guide at Mytrailsaremany.com. However, this is also a fantastic trail for section day hikes too! There are many trailheads and access points along the 70 miles to pop on for a few miles. 

The LHHT is maintained by the PA DCNR and the majority of the trail runs through Laurel Ridge State Park. If you’re looking for a full map of the trail, check out the PA DCNR website. 

The Hike

For this group first day, we met at the Route 31 parking lot for the LHHT. Interestingly, this was also near mile 31 of the trail! There were at least 50 people on this delightful hike led by Kim, an educator at Laurel Ridge SP. 

Especially in the winter, it can be easy to lose your way on trails. Be sure to look for the yellow blazes on the trees. This trail also has a stone mile marker every mile so you’ll always know how far you’ve gone! Many sections of the LHHT, including this one, cross over roads from large ones to wooded access roads. Always look for a band of yellow on the trees that indicates a road crossing! 

Remember, the LHHT is point to point trail so make sure you have a game plan of when to turn around and head back to your car! 

THE BEER: Forbes Trail Brewing

Address: 6108 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, PA 15563
Distance from Trail Head: 36 mins, 25 miles
Website: http://www.forbestrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food truck & BYOF
Details: Outdoor seating, pets outside

Forbes Trail Brewing opened on Lincoln Highway less than a mile from the Flight 93 memorial in 2022. One of the owners had been homebrewing for nearly a decade then working professionally as a brewer, before his dream of opening a taproom became a reality! Along with his wife and former homebrew supporters turned business partners, Forbes Trail Brewing has quickly become a staple in the Laurel Highlands region. Although it was cold and snowy when we visited, I was impressed with the huge outdoor space complete with firepits that complemented the cozy indoor taproom. We popped at a seat at the bar and instantly felt like part of a family as the owners and other drinkers looped us right into their conversation. Although it’s a bit of a drive from the Burgh I cannot recommend this brewery enough and I know we will definitely be back! 

A fun history fact: the brewery’s name refers to the early road that linked forts Duquesne, Ligonier, and Bedford during the French and Indian War. This road was pioneered by British General John Forbes and eventually became the Lincoln Highway (Route 30). 

Our Beer:

  • Taste the Rainbow – Sour – 5%
  • Haze Lawdy Mama – NEIPA – 6.5%
  • Edmunds Swamp: Peppermint – Oatmeal Stout – 5%
  • Trail Rider Pale Ale – Pale Ale – 6%

Loving the Laurel Highlands craft beverages? Be sure to get a Pour Tour Passport from the GO Laurel Highlands! 

Looking for more hikes & hops in the Laurel Highlands? Check out Wolf Rocks & Helltown, Ohiopyle & Yough River , Duff Park & Devout, Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons, and Linn Run & Unity Brewing .

Duff Park & Devout Brewing

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Murrysville, PA

Despite having driven down Route 22 many times, I never knew a beautiful park was tucked in the woods just off this major road. Duff Park is a peaceful natural area with bike trails along a stream and single track trails meandering through the woods. It’s a designated plant sanctuary and the fall wildflowers are beautiful right now! After a walk through the woods, check out Devout Brewing just up the road. They have a delicious Marzen on right now and a sweet potato beer coming soon!

THE HIKE: Duff Park Outer Loop

Length: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 525 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Running, some sections open to bikes
Parking: Large lot off School Rd

Duff Park is a 220 acre wooded park east of Pittsburgh and is located just off Route 22. It is owned and managed by the Municipality of Murrysville with help from the volunteers at Murrysville Trail Alliance and the Friends of Murrysville Parks. 

The park includes 1.5 miles of flat bike trail along Turtle Creek. There is also a bridge connecting this trail to the large Westmoreland Heritage Trail, so this is a great place for biking, running, and for those with limited mobility. The rest of the park features hilly single track trails that meander up the hillside. There are about 7.5 miles of trails in the woods, so there’s plenty of space to get a nice long hike in! Duff park is also connected by a trail to Pleasant Valley Park. I haven’t been to Pleasant Valley Park but from what I’ve read, it’s very peaceful but a bit more remote feeling than Duff Park. I’ll have to check it out for myself though! 

