Smith’s Knob & New Trail Brewing Co.

October 7, 2023October 8, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Williamsport, PA

My first trip to Loyalsock State Forest took us to a beautiful but strenuous hike to Smith’s Knob Vista. The steep rocky ascent pays off for a beautiful view of Loyalsock creek and the surrounding valley. Definitely bring your trekking poles for this one! Afterward, drive back into Williamsport for a pint at the enormous New Trail Brewing, which is all about spending quality time outdoors and making great beer.

THE HIKE: Smith’s Knob via Loyalsock Trail

Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1312 ft
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 2.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, trail running, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at trailhead

Background

This day hike gives you just a taste of the 59 mile backpacking trail through Loyalsock State Forest. The trail, established in 1951, is a challenging trek through rugged terrain. It’s maintained by the Alpine Club of Williamsport which has a guide to the trail available for purchase on their website. If you’re interested in the backpacking trail, Endless Mountains has an excellent guide on their website.

Loyalsock State forest is one of the 20 state forests in the state of Pennsylvania. It spans over 114,000 acres across Bradford, Sullivan and Lycoming counties. It makes up part of the Endless Mountain region and is made up mostly of hardwood forests. It’s named for the scenic Loyalsock creek that runs through the center of the forest.

There’s more than 200 miles of hiking in the Loyalsock State forest but the most popular is probably the backpacking trail. Thankfully, there are several parking access points so it’s also accessible for day hikes!

The Hike

Parking: 41.3566320056887, -76.85942897194258

The day hike to Smith’s Knob starts near the Western terminus of the Loyalsock Trail. The parking lot can be found on Little Bear Creek Road, access off Route 87 just north of Williamsport. Little Bear Creek Road is quite narrow and not paved, so a car with a higher suspension is recommended. My little Honda Fit would not have made this trail! The parking lot is very large but there are no bathroom facilities so plan accordingly.

The trailhead can be found across the gravel road and is clearly marked with a “Loyalsock Trail” signpost. Throughout this hike, the trail is noted by small metal discs on trees with a red LT emblazoned on a yellow background. The trail ascends up a hillside and quickly encounters a clearing with a large industrial garage, likely for forestry equipment. Bear to the left and meet up with the trail again. The first mile or so is by far the most difficult hiking we’ve done in a while. We took many breaks and needed lots of water and fuel. And of course a pair of trail runners zoomed by us to really put us in our place! After about 0.5 miles of steady incline, you’ll reach the first of many viewpoints. This charming vista is known as Helen’s window and while not the most impressive view, it’s still a nice spot to catch your breath.

Continuing onward for another half mile brings you to a trail intersection. Stay straight on the Loyalsock Trail but note that the trail you’re crossing over is the Smith’s Bypass trail and it’s the one you’ll eventually be coming back along. Now comes the steepest and most difficult part of the trail. The last ascent to the Knob is incredibly rocky and there is no shame in needing all four limbs to get yourself up there! When you finally ascend to the top and catch your breath, there are a couple viewpoints. To the right is a grassy area that is lovely for a quick rest. The views aren’t spectacular but the grass is delightful to rest in. From there, a bit further along the trail is a large campsite used by backpackers. Just past the trail to the left is the Smith’s Knob overlook and it is by far one of my favorite vistas that we’ve encountered. I’m not sure if it was having the place to ourselves or the sheer effort it took to get there, but this place just really got to me. We stayed here for a while enjoying the view of the creek below and shockingly being able to hear a children’s soccer game somewhere in the distance.

From the overlook, continue along the LT as it descends from the Knob. Once again, it can get pretty steep so take your time! I definitely am known to go down steep sections on my butt. A tried and true technique! From here, the next mile is a lovely peaceful trek through soaring trees. We didn’t see another person the whole time! Eventually the trail meets up with the bypass trail and you’ll leave the Loyalsock trail. Be aware that the bypass trail is marked with a yellow circle and a red X. I didn’t know this before going and was worried that we weren’t supposed to be on the trail! But never fear this is the way to complete the loop back. This trail is much wider and flat, more like a rustic road. Because of this there are more sunny spots and it can get quite warm. Following the red x’s will bring you back to the intersection with the Loyalsock trail. Take the left turn to head back to the parking lot!

