Pennsylvania

Elk are truly majestic animals, and they're really big! Cows weigh about 500 lbs and Bulls can weigh up to 700 lbs.Since elk populations move frequently, the best ways to find elk are to drive or hike throughout their range. Purple Lizard's newest map,Moshannon-Quehanna, highlights hundreds of miles of roads and trails in the heart of elk country.

Purple Lizard Maps gives some insight on what it takes to create a recreational map of the highest quality.

Meadow Run Trail is one of our favorite trails in Ohiopyle State Park. It has it all: woods, rocks and water, as it takes you to crazy big climbing rocks amidst giant rhododendrons, then to lots of access spots along Meadow Run where you'll find wading pools and waterfalls. Hiking, climbing, fishing, sightseeing and playing in the pools of Meadow Run are what you'll find along this short loop trail.

Purple Lizard takes you on a drive through the backroads of Bald Eagle State Forest, one of the most remote forests in Pennsylvania.

Every map we make presents new challenges and the Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Lizard Map was no exception. About 7 months after we started field work, the Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Lizard Map was published. We really like this map, it opens up a lot of territory and will help people see the area in a way they haven't been able to. Put away your GPS, grab the Lizard Map and get out there to see what lies on the backroads of the Laurel Highlands!

Loyalsock is one of our go-to choices when we are looking for somewhere to unwind away from the world. There is something magical about this forest.  Perhaps it is the fact that "Worlds End" is literally a place name in this forest, or perhaps it's the fact that in the era of overstimulation with technology and news and. . . well everything, this is one of those increasingly rare, beautiful places where for the most part you won't have cell service.  

Loyalsock State Forest, located in the heart of the PA Wilds has just about everything that an outdoors lover could want. Waterfalls, vistas, trails, forest roads, swimming holes, historical relics, camping sites; this forest has it all!

Get outside to enjoy evergreen trees while discovering trails near Black Moshannon State Park! Snow or no snow? Doesn't much matter! It's always a great time to grab yourMoshannon Lizard Map and follow along on a short adventure along Six Mile Run that includes green leaves and clear streams all year long - and often a beautiful winter blanket of snow!

What exactly is a designated Natural Area? The goal is to allow nature to take its course as it would without human interruption. Rather than being managed by humans, the State allows these lands to mature and regenerate naturally. To support this goal only exploring on foot is permitted: there is no camping, campfires, bicycles or horses allowed in a designated Natural Area. All motorized vehicles are restricted to the borders and roads around the area. Only day hikers can explore within the borders. The Hook Natural Area, found on ourBald Eagle Lizard Map, is PA's largest Natural Area and offers many opportunities for a great adventure. 

Winter is very unpredictable in Pennsylvania, regardless of what that silly rodent thinks about his shadow. Some seasons we see a week of substantial snowfall, followed by a warming trend that feels like spring, but we know it's too early... or is it? You can take advantage of these winter/spring/winter conditions and enjoy what Mother Nature offers by considering all the things you can do in Moshannon - ski, snowshoe, hike, bike, or just hang out in a sweet cabin for the weekend!

Looking for a fall fix? Here are four PA Fall adventure ideas to consider in Pine Creek, Rothrock, and Bald Eagle State Forest.

(updated 2023)

Follow along with us on a gentle, but remote 10-mile hike through prime elk habitat in Central PA. Besides a section of State Game Lands, this lovely loop is completely within the nearly 50,000 acre Quehanna Wild Area. This is the largest Wild Area in Pennsylvania, and is home to all of the best wildlife that PA has to offer: bear, deer, elk, bobcat, coyote, rattlesnakes, fishers and more. The two short climbs on this loop only gain about 100 feet of elevation and the classic Central PA rocks are non-existent.