We visited Duff Park on a Friday after work as part of the Oboz Trail Experience to do this 3.4 loop. I was blown away by how beautiful the place was despite being so close to a major road. Of course, this does mean that the road noises can be quite loud. But frankly, they faded to the background for me as we hiked along Turtle Creek, admiring the clear water and reading the signs identifying the trees along the way. This part of the trail was flat and very easy to follow. Eventually the outer loop leaves the Funk Bikeway trail to switchback up the hillside on the Forbes trail. This was definitely a section that got our hearts pounding! The trail continues to be moderate difficulty as you turn onto the Sumac trail. We hardly saw anyone else on these sections and being further away from the traffic noises really made for a peaceful hike. The trails were all very clearly labeled and we had no problem eventually completing the loop and finding ourselves back at the parking lot. 

I would definitely visit this park again! It does seem to be pretty popular so parking could be an issue on the weekends. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot and also picnic tables under the pavilion. I also really appreciated the large interpretive signs discussing the local flora and fauna. We will definitely have to visit in the spring as this park is a designated wild plant sanctuary! Perhaps it will be a new favorite place for spring wildflowers. 

THE BEER: Devout Brewery

Address: 1301 Pontiac Ct #101, Export, PA 15632
Distance from Trail Head: 4.4 miles, 9 mins 
Website: http://www.devoutbrewingco.com/
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor Seating, Pet Friendly

Devout Brewing has been pouring beers at their Export location since 2018. Nestled in the back of an industrial park, Devout feels like a hidden gem. With outdoor seating covered by a sunshade and a large indoor taproom, there’s plenty of space to relax here! When we visited, there was a surprisingly large selection, up to 16 taps! They also offer locally made cider, wine, and mead if that’s more your speed. While they don’t have a kitchen of their own, Devout frequently has a rotating food truck schedule or you can bring your own food! Your four legged friends are also welcome on the outdoor patio. We had such a good time at this brewery because it felt like having a beer with new friends! Everyone, customers and staff alike, were so friendly and eager to make conversation. It was an all around great place to spend a Saturday night.

I was pretty excited to check out Devout Brewing because I finally remembered to bring my Laurel Highlands Pour Tour booklet! Although I’ve been to several of the breweries listed, it was the first time I got an official stamp. Will this start a new obsession? Just wait and see! 

Our Beer:

  • Son of Scurvy – Hazy IPA – 6.5%
  • Hans Grubier – Oktoberfest – 5.6%
  • Buzzin Blonde – Belgian Blonde with honey – 7%
  • Pachyderm Porter – Porter – 4%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops East of Pittsburgh? Check out Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons Brewing, Wolf Rocks & Helltown Brewing, or Ohiopyle & Bloom Brew

Clear Creek SP – Beartown Rocks & Mechanistic Brewing

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Clarion, PA

Our final excursion during our New Years Weekend in Clarion was Beartown Rocks in Clear Creek State Park. I loved this hike because we had the trail almost completely to ourselves and I felt so at peace following the creek. The weather for us during this hike wasn’t the greatest for us, being a bit cold and rainy so this trail was a bit treacherous at times. We encountered a lot of mud and slippery spots. Is it really winter hiking if you don’t fall a few times? The tumbles were worth it though for the view at the Rocks. These were really incredible geological features that I highly encourage you to take the time to explore! After a chilly, muddy hike, the best way to warm up is with a brew at Mechanistic Brewing in downtown Clarion. I can’t imagine a better way to end a winter hike than with their Spruce Tip IPA!

THE HIKE: Beartown Rocks

Length: 4.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 700ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Trail use: Hiking and leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at trailhead with pit toilets
H&H: 5/5

Clear Creek State Park is located in Jefferson County and encompasses just shy of 2,000 acres. Due to its proximity to Cook Forest, it’s a great addition to a weekend in the PA Wilds! The land that makes up Clear Creek was a key part of the lumber industry in the 1800s for Northwestern PA. Its access to the nearby Clarion River made it a prime area for logging. Eventually water power was replaced by steam power and logging tapered off in the area. The land was sold in 1919 to the state and within a decade it became a camping destination. Like many parks, Clear Creek benefited from FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps which planted trees, built facilities, and trails in the area. Several of the buildings from this era are still in use and are on the National Register of Historic Places. The state park abuts the Clear Creek State Forest in which the majority of this hike actually takes place.