THE BEER: New Trail Brewing Company

Address: 240 Arch St building 18, Williamsport, PA 17701
Distance from Trail Head: 27 mins, 19 miles
Website: http://www.newtrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly

New Trail brewing company is pretty much the perfect brewery to pair with a hike because of their strong dedication to the outdoors. All of the original founders are avid outdoorspeople and established the brewery in order to make good beer and get people outdoors! New Trail Brewing is located in Williamsport, which is an access point for so many of PA’s fantastic state parks and forests. In fact, New Trail brewing has frequently worked with and supported conservation and trail organizations across PA. I love seeing breweries doing the good work!

From the hiking boot print in their logo to the enormous map of the state forests surrounding WIlliamsport, I loved how much of this brewery was dedicated to the great outdoors. You can tell how much the owners care about their town and introducing people to the great outdoors. It also helps that the beer is pretty dang good too! In fact, New Trail has been working with the PA Parks and Forests foundation to put out a series of PA State Park themed beers which is not only super cool but proceeds are also going right back into the parks. I hope to see more partnerships like this with breweries across PA and beyond!

Our Beer:

Blackberry Lemonade – Sour – 5%
Rocksylvania – Hazy IPA – 7%
Broken Heels – Hazy IPA – 7%
White Ale – Wheat Beer – 5.5%

Duff Park & Devout Brewing

September 17, 2023September 16, 2023hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

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

Mount Nittany & Happy Valley Brewing

August 13, 2023August 30, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

State College, PA

Okay, okay, I may be a Pitt girlie but boy do I love a weekend in State College! I visited J out here so much when we were in college and I have many fond memories of exploring the area. Shockingly though, one thing we never did was hike Mount Nittany! Well that definitely needed to change. This is a very popular hike and I would suggest tackling it during the summer when school is out or you may have some trouble finding parking. The 940 ft in elevation gained is no joke so make sure to have proper footwear and plenty of water. Afterward, recharge at Happy Valley Brewing, a hip brewpub in a renovated barn. Make sure to look up for one of the coolest brewery ceilings I’ve ever seen!

THE HIKE: Mount Nittany

Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 940 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.5 hours
Trail use: hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Small lot at trailhead, Port-a-Potty, nature table

Mount Nittany is arguably the most popular hike in Centre County. Not only does the mountain share its name with many businesses in the area, but more famously is the namesake for the mascot of Penn State University, the largest college in Pennsylvania. But where does the name “Nittany” come from? It’s a little unclear but it seems to come from an Algonquian word meaning “single mountain”. This would make sense since Nittany Mountain is the lone high peak along the Nittany Ridge, making it an excellent place for views of PSU and the affectionately named Happy Valley.

This area is maintained by the Mount Nittany Conservancy, a nonprofit formed by members of the Lion’s Paw Alumni Association from Penn State. Originally members saved the mountain from the logging industry in the 1940s by raising money to purchase a large section of land on the mountain. But then again in the 1980s, the land was again under threat by developers, so the Conservancy was formed to purchase and preserve more of the mountain. Today, the Mountain Nittany Conservancy cares for over 300 acres of land and works with other landowners towards the long term preservation of the mountain. They also build trails, remove invasive species, conduct clean up days and so much more!

There are over 8 miles of intersecting trail on Mount Nittany, with the most popular being the 0.6 mile hike to the Mike Lynch Overlook. This overlook gives sweeping views of the Penn State Campus including the Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium. Be prepared for a trek though, this trail gains over 600ft of rocky elevation in half a mile! Unfortunately the views are a bit obscured in my pictures due to lingering wildfire smoke.

For our trek, we wanted to do the full 5 mile loop of the blue and white trails in order to see all the overlooks. Although the map may look confusing, it’s nearly impossible to get lost on this hike due to the incredible work of the MNC to include signs throughout the hike. Each signpost lists the map reference for exactly where you are on the trail and gives GPS coordinates. THere are also several “shortcut” trails if the full loop feels like too much!

When doing this hike, it’s important to remember that it is extremely popular both with locals and students. I would suggest doing it first thing in the morning or planning a sunset hike. But know that you will most certainly be sharing the trail with others. Also, there is only room for 3-4 cars at the trailhead, but there is additional parking down the road. Be sure to follow the signs and do not block anyone’s driveway. This is a residential area so try to be courteous to everyone! There are also portable toilets at the trailhead. One of my favorite aspects of this trail was the huge white board beside the posted map where hikers could add their wildlife observations. How cool! We saw several red efts but still no bears. Sigh.

