Things to do near Cabelas

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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I am planning a day trip to Cabelas in Hamburg, PA this spring or summer. Looking at a Google satellite map of the area, I see that the mountains are on Cabelas doorstep, literally. I am looking for a small area to go hiking. Nothing extreme. Maybe within 5 miles, I am about three hours from Hamburg, so I have a long trip up and back. I will be going through Amish country/Lancaster and Reading, I am familiar with both areas but won't be stopping there.
 
I don't know the area for hiking purposes but I have been there many times. Ask the guys in Cabelas. The fly fishing guys really seemed to know their stuff at that store. They would know where to go.
 
I haven't hiked it yet, but looks like lots of Weiser state forest and game land nearby- plenty of trails as well. For reference, Cabelas is at the corner of hwy 61 and the 78. The Appalachian Trail passes thru.

Maybe we could arrange a get together - shop and test.

weiserstateforest.gif


Hawk Mountain is close as well.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/stateforests/weisermap.aspx
 
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I know inside the front breezeway they have a rack full of pamphlets on the right side of things to do in the area. That may be worth checking out to see if there are any locations listed there.
 
Centralia PA isn't too far from there. It's the town that's on fire. If you've never heard of it, it's pretty cool. You can hike around and there's smoke coming out of the ground all over the place.

It's not really a tourist attraction at all because the government has been trying to buy out all the homes on the property. There are some diehards that refuse to leave.

There's a section of the highway that is closed off to traffic and has deep holes made in it from the coal vein on fire underneath.

It's a pretty cool story and way cool to witness. We used to go a lot a few years back but have not been there in a few years.
 
My grandfathers family is from Reading, and my grandmothers family is from Shenandoah. Many stories about the town on fire, but I thought it was Shamokin:D.
 
Welcome! The area around Hamburg is a wonderful place. If you're adventurous it's a nice place to take a hike. The Appalachian trail passes aross RT 183, a mile up from Cabelas. If you're looking for a nice hike that's easy to get to & alot to see, travel past Cabelas. The next town just a mile or two up the road is Port Clinton. As you near the end of town you'll see a sign on your right side for the state forest with a dirt road traveling up the mountain. Take it all the way to the top & park at the fire tower parking area. The drive is easy & can be done by car during the warmer seasons. The Appalachian trail crosses up there but if you walk past the fire tower through the woods you can follow a rocky ridge that'll open up to some fabulous scenery. The area if full of cliffs, caves & plenty for the adventurous to explore. I've been all over these woods & the most amazing things can be found off the trail. If you really want some scenery, go past Port Clinton, make a right at the traffic light & drive a few miles until you see a sign on your right for Hawk Mountain. It's also an easy hike & the views are breathtaking. Well worth the drive. Have fun, you'll love the area.
 
DRBeckKnives said:
Welcome! The area around Hamburg is a wonderful place. If you're adventurous it's a nice place to take a hike. The Appalachian trail passes aross RT 183, a mile up from Cabelas. If you're looking for a nice hike that's easy to get to & alot to see, travel past Cabelas. The next town just a mile or two up the road is Port Clinton. As you near the end of town you'll see a sign on your right side for the state forest with a dirt road traveling up the mountain. Take it all the way to the top & park at the fire tower parking area. The drive is easy & can be done by car during the warmer seasons. The Appalachian trail crosses up there but if you walk past the fire tower through the woods you can follow a rocky ridge that'll open up to some fabulous scenery. The area if full of cliffs, caves & plenty for the adventurous to explore. I've been all over these woods & the most amazing things can be found off the trail. If you really want some scenery, go past Port Clinton, make a right at the traffic light & drive a few miles until you see a sign on your right for Hawk Mountain. It's also an easy hike & the views are breathtaking. Well worth the drive. Have fun, you'll love the area.
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Geez, I forgot all about this. I used to pick up batteries from the Reading Railroad in Port Clinton. That is a beautiful area.
 
DRBeckKnives said:
Welcome! The area around Hamburg is a wonderful place. If you're adventurous it's a nice place to take a hike. The Appalachian trail passes aross RT 183, a mile up from Cabelas. If you're looking for a nice hike that's easy to get to & alot to see, travel past Cabelas. The next town just a mile or two up the road is Port Clinton. As you near the end of town you'll see a sign on your right side for the state forest with a dirt road traveling up the mountain. Take it all the way to the top & park at the fire tower parking area. The drive is easy & can be done by car during the warmer seasons. The Appalachian trail crosses up there but if you walk past the fire tower through the woods you can follow a rocky ridge that'll open up to some fabulous scenery. The area if full of cliffs, caves & plenty for the adventurous to explore. I've been all over these woods & the most amazing things can be found off the trail. If you really want some scenery, go past Port Clinton, make a right at the traffic light & drive a few miles until you see a sign on your right for Hawk Mountain. It's also an easy hike & the views are breathtaking. Well worth the drive. Have fun, you'll love the area.
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I've been in Port Clinton a bunch of times. My Grandparents were from McAdoo so we used to hit all the towns up there.

I still have family in Hazleton so I may make this trip to Port Clinton the next time I head through there. Hopefully soon.
 
Make sure you stop into the Port Clinton Peanut shop.

The section of trail between PA 183 and Rt61 is fairly level. I've explored much of this area, my parents had a house up there.