Beartown Rocks can be accessed by car via Corbett Road. This is a dirt State Forest road that may not be maintained during the winter months so travelat your own risk! There are also trails around the area if you prefer to hike to Beartown Rocks. We parked at the Clear Creek State Park at the swimming beach lot off Route 949. The parking lot is really big and has pit toilets so it was an ideal place to start our hike! The Beartown Rocks trail begins across the street and is very clearly labeled. You’ll be following this same trail all the way to the Rocks! This is a moderately difficult hike as there are some small stream crossings (no wet feet!) and a few steep inclines. I thought it was the perfect end to our hiking weekend because we saw so many different types of forests from conifer-lined streams to rhododendron covered hills! This is another area that I would love to come back when the flowers are blooming. 

The Rocks themselves are well-worth the heart-pumping final descent. These unique features just seem to rise up out of the ground completely unexpectedly. They are likely remnants of the last Ice Age, due to the speckles and pitting on their surface. There is a nice platform on the top of the largest rock that allows you to see out over the valley. It was hauntingly beautiful in winter especially since we hadn’t seen a soul the whole hike. There was a dense fog hanging over the treetops that was beautiful. I think this would be a lovely fall hike too! To get back to the parking lot, just retrace your steps but be careful! Some of those steep inclines were really slippery going back down! I will fully admit that I took a few tumbles. Thankfully not into this river this time (ahem, here’s looking at you, first day hike in 2021). 

This was an excellent hike and a big shoutout to MyTrailsAreMany for suggesting it! I would have never found this one on my own and I’m so glad we went out of our way to check it out. Crossing off another PA State Park! 

THE BEER: Mechanistic Brewing Co.

Address: 538 Liberty St, Clarion, PA 16214
Distance from Trail Head: 24 miles, 32 mins 
Website: https://www.mechanisticbrewing.com/
Food?: Food Trucks or BYOB
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside

Mechanistic Brewing is another craft beer taproom in the heart of Clarion. It’s right off the main drag and boasts a super cool taproom and lounge. They don’t have an onsite kitchen, but often host food trucks in the warmer seasons and welcome BYOF. They have a huge outdoor patio space and welcome all to their taproom, families included! Their tagline is “Beer as a mechanism to bring people together”. Well I love that! We couldn’t have had a nicer time at this taproom. All of the staff were so nice and we had some great chats about the area and their beer. By far, the standout for favorite beer was their Little Full, Whole Lotta Sap IPA which was made with spruce tips. I was hesitant because I haven’t liked piney beers in the past but this one was so good! It smelled incredible and managed to balance the pine with a sweet hazy beer. It was delicious and honestly I couldn’t imagine a better beer to have after walking in the woods! I didn’t realize it until I was doing some research for the blog, but the two staff holding down the fort at the bar the day we visited were actually the owners, a husband and wife team! No wonder the place had such a lovely neighborhood vibe. If it wasn’t so far, I’d be back all the time! 

Our Beer:

  • Little Full, Whole Lotta Sap – Spruce Tip West Coast IPA – 6.1%
  • Snow Angel – IPA – 5.6%
  • Belgian Saison – Farmhouse Ale – 4.6%
  • Cali Blonde – Blonde Ale – 4.4%

Cook Forest SP – Fire Tower, Seneca Viewpoint via North Country Trail & Clarion River Brewing

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Clarion, PA

One of my absolute favorite hiking traditions has been getting out for a First Day Hike. Whether you go on your own or join a group, this is the perfect way to kick off the New Year and set some intentions for the rest of the year. We joined a First Day Hike in Cook Forest State Park that had a surprisingly large turnout! It was great to see so many different people joining in. This hike started at the Ridge Campground and included Seneca Viewpoint and the Firetower. We then went on a walk along the Clarion River on the North Country Trail.