For the actual hike, start on the blue/white trail which will take you straight up a very rocky hillside. Even for someone fit, this part can be challenging. Bring plenty of water and be aware of the temperature and humidity for the day. I suggest keeping a counter-clockwise journey (aka right turns). Now that you’ve made it up the mountain, the rest of the hike until the descent is quite flat and easy. The first overlook is the Mike Lynch overlook, probably the largest and most popular due to its views of the PSU campus. However, if you keep onward, the best overlook in my personal opinion, will actually be the last one! Continue along the trail, always keeping to the blue blazed trail. You’ll pass other overlooks, some nicer than others. The trail remains easy and the flora is diverse and inviting. Nearing the end of the circle around the summit, you’ll reach the Nittany Mall overlook. This is the last of the overlook and arguably the nicest. There’s a huge rock perfect for sitting and the trees perfectly frame the vista. What more could you ask for! Finally, it is time to head back down the mountain along the same path you came up. It feels just as rocky going down so take your time!

THE BEER: Happy Valley Brewing Co.

Address: 137 Elmwood St, State College, PA 16801
Distance from Trail Head: 1.4 miles, 5 mins
Website: http://happyvalleybeer.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, No pets

Celebrate your victory over Mount Nittany with some brews and a meal at Happy Valley Brewing. This unique brewing is housed in an old barn and all of the details and decor nod to the building’s previous life. They even preserved the old Klinger’s Farm sign and have it proudly displayed over the bar! While you’re looking, take a gaze at the wall papered ceiling and you’ll get a chuckle out of the beer-minded renaissance figures.

Happy Valley Brewing has a full kitchen menu specializing not only on pub favorites but also offering a more sophisticated menu of farm-to-table offerings. Although if you’re like me, after hiking all I want is a big tasty sandwich! I opted for the pulled pork and it was exactly what I wanted. In addition to the upstairs restaurant, there’s also a downstairs lounge that usually has live entertainment and a relaxed vibe.

But what about the beer?? I felt compelled to get the Tailgater Pale Ale which was a delightfully hoppy ale with a slight tangerine flavor. Coming in at a low 4.&% ABV, this made for a perfect post-hike lunchtime pour. I only wish I had time to sample more! But most importantly, we had to save room for a stop at the Creamery. You just have to!

Looking for more Central PA hikes & hops? Check out Peter’s Mountain & ZeroDay Brewing in Harrisburg, Pulpit Rock & 1787 Brewing in Hamburg, and Rickett’s Glen & Back Mountain Brewing Near Benton

Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons Brewing Co.

August 6, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 5 Comments

Rector, PA

Powdermill Nature Preserve is a hidden gem tucked in the Laurel Highlands about an hour outside of Pittsburgh. Often overlooked by its better known neighbors, this small reserve has about 5 miles of hiking trails and a beautiful visitor center with educational exhibits that are fun and interesting for the whole family. Full of signs with nature facts and tree identifications, these peaceful trails taught me so much! After a peaceful, secluded hike, you can head over to Four Seasons Brewing in Latrobe for a pour in their spacious taproom.

THE HIKE: Powdermill Nature Reserve Trails

Length: 4.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 725 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2-2.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at nature center
H&H: 5/5

Powdermill Nature Reserve really flies under the radar in the Laurel Highlands as there are so many other more popular places to hike (ahem, here’s looking at you Ohiopyle) but I would highly recommend planning a visit out here. Powdermill is actually a part of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and functions as its environmental research center. So in addition to educational programming in the visitor center, Powdermill is also a field station and research laboratory. There’s a lot going on at Powdermill but one of their biggest projects is the Avian Research Center which tracks birds in the area to see how these creatures are adapting to the changing world. Check out the Avian Research Center’s website for more info on the current research projects!

As you may tell from my hikes, I love learning more about nature and the environment. Powdermill has been on my radar for a while and I’m so glad I finally made the time to visit! Be aware that the trails do not appear on AllTrails so be sure to check out the trail map on Powdermill’s website beforehand. Also, the area is a bit of a deadzone, so downloading the area to Google Maps is a great idea! The trail is also posted outside of the visitor center.

There are a few different trails to explore here, all of a fairly manageable length. The longest is Porcupine Ridge which is 3 miles out-and-back from the visitor center. There is also a small system of trails behind the visitor center which add up to about 1.5 miles. I did a big loop of all the trails to experience the whole space!