Hawk Mt is highly recommended, but it is more of a groomed trail and handrail experience. The hike that goes around on the AT through Pulpit and Pinnacle Rocks is especially nice more like a true AT experience and is accessible easily from Hamburg. Mac
 
There's not much left of Centralia anymore,the government relocated most everybody,last time that I was through there,there were only a couple houses left.The Appalachian Trail and Hawk Mountain are the best places for hiking,although there are more between there and NJ if you get off of the main roads.There's a lot of state game lands out around Jim Thorpe and some nice scenic areas on the Lehigh River,they have white water rafting trips down the Lehigh but they start up in the Poconos.There's also an abundance of railroad museums and things around Port Clinton,Tamaqua and Jim Thorpe also if your into anything like that.
 
pict said:
Make sure you stop into the Port Clinton Peanut shop.

The section of trail between PA 183 and Rt61 is fairly level. I've explored much of this area, my parents had a house up there.

Hawk Mt is highly recommended, but it is more of a groomed trail and handrail experience. The hike that goes around on the AT through Pulpit and Pinnacle Rocks is especially nice more like a true AT experience and is accessible easily from Hamburg. Mac
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I've been in that peanut shop more times than I can remember. How close is the trail head to there?
 
myright said:
I've been in that peanut shop more times than I can remember. How close is the trail head to there?
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I used to hike the AT through there back when I was a kid. We used to use the Peanut shop as our drop off/pick-up spot, as well as a load up point for peanuts and rock candy. I don't recall exactly where the trail heads are in relation to it but the AT basically comes down the Mt behind the shop and goes up the Mt in front of it.

IMO the best little section of trail in that area runs from down below Pulpit Rock, around to the Pinnacle, and then goes down to Eckville (IIRC) below Hawk Mt. This is a really nice little day-hike if anyone's interested. Pinnacle gives the same quality of view as Hawk Mt, though a little more limited in terms of direction. The North Lookout of Hawk Mt is a wide panorama in several directions, well worth the trip, especially during the migration.

The thing about Hawk Mt Sanctuary is that its just too "cleaned up" for me. It's more of a waterbottle and granola bar kind of place, very nice, awesome views, just not "wild".

http://www.hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=Home_Page

Mac
 
+1 on countryknives. I've visited the store a couple of years ago and it was really nice. Good selection on knives AND friendly people.
ilten
 
silenthunterstudios said:
My grandfathers family is from Reading, and my grandmothers family is from Shenandoah. Many stories about the town on fire, but I thought it was Shamokin:D.
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Now your out towards my direction :thumbup: Shamokin supposedly got its name by taking a poll of the students in the school, which happened to be all pot heads. They picked "West Shamokin", which is supposed to sound like "watcha smokin'". That's what my cousin told me atleast :p

I know nothing of that half of PA when it comes to activities, because I just go to the Cabela's in Wheeling instead. But if you venture out this way, check out Crooked Creek. It's an awesome trail, and lucky for me is only about 40 minutes from my house and literally goes through my families camp :D
 
pict said:
I used to hike the AT through there back when I was a kid. We used to use the Peanut shop as our drop off/pick-up spot, as well as a load up point for peanuts and rock candy. I don't recall exactly where the trail heads are in relation to it but the AT basically comes down the Mt behind the shop and goes up the Mt in front of it.

IMO the best little section of trail in that area runs from down below Pulpit Rock, around to the Pinnacle, and then goes down to Eckville (IIRC) below Hawk Mt. This is a really nice little day-hike if anyone's interested. Pinnacle gives the same quality of view as Hawk Mt, though a little more limited in terms of direction. The North Lookout of Hawk Mt is a wide panorama in several directions, well worth the trip, especially during the migration.

The thing about Hawk Mt Sanctuary is that its just too "cleaned up" for me. It's more of a waterbottle and granola bar kind of place, very nice, awesome views, just not "wild".

http://www.hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=Home_Page

Mac
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Hawk Mtn. looks like a cool place to visit in the "off" season when there won't be that many tourists there. It's funny, in the list of gear they suggest to carry on the site, it doesn't mention a knife at all. In fact it only metions water, snacks and medications.

Thanks for the link. That looks like it is within an hour from my Grandmother's house.
 
myright said:
I've been in that peanut shop more times than I can remember. How close is the trail head to there?
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There's a parking area just outside of town for the AT so it probably isn't more than a couple hundred yards.
 
vjb.knife said:
Well right near Lancaster is a nice Knife store and a Military Knife museum in "Intercourse, PA". I am not kidding on the town name.

I have not been there in quite a few years but they were very cool the last time I was there.

Here are some links:

http://www.countryknives.com/store/brand.asp?brand_name=C.A.S.+Hanwei

http://www.planetware.com/intercourse/american-military-edged-weaponry-museum-us-pa-216.htm
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I've been to both spots. Mr Huegel and crew at Country Knives are great people, they have a great selection and the store is like heaven. The prices are MSRP or higher, but I have gotten some great knives there. Got my Spyderco hat up there too. I've been to the knife museum too. I had to park at the gas station across the street, so it was kind of a hurried trip if you know what I mean (a soda and bag of chips will only get you so far with the store clerk).

Thanks for the ideas, I plan on getting some hiking time in.
 
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