Looking for more adventures in Pennsylvania and beyond? Check out my new book: Beer Hiking Pennsylvania and New Jersey

THE HIKE: Fire Tower, Seneca Viewpoint & River Trail – Cook Forest SP

Length: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Leashed Pets
Parking: Large lot at trailhead with pit toilets
H&H: 4/5

This holiday and work season ended up being rather busy for us. We didn’t do much hiking in December and honestly didn’t see each other a lot. So we decided on a whim to book a cabin in Cook Forest State Park for the New Year. The cabin had a wood burning fireplace, no wifi, and very little cell signal. It was perfect!

There’s actually a lot to explore in the Cook Forest area, including the nearest large town of Clarion. One thing to be aware of though is the camping season. Since we went in January and on a holiday, a LOT of places were closed. Make sure to do a little research before you leave to see what might be open! Some things are very spread out so I’d hate for you to make the drive only to find out that a certain place is closed for the season! Thankfully, the great outdoors is never closed! However, make sure to always be prepared for the weather. Luckily, our visit coincided with a warm spell that brought temps in the low 50s and melted a lot of the snow and ice. I was surprised though how much ice there was still on the forest floor! You never know when you’ll wish you brought crampons!

So as I mentioned, this was our first day hike! If you’ve never done one before, a lot of parks will have a ranger-led hike on January 1st to get people outdoors together. I couldn’t believe how many people showed up for this loop! Special thanks to the Friends of Cook Forest for leading this hike. This was an easy loop that meandered along the Fire Tower road up to the Seneca viewpoint and then to the Firetower. We parked at the Ridge Campground where there were several spots right by the first pavilion. Walking along the dirt and gravel road was easy but if you’re looking for a different route, you can also get on the Baker/North Country Trail and follow that to the viewpoint area. It might be a little longer though since you have to start in the Forest Cathedral area. This is probably the trail we would have chosen if not joining the first day hike group.

The total loop along the Fire Tower Road was around 3 miles. We lingered at the Seneca Overlook and J was even brave even to go up the Fire tower! That was a no thank you from me. From there, we left the group and continued along the baker/North Country Trail down to the Clarion River. Despite how warm it had gotten, it was crazy to see the ice chunks floating down the river! I can only imagine how frozen everything was over Christmas. This trail was so peaceful and we only saw one other family. My absolute favorite part though was seeing a beaver on the trail!! I’ve only ever seen evidence of their chomping so it was so cool to see the actual animals on the trail. He slunk away as we got closer and disappeared into the water. 

Beaver!

From here you can really continue along as far as you want. We followed the trail to the Henry Run Sawmill Waterfall. This is a really unique feature that doesn’t appear on the park map! Henry Run is a small tributary of the Clarion River and this section was dammed during the logging boom of the late 19th century. Although the mill no longer exists, the rock wall from the dam is still standing and creates a beautiful little waterfall. Around this time it has started to get misty, so we decided to turn around before we got too soaked. On the way back, we got on the River Trail which leads back up to the Fire Tower Road without going all the way back to the overlook area. Beware though, this is a really steep climb back up! Our hearts were definitely pumping by the time we made it back to the road. 

There’s also an alternative way of visiting these sites, which I learned of thanks to Tory at My Trails are Many and Jim at UncoveringPA. You can come at these trails from a different way if you park at the trailhead on Gravel Lick Road. We wanted to go this way but Gravel Lick road was closed for the winter! From there, you just get on the Baker/North Country Trail and go along the water. From this way, the waterfall will be the first site you encounter. From there, you can continue along until you see the Fire Tower and Seneca Overlook. This would be a great place to take a break before turning around! This would end up being about a 5-mile out and back trek to see the waterfall, fire tower, and overlook. Check it would below:

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/henry-run-falls-fc03d48?u=i

Stay tuned for more of our hikes in Cook Forest! 