To start, carefully cross the street from the visitor center to find the Porcupine Ridge Trailhead. From here, you immediately head into dense woods. These trails are pretty secluded so you’re pretty likely to have the place to yourself! Not long after starting, there’s the option to add on the Sugar Camp Trail. I highly recommend this as it was full of cool fungi and had lots of interpretative signs about the flora and fauna of the area. I learned so much! After about 0.5 miles, the Sugar Camp Trail meets back up with the Porcupine Ridge Trail and you can continue towards the overlook. At one point, the trail crosses over a private road so be sure to stay on the trail! After the road crossing, the trail becomes more rocky and heads uphill. This is the most difficult part of the trail and can be muddy. The trail also passes through an area that suffered tornado damage some years ago. New trees have been planted and it’s critical to stay on the trail here so as not to disturb the reforestation. Finally, you’ll take the last hill up to the overlook. There is a small platform with a bench to take in the view of the hills. It’s not the most incredible view especially for the Laurel Highlands, but I thought it was a nice place to relax. Then, you can just retrace your steps back to the visitor center! From there, definitely explore the shorter trails behind the Visitor Center. There’s a beautiful spot where two creeks come together. I also really appreciated how many of the plants were labeled so that I could work on my identification skills!

Finally, after your hike, be sure to check out the exhibits in the visitor center! I was particularly interested in their “marsh machine” that filters waste water. They also have some nice exhibits about the animals that can be found in the area. Plus, there’s a fun flow chart about finding out what bird you are. Apparently I’m a hawk!

THE BEER: Four Seasons Brewing Co.

Address: 745 Lloyd Ave Exd, Latrobe, PA 15650
Distance from Trail Head: 18 miles, 25 mins
Website: http://www.fsbrewing.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, Pets outside

Four Seasons has been brewing up delicious brews in Latrobe since 2013. They’ve got a huge indoor taproom complete with an in-house restaurant and outdoor seating. Their warehouse taproom vibe is complemented by artwork by renowned illustrator Mark Brewer, whose work is also featured on cans from Four Seasons. The owner and head brewer is born and raised in Latrobe, which is evident from the neighborhood vibe of the place. It very much feels like a place for locals, although always welcome to out of towners! Head over for live music on the weekends! You can also find them pouring local wines, ciders, and liquors for you non-beer drinkers. Next time you’re in Latrobe, be sure to check out Four Seasons!

Our Beer:

Bluegrass Ale w/ Blueberries – Wheat Ale – 5.5%
Latrobe Lager – Lager – 5.4%
Hall of Fame – Hefeweizen – 5.8%
Catlas – Witbier – 5.1%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in the Laurel Highlands? Check out Wolf Rocks & Helltown and Ohiopyle & Bloom Brew

Moraine State Park & Union Brothers Brewing

June 12, 2023August 31, 2023hikesandhopsblog 3 Comments

Portersville, PA

Most people associate Moraine State Park with boating and fishing, but did you know that there’s also nearly 30 miles of hiking and biking trails? Glacier Ridge Trail is popular for backpacking but can also be done as an out and back section, choosing how far you want to go. This particular section starts at the parking lot on Mount Union Road and turns around at the 528 Bridge for just over 7.2 miles. After working up a sweat on this trail, back into Harmony for a refreshing brew at Union Brothers either in their full-kitchen taproom or in their cozy outdoor patio.

THE HIKE: Glacier Ridge Trail (Moraine State Park)

Length: 7.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 1350 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 3.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Gravel pull off for a few cars on Mt. Union Rd
Parking coordinates: 40.96781939719753, -80.07996200282916
H&H: 5/5

Moraine State Park is located in Portersville, PA only a few miles away from McConnells Mill State, another of my recent treks. Although these two have been affected by a similar geological history, they are rather unique from each other! Moraine is mainly characterized by the 3,000 acre Lake Arthur, which is why it is (justifiably) known for its draw to outdoor water sports and fishing. However, there’s lots of unique history behind that lake and its nearby trails.

History

Moraine State Park gets its name because of the four separate glaciers that reached their northernmost extent just shy of Moraine State Park. Glaciers are huge ice sheets that covered much of the Earth during the Ice Age. Because of the way glaciers move, they trap and move rock and other debris. When they melt and recede, this debris is left behind, often creating ridges known by geologists as moraines. While hiking through this park, you can see evidence of these glacial deposits in the huge boulders and stone that seem to emerge out of nowhere. As I’ve mentioned before, this glacial freeze and thaw cycle is also what created the incredible Slippery Rock Gorge at McConnells Mill! At one point in time, ice dams caused the creation of glacial lakes throughout the region. Although the current Lake Arthur is manmade, it is a replica of the glacial Lake Watt that once dominated the area.

