Winter escape
Winter Wonderland: Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia
Lizard seeker Eriks Perkons recently completed an overnight winter backpacking trip in Dollys Sods Wilderness Area, West Virginia. This was his first time exploring this area. Even though winter clouds and an oncoming winter storm blocked the vistas, he still had a great time! Read about his trip below.
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An ode to my favorite map
While I don’t necessarily remember thevery first time I picked up and actually read a map, I do know that I rely on maps regularly. There are too many places with unreliable cell reception to think our digital resources can guide us, unwaveringly. But, with a map in hand and a few other necessary supplies, we can be unstoppable.
Re-published for winter inspiration (Dec 2025) c. Purple Lizard Maps
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Winter Hiking with Kids - Tips and Tricks
We’ve all been there before: You got a late start, the kids fell asleep in the car, lunches are somehow insufficient and the kids are still hungry, and now you’re in the middle of the weather you planned to miss by leaving early. It happens to the best of us!
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Gearing Up For A Winter Adventure
Winter is a fantastic time for fun in the outdoors, but small mistakes can add up to big problems for explorers who aren't prepared for winter weather.
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Six Mile Run South: A Winter Day Hike In Moshannon State Forest, PA
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 your Moshannon 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!
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Fat Snow Biking - Winter Adventure on Wheels
Whether exploring forest roads, crushing bike-friendly trails or cruising down the neighborhood lane, fat biking in the winter is a great way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.
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Caught In The Hook: Pennsylvania's Largest Natural Area
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 our Bald Eagle Lizard Map, is PA's largest Natural Area and offers many opportunities for a great adventure.
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Mid Winter Slump: Tips for Staying Motivated as Winter Trudges On
This is a hey, winter ain’t so bad story. Not so sure? Keep reading.
Winter changes the landscape and can change our outdoor experiences. It takes a familiar trail and transforms it into a new experience. But I also understand that this time of year, after enduring a couple months of overcast skies and damp, chill-you-to-the-bone, below-freezing temps can really start to wear on a person.
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Finding Sanity - On Two Wheels
Our family and friends found sanity from the pandemic on our bikes, from buttery singletrack to family-friendly Rail Trails to snowy forest roads. Here are some of our favorite sanity-inducing locales this year...
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Gifting Adventure
The holiday season is upon us and as this global pandemic trudges on, what better way to celebrate the season than with social distancing-ready gear? This year, give your friends and family the things they really need: the tools to take them on adventures...far from everyone else! While it’s hard to choose from all the rad gear in the Purple Lizard shop, here are a few of our top favs!
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Rock Run Trail System: Enjoying Moshannon State Forest, PA, on Skis
Originally built as a cross-country ski trail system with help from Ralph Seeley and Tom Thwiates, this trail system is also part of the Allegheny Front Trail (backpacking loop), and includes orange, yellow, and blue-blazed trails. This is a beautiful, but remote and advanced cross country ski trail, so if you're looking for some adventurous terrain, the 8-mile or 12-mile loops are perfect! Beginners can also enjoy this area!
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The Icebox Incident: A Lesson in Deciding When to Go Home or Keep Going
As winter makes one last stand with a few more inches of snow and some blustery winds, we sit back to reflect on lessons learned from this season's outdoor adventures. One of these lessons is the methodology of deciding whether or not to cut a trip short. We experienced this scenario in real time during a two-day (planned as a three-day) weekend backpacking trip on the Black Forest Trail near Slate Run, Pennsylvania.
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