What Does #OptOutside Mean?
In 2015, one of the largest outdoor retailers in the U.S. did a crazy thing — REI closed its doors on Black Friday, the largest shopping day of the year, and encouraged everyone to go spend time outside instead.
The response was incredible. According to REI, nearly 1 million people and more than 150 organizations took them up on their suggestion and chose to #OptOutside. The idea of combating rampant consumerism and overspending with something so simple as taking a walk outside garnered a lot of attention, and it has only grown since then, with even more companies, nonprofits, and government partners signing up to support #OptOutside in 2019.
This year REI has upped the ante by asking individuals not only to opt outside on November 29 (Black Friday), but also to take actions year-round that will help keep our outdoor spaces clean and our planet healthy. #OptOutside is just one day, but you can Opt to Act all year long.
6 Pennsylvania Hiking Trails to Explore on Black Friday
In the meantime, you can start by spending time outdoors on November 29 — go for a hike, visit a state park, take a bike ride on one of Pennsylvania’s many rail-trails, or just walk your dog around the neighborhood. If you’re looking for ideas, you can find a trail near you by using the Google Map on the Pennsylvania Hiking Trails list, or keep reading for highlights from some of my favorites from across the state.
1. Kelly’s Run Nature Trail in the Susquehanna Riverlands
The 5-mile Kelly’s Run Loop Trail is a moderate hike that starts in an open field and leads to a small tributary with views of the Susquehanna River. There are several interesting rock formations as well as signs of urban decay, such as this bridge that can be difficult to spot in the summer among all the greenery, but will be easy to see this time of year, when most of the leaves have fallen.
For an even cooler view, you can take the Kelly’s Run Loop to the Pinnacle Trail, a white-blazed climb that leads to the Pinnacle Overlook, for an incredible view of the Susquehanna River.
Check out this Kelly’s Run Loop Trail guide for directions to the trailhead, a map of the trail, photos, and other details to help you plan your hike.
2. Wissahickon Gorge Trails in Philadelphia
Wissahickon Valley Park is a natural oasis in the middle of one of the country’s top 10 largest cities — and you’d never know it. There are 57 miles worth of trails through forests and carved through the bedrock, surrounding Wissahickon Creek. You’ll encounter beautiful sculptures, peaceful water features, and the only remaining covered bridge in the city of Philadelphia.
You can combine any number of trails for a distance that works for your schedule, and you will have your pick of activities — the park trails are filled with runners, dog walkers, and hiking families. Some areas of the park are also available for biking and horseback riding, but may require a permit.
There are a ton of online resources to help you plan a trip to Wissahickon Valley Park and the Wissahickon Gorge, but I recommend checking out Visit Philadelphia and Friends of the Wissahickon for the most up-to-date info about trails, parking, and more.
3. Canyon Vista Trail at Worlds End State Park
This 4-mile hike in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains was one of the many reasons I fell in love with Worlds End State Park. The trail leads from the Loyalsock Creek to this stunning view of the Loyalsock Gorge. The climbs are steep, and ice can be a bit of a challenge this time of year, but totally worth it.
Across from the overlook is access to an area known as the Rock Garden — large rock formations that make for an excellent place to rest and enjoy a meal while sunning on the rocks. A portion of the Canyon Vista Trail shares a path with the 59-mile Loyalsock Trail (blazes are yellow discs with red letters for the LT), which is extremely strenuous hiking, and the shorter Loyalsock Link Loop Trail (blazes are also yellow discs, but with a red X), which is a little less difficult.
I’m working on a Canyon Vista Trail guide that will have directions, a trail map, photos, and other details to help you plan this hike, but in the meantime, visit PA DCNR’s Worlds End State Park page for details about this and any of the other incredible hikes in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains.
