Lizard Adventure Blog

Free dispersed camping along with hiking, biking, horseback riding, and driving adventures near Gandy Creek West Virginia.

Discover an array of outdoor recreation in and around Davis and Thomas West Virginia!

We have a new tool in our mapping kit, and it's quickly becoming our favorite. BH Easy Motion Bicycles asked us to test one of their Mountain e-bikes this season. We didn't know anything about e-bikes, but we use several types of bicycles in our field work, so this was a perfect opportunity to learn about this new ride in the world of cycling.

As part of my training to attempt the Tour Divide mountain bike race in June, I planned on riding 215 miles from my home in Centre County, PA to several vistas overlooking the Pine Creek Gorge in the Tiadaghton State Forest, camping along the way. Combined with about 15,000 feet of climbing, this trip would closely match typical days on the Tour Divide.

The Lizard Department of Adventure offers yet another great hike suggestion for those who want to discover the beauty of Northcentral PA: Tiadaghton Trail! 

In beautiful Pine Creek Valley on the Pine Creek Lizard Map lies a long forgotten trail simply called the Tiadaghton Trail. It has been recently reopened by DCNR and a small group of dedicated volunteers. The southern half of this trail, now better than ever, consists of a very steep climb along a narrow ridge, followed by a beautiful ridgetop hike, concluding with a fantastic descent into a canyon that drains to Pine Creek by Waterville. It is a strenuous hike, but one that offers many rewards!

Hikers and runners looking for a quick adventure near Route 30 need look no further than Charcoal Hearth Trail in Caledonia State Park. This trail offers various hiking surfaces, some climbing and descending, and historical significance, all bundled in a slightly less than 3-mile loop.

The Quehanna Trail in Moshannon and Elk State Forests, PA is an amazing 75-mile backpacking loop. The QT is a remote trail, with minimal cell reception and minimal use. The Quehanna Wild Area is outstanding and well-known, but the rest of this route is an unknown adventure! It includes a good amount of elevation change and tons of wildlife, including elk. Plenty of trailhead parking areas, including a few PA state parks, allow for easy access to this trail system. The QT never disappoints!

As fall arrives, the weather cools, the bugs and the obvious presence of snakes diminish, and outdoor enthusiasts flock to the woods on the weekends to enjoy beautiful environments. In some areas of Pennsylvania, certain hunting seasons officially begin in September. While there are several publications to sift through regarding hunting regulations, we know you probably won't go out of your way to read those. Once fall arrives, it's a good idea to assume hunters will be sharing the woods with you while you are engaged in your outdoor adventures (except on Sundays!). Since Purple Lizard Maps wants everyone to enjoy the woods and safely, we thought a quick public service announcement regarding general risk mitigation practices during hunting season might be helpful.

The West Rim Trail is an outstanding 30-mile backpacking trail along the western side of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The trail is fairly well known, having been highlighted in multiple national outdoor recreation publications throughout the years. Overall the elevation change is moderate, campsites are plentiful, and the vistas are truly unmatched!

Rail Trail riding is an outdoor activity worth exploring! Pennsylvania's industrial history built a well organized network of railroad grades across the state. Today, in many communities, those same railways connecting small towns have been transformed to one of the state's best recreational resource. One that is well worth exploring is the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail near Lewisburg, PA.

Since it can be difficult to find new trails or find friends available and willing to explore the outdoors, Purple Lizard Maps has compiled a list of many of the weekly group events in the Central PA region that will keep you as busy as you want to be enjoying the fantastic outdoor recreation in the region.

The Allegheny Front Trail (AFT) is a well designed and well built 42 mile trail that encircles Black Moshannon State Park just north of the geographic center of PA.