THE BEER: Clarion River Brewing Company

Address: 600 Main St, Clarion, PA 16214
Distance from Trail Head: 30 miles, 50 mins 
Website: http://clarionriverbrew.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating (seasonal)

After spending the day hiking along the Clarion River, it almost feels inevitable that you should grab some food and a beverage from Clarion River Brewing Company! This brewpub is located in downtown Clarion right on the main street. The venue is split into two sections: the bar area and a large dining room, although you can have a meal in either. With hearty sandwiches and burgers, I’m sure this is a popular place when school is in session! We were lucky to pretty much have the place to ourselves when we were in town. Clarion River brews in house but also features other local brews on their taplist. Unfortunately when we visited, they were in between brewers so they didn’t have any of their own headliners on the menu. No worries, we were able to get a flight of all their in-house stuff and sampled some other local brews too. 

Their food was filling and just what we needed to warm up. Like most breweries with a full kitchen, I wouldn’t say it was stellar but it got the job done! I hope that their hunt for a new brewer moves forward without a hitch so they can get their taplist back! Overall, Clarion River Brewing was worth the stop if you’re in town, but I would definitely suggest including it as part of brewery crawl so you can sample the other area offerings 

Our Beer:

  • Betta Weatha – Cream Ale – 5.1%
  • Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A Beer – Peach Milkshake IPA – 6.5%
  • Ol’ Chap – ESB – 6.1%
  • Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut, Sometimes a Stout – Vanilla Coconut Stout – 5%

SUM UP: Cook Forest State Park is a great weekend getaway from Pittsburgh. The area is full of campsites and cabins and has lots of little restaurants during the season. The state park is a beautiful area for hiking, famous for its old growth forest. This hike takes you to the old Fire Tower, a beautiful lookout at Seneca Rocks, and a secret waterfall! The 5 mile loop is rated moderately challenging due to some steep sections and proper footwear is recommended. Check the weather before heading out! Afterwards, warm up with a brew a burger at Clarion River Brewing if staying in Clarion or the Clarion River Lodge if camping or staying in a cabin in the State Park. You can’t go wrong with a weekend in the PA Wilds!

Cove Mountain Preserve & Pizza Boy Brewing

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Enola, PA

While in Harrisburg for a quick weekend, we managed to squeeze in another short hike! We stopped at Cove Mountain Preserve which is on the other side of the Susquehanna river from the capitol. This nature preserve sits at the end of a suburban neighborhood and seemed very popular with families, as it should! We did a short 1.5 mile loop to the State of Liberty lookout. We ended up nearly running the last bit cause we heard some rumbles in the distance. I am not a fan of being in the woods during a thunderstorm! Thankfully we made it back to the car and took refuge at Pizza Boy Brewing which is a place I’ve been wanting to check out for years. True to their name, the pizza was awesome and the beer was delicious. Be prepared to make some hard decisions though, they had nearly 100 beers on tap!

THE HIKE: Cove Mountain Preserve – Statue of Liberty Viewpoint

Length: 1.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 250ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time:  45 minutes
Trail use: Hiking, Leashed Pets
Parking: Large gravel lot at trailhead
H&H: 4/5

Cove Mountain Preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by volunteers from the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club. The Nature Conservancy purchased the land in 2017, making it the first nature preserve owned by TNC in Central PA. This important purchase actually creates a 14-mile stretch of protected land along the Kittatinny Ridge in Central Pennsylvania. This ridge forms a 185-mile stretch of rugged mountain from the Mason-Dixon Line to the Delaware River Gap. According to The Nature Conservancy, this ridge is critical to the biodiversity of Pennsylvania because it provides a forested “superhighway” for animals to escape from the effects of changing climates. 

Cove Mountain Preserve itself is a very well-maintained area with about 3 miles of trails. There are several small, interlinked trails that are color coded. We took the Green and Yellow trails to make a loop out to the Statue of Liberty viewpoint. This was about 1.5 miles of moderate hiking that wound through pawpaw (!) groves and has some small rock scrambles. There was a really cool spot where the trail squeezed through a break in the glacial rocks. It was fittingly called the Boulder Squeeze! A HUGE shout out to the folks with the SATC for making these trails, the green trail was absolutely beautiful, especially all of the rock work! Having done some trail building myself, I know moving rocks like that is no small feat! 