Because of the unique glacial deposits, settlers to the region found it rich with mineral deposits. The mining industry grew throughout the 1800s until much of the area was depleted of resources and left polluted. For many decades, the area was left completely abandoned. But thanks to the efforts of researcher and naturalist Frank W. Preston (founder of the Western PA Conservancy), who recognized the uniqueness of the land, efforts were made to seal abandoned mains and restore the natural landscape.

One of my favorite things about this blog is being able to learn the history behind the trails I hike. I’ve lived in Pittsburgh most of my life, and never knew that Moraine wasn’t a person’s name but rather a geological term. Learning more about the geological history of the area, really gives greater depth to enjoying the areas we hike. It’s one thing to hike a trail called Glacier Ridge and another to understand why it’s called that!

The Trail

Okay, enough waxing poetic about geology (can you tell that I used to study archaeology?). Let’s get into this trail. Glacier Ridge is a 14.8 mile point to point trail that runs through the woods along the northside of Lake Arthur. It’s part of a small section of the 4,800 mile North Country Scenic Trail that runs from North Dakota to Vermont. Glacier Ridge is popular with backpackers and there are shelters that can be booked through the PA DNR website. Please note that you must have a permit to backpack! For more info about backpacking in Moraine, check out My Trails Are Many for a great overview of her experience. For those just looking to day hike, there are several access points to the Glacier Ridge trail in Moraine: PA 528, Mount Union Road, the bike rental, and McDanels Launch Area. For our trek, we parked at the small gravel pull-off on Mount Union Road which is small, but on a sunny Sunday, we were the only ones there! Be aware that there is also a larger parking lot for the bike trails on Mount Union before you hit this lot but that’s not where I recommend parking!

Immediately after starting the trail, it dips down to a peaceful pond that would be the perfect secluded fishing spot. Honestly, I could have spend the rest of the day lazing around this pond! From there the trail meanders through the woods, sometimes crossing over small bridges and heading up rocky inclines. For most of the trail, you’ll be staying on the blue blazes for the NCT/Glacier Ridge Trail. Do not follow any of the signs for the bike trails or the marina! After about 3.5 miles, the North Country trail splits off and continues north but you’ll want to stay on the Glacier Ridge Trail, which is now white blazed. Now, the trail hugs directly next to the lake, so there’s plenty of gorgeous photo opportunities. Finally, the trail hits the PA 528 bridge which is where we decided to turn around. Feel free to continue on if you’ve got the time and stamina! As always, make sure to leave enough daylight to make the return trek.

Other Things to Do

A trip to Moraine is a great day trip from the city! Aside from hiking, you can also get out on the water. There are 9 public boat docks and engines up to 20 horsepower are allowed. You can also rent pontoons, motorboats, kayaks, canoes, and rowboats. Swimming and fishing are also popular activities at Moraine. If staying on land is more your speed, check out the paved bike trails and also the more intense mountain bike routes. Looking for more to do in Moraine? Check out the PA Department of Natural Resources and the Butler County Tourism site.

THE BEER: Union Brothers Brewing

Address: 365 Mercer Rd, Harmony, PA 16037
Distance from Trail Head: 18 miles, 22 mins
Website: http://unionbrothersbrewing.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating; Dog Friendly Outside

Union Brothers Brewing is a fairly recent addition to the thriving Zelienople beer scene. Friends Zachary Waltz and Jeremiah Cain began homebrewing together and perfected their craft for many years before opening a taproom. But once they did, it quickly outgrew the demand for their lineup of sours and hazy IPAs. The team has already expanded once to a larger taproom and greatly expanded their brewing capacity. From the stunning wall art by local graffiti artist Max Gonzales to its physical location across the street from the Steamfitters Union, Union Brothers is a celebration of the region’s industrial past and present. Both brewers are proud members of their local union and felt the name fit! You’ll find yourself right at home at Union Brothers whether it’s in the hip taproom or sitting around picnic tables and fire pits outside. A full food menu caps Union Brothers off as the perfect place to unwind.

We’ve been to Union Brothers twice now and have had an awesome experience both times. It feels like the perfect neighborhood joint, whether you’re from the area or just passing through. Having an excellent taplist doesn’t hurt either! I’ve heard rumors that Union Brothers is set to expand again soon, having purchased the old nearby Moose Lodge. I’m looking forward to seeing these guys just keep getting bigger and better!

Our Beer: