Lizard Adventure Blog

Fall is the best season to explore Pennsylvania! From the Grand Canyon of PA to the ridges of Rothrock, from elk country to old-growth forests, the colors of autumn light up every corner of the state. This guide highlights the best vistas, hikes, and drives across all Purple Lizard Map regions — plus the statewide Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Map to help you see the big picture.

As autumn fully arrives, outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers relish in the arrival of fall's vibrant colors, the crisp mountain air, and the sense of wonder and excitement that this season can bring.

To make the most of this magical (and often short!) time, look no further than Purple Lizard Maps and our specially curated map packs, designed to unlock the treasures of the great outdoors to make planning your adventures easy and fun.

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.

There’s no better place to immerse yourself in nature than Shenandoah National Park. With its lush forests, breathtaking vistas, and cascading waterfalls, Shenandoah is the perfect destination for adventure!

Mount Davis, at 3,213 feet elevation, is the highest point in Pennsylvania. Peak baggers from across the country visit this roadside spot east of Ohiopyle State Park in Forbes State Forest to notch their highest point belt, or whatever it is one does to lay claim to reaching the highest point (on a natural feature) in Pennsylvania. And then they get a little higher by climbing the observation tower.

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

This symphony of floral bloomsbegins in May and continues throughout the summer with blooms of all shapes, sizes and colors. Some flowers are fleeting and others last much longer, but spring, with its sudden explosion of flowers is the perfect time to notice these wonderful little adventure companions.

Purple Lizard Maps aren't just tools — they're gateways to adventure. Designed for those who truly value the outdoors, these award-winning maps offer the big picture, incredible detail, and real-world reliability that apps can't match. Explore 15 ways Purple Lizard Maps make outdoor adventures better — from field-verified accuracy and public land detail to elevation insight, local lore, and the unmatched big-picture view. Discover why award-winning Lizard Maps are the trusted choice for outdoor explorers.

What started as our founder Michael Hermann's vision to make the best outdoor recreation maps anywhere has come to life over the past three decades and Purple Lizard Maps is now a publisher of nationally recognized best in class recreational maps. For the latest news about Purple Lizard Maps awards and recognition, read on.

The Gulf of America renaming isn’t just symbolic—it’s a deliberate act of cultural erasure, fueled by nationalist rhetoric and misinformation. Executive Order 14172 attempted to rename the Gulf of Mexico, overstepping international law and cartographic standards. This blog unpacks the overreach, explains key maritime zones like territorial seas and EEZs, and explores how tech companies, media, and government agencies responded. From jurisdictional confusion to political theater, it breaks down why this matters—and how our response is a historically accurate, bilingual map that tells the full story.

There is so much wilderness to explore on the Moshannon-Quehanna Lizard Map it's hard to decide where to start! One easy place to start is with two great trails along the Quehanna Highway. The Lincoln and Teaberry Trail loops can be your destination hike or a side-hike on your way to see the elk herd at Benezette.

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.