Okay, so you might be wondering if I’ve lost my mind talking about the Statue of Liberty. No, you can’t see all the way to the Big Apple from this trail. But there is a miniature replica of Lady Liberty on a rock in the Susquehanna. I had never heard about this until this trip and I needed to know more about it! And what a story it is. SO in 1986, a local man wanted to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Statue of Liberty by making a “prank” replica of it. He built it out of plywood and venetian blinds and, along with some co-conspirators, installed it on an old bridge piling in the middle of the night. It caused quite a stir and even a few traffic jams on the neighboring highway! Surprisingly, despite its flimsy construction materials, the statue remained in place until 1992 when it was blown off the pedestal and destroyed. However, people had become quite attached to her over the few years that a collection for a replacement was set up. Over $25,000 was raised and a replica was made of steel and fiberglass. Nearly 11 years after the first statue was built, a helicopter placed Lady Liberty back on her pedestal. It wasn’t until 2011 that a local lawyer Gene Stilp finally came forward as the mastermind behind the original statue. Wow what a story! 

We were very impressed with this little nature reserve and I would definitely recommend a visit! And if you go soon, check out those pawpaw groves, you might be able to catch a fresh fruit. 

THE BEER: Pizza Boy Brewing/ Al’s of Hampden

Address: 2240 Millennium Way, Enola, PA 17025
Distance from Trail Head: 6.8 mi, 12 mins
Website: http://www.alsofhampden.com/
Food?: Full Menu – PIZZA
Details: Outdoor seating but no pets
H&H Rating: 5/5

Pizza Boy Brewing has been on my radar for a while as I’ve seen a few more of their beers popping up on draft around the Burgh. But I especially remember them from some of their delicious collabs with local fav East End! I’d really liked everything I’ve had from Pizza Boy so I was especially excited to be able to go to their brewpub. 

Upon visiting Pizza Boy, I was surprised to learn that the Pizza actually came first! Al’s of Hampden is a pizza restaurant that has been run by Albert Kominski since 2002. It wasn’t until 2011, that the brewery got started. The name makes a lot more sense now! The brewery quickly became popular, soon outgrowing their old location. The team was able to upgrade to a large facility in Enola PA where they have a full menu as well as take out, and over 100 beers on tap! They have a huge variety of Pizza Boy beers, as well as other local favorites and standard domestic pours. There really is something for everyone at Pizza Boy! 

Pizza and beer has got to be one of my favorite combos and it just hits different after hiking! I can only speak to how delicious their pizza was, but they also have a full pub menu, including subs, soups, and salads. The pizza definitely reels you in, but you’ll end up staying awhile for the taplist. And mostly because that’s how long it will take you to read it! Seriously, this place has so many beers that it was nearly impossible to choose. We actually went back the next day for another round of tasting! My favorite of the weekend was the Permission Slip, which was so crisp and refreshing with a nice hop profile. And I would be remiss if I didn’t call out the delightful Paw Paw Pale Ale. Pizza and pawpaw beer, I think I was in heaven! 

Our Beer:

  • West Shore IPA – IPA – 6.5%
  • Citrus Flip – IPA – 6%
  • Sunny Side Up (Bourbon Barrel Aged) – Coffee Stout – 9.5%
  • Starlit Morning – Pale Ale – 5.5%
  • Permission Slip – India Pale Lager – 5.7%
  • Puncheon Rogerd – Wild Ale – 6.3%
  • Hop Vision Cashmere – IPA – 6%
  • Engineer of Dreams – NEIPA – 6.2%
  • Keystone – IPA – 6.6%
  • Paw Paw Pale Ale – 5.5%

SUM UP: Cove Nature Preserve is a small hiking area just north of Harrisburg in central PA. It offers several miles of trails with clearly marked trail blazes. The trails are fairly flat with some moderately rocky terrain. This is a great spot for beginner hikers or families especially since the trails are well-maintained and have low foot traffic. After your stroll, head over to Pizza Boy Brewing for the classic pizza and beer combo. Get ready to make some tough decisions though. Between the lengthy tap list and robust menu, you’ll have a tough time choosing!