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Where you'll never hike alone
The Philadelphia Trail Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1931. We lead hikes most Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year; hikes are less frequent in July and August.
Aside from hiking, the additional purposes of the club include:
Encourage interest in the outdoors,
Support development of facilities for outdoor activities in the Philadelphia area,
Encourage appreciation and outdoor-related education and
Support outdoor trail maintenance.
You can check out who we have supported with grants from our Memorial Fund or Operations Fund on our Friends and Affiliates page.
Hikes: Hikes are usually held in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties, with occasional hikes further afield--for example, in the Poconos, on a local section of the Appalachian Trail, in the New Jersey Pine Barrens or in Delaware. Most hikes range from 5 to 10 miles in distance and from very easy to more strenuous. Each hike description includes a numerical classification as to difficulty and estimated mileage so that individuals can select those hikes which seem appropriate to their abilities.
Non Members: are welcome on specified hikes, but those who participate in 3 hikes with the Club are encouraged to become Members in order to help support the Club's activities. Member dues are only $10 per year, including electronic copies of the hike list. All Members are expected to eventually become a Hike Leader (someone who chooses the hike, is the hike organizer, and leads the hike on a given day).
Excursions: The Club also sponsors some more extensive outings for Members only. This has typically been one major trip per year, and the number of participants is limited. In recent years we've traveled to Iceland, Scotland, Croatia, and Maine as well as more local excursion weekends such as Chincoteague Island, VA.
PTC Contact Information
2024-25 Board Members
President: Kate Smith
Vice President: Beth Heyman
Treasurer: Mary Jane Cobbs
Recording Secretary: Cathy Robinson
Membership: Sally McNamara
Hike Chair(s): Debby Lamb, Ines Breen
Hike Statistics: Tim Creamer
Social Media: Kathy Licht
Memorial Fund Chair: Tom Switalski
Memorial Fund Trustees: Auda Gallagher, Debby Lamb
Councilors: Cindy Un
Webmaster: Rachel Rose Smith
You can contact the Club or any board member at philadelphiatrailclub@gmail.com. Our Hike Chair email is ptchikechair@gmail.com
"Great things are done when men and mountains meet"
- William Blake