4. Kinzua Creek Trail & Skywalk in the Allegheny National Forest Region
Kinzua Bridge State Park is perhaps the most unique public land I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. The Kinzua viaduct was once the highest and longest railway bridge in the world, but in 2003 it became the victim of an F1 tornado, with wind speeds between 73 and 112 miles per hour that ripped through the gorge, destroying 11 of the bridge’s 20 towers. This short trail lets you get up close and personal with the giant, twisted, steel remains of the bridge, and the Skywalk lets you observe the damage from high above the valley floor’s canopy.
The Skywalk is wide and wooden, with rails in the center and two spacious walking sections on either side. At the end is an observation deck with a partial glass floor, so you get spectacular views of both the bridge’s undercarriage and the destruction in the debris field below.
To plan your trip to the park, learn more about the trail or the Skywalk, check out the Kinzua Creek Trail guide.
5. Hawk Falls Trail in the Pocono Mountains
This easy, family friendly hiking trail is less than 1 mile out-and-back to the beautiful Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park. The 25-foot natural waterfall is a sight to see in any season, which makes this a heavily trafficked trail, but as the weather gets colder, the crowds thin out a bit, so now might be a great time of year to enjoy the falls without having to share it with a lot of other people.
Getting to Hawk Falls is fairly easy. Trail heads for this trail and Boulder Field, another popular local trail, are right across the road from each other on PA 534, and though they both have their own decent-sized parking lots, on busy weekends you’ll find cars parked along the side of the road in front of both areas.
Hickory Run State Park has more than 44 miles of hiking trails, many of which are easy to get to and deliver stunning views. Even if you don’t take the Hawk Falls Trail, there’s plenty of other trails to check out at either Hickory Run or Lehigh Gorge State Parks.
Learn more about local amenities and trails by visiting the PA DCNR’s Hickory Run State Park page and the Pocono Mountains’ Complete Guide to Lehigh Gorge State Park.
6. Hike a Section of the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is about 2,190 miles long, and 229 of those miles pass through the state of Pennsylvania. Thru-hikers commonly refer to the state as “Rocksylvania” for its rocky trails and difficult climbs north of the Susquehanna River, but the southwestern portion of the trail offers scenic farmlands and the Appalachian Trail Museum, which is located in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
You can take your pick of section hikes, depending on where you’re located, how much time you want to spend on trail, and what kind of challenge you’re looking for, but I highly recommend the Pinnacle & Pulpit Rock loop in Hamburg — it’s one of the rocky sections, but the pay off includes two incredible vistas of Pennsylvania countryside.
AllTrails.com has a list of the Appalachian Trail Best Day Hikes in Pennsylvania, and Section Hiker.com has a couple trip reports that cover some of the AT sections in the southern part of the state, so you can plan your hike.
#OptOutside is Just One Day, But You Can Opt to Act All Year Long
This year REI is not only inviting people to #OptOutside, but also to Opt to Act — a commitment to taking action year-round that will help reduce our collective impact on the planet.
The company is leading by example by rethinking its business practices and how it can help reduce unnecessary waste across the outdoors industry. For example, REI will continue to increase its used and rental gear options and dramatically reduce its use of clear plastic bags in shipping, with the goal of reaching zero-waste operations by the end of 2020. Lofty but attainable and admirable goals! (I have no affiliation with REI, nor is this a sponsored post — I’m just a big fan of the co-op and its return policy.)
If you’d like to set you own Opt to Act goals, check out REI’s Opt To Act Plan — a list of ways you can take action year round to help improve our outdoor spaces and reduce your household’s impact on the planet. There’s also a running list of #OptOutside organized cleanups, including two events taking place in Philadelphia — Event 1 is sponsored by United by Blue and community partners for a Cobbs Creek Clean up, and Event 2 is sponsored by Leave No Trace and the Friends of Wissahickon Park.
At the very least, I hope you’re able to spend some time outdoors over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend — both your body and your wallet will thank you!
Hike PA 
Fabulous idea to rather spend the day outside than inside a building doing shopping. Great place to go for a hike!
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