Lizard Adventure Blog

Every now and again we all need a break from the hustle and bustle of 21st Century America. Luckily, State College, PA, is surrounded by hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands that are waiting to embrace you with fresh air and natural light. Email, news, phone, school, snapchat, social media, text, traffic, tv, twitter, work...leave it all behind and head into the forest to rejuvenate!

Purple Lizard takes you on a drive through the backroads of Bald Eagle State Forest, one of the most remote forests in Pennsylvania.  Whether you plan to hike, bike, camp or just plain explore this forest is for you.

Take a summer evening family ride along theBuffalo Valley Rail Trail -  a lovely stretch of rail trail that runs between Mifflinburg PA and Lewisburg PA.If you are in Central Pennsylvania and are looking for a quick, family friendly rail trail ride to get your wheels under you and your crew this summer, this is a great option. 

If you are starting from scratch and need gear, don’t fall for the myth that you need a ton of specialized gear to have a great time enjoying the outdoors. Most of what you need is already in your home. Think about what you need to keep your children happy at home and ask yourself if they will need it when you camp. No need to pack up your entire kitchen, or break the bank on specialized equipment.

The sound of water crashing through rocks and over waterfalls just fills and heals my soul. Ohiopyle fills and heals my soul.

The Black Forest Trail is a Pennsylvania classic, and considered by many to be the most difficult trail in the State, even though it is relatively short at 44 miles and very accessible, located in Tiadaghton State Forest in the Pine Creek area, also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

In an age of seemingly perpetual “screen-time,” I find it more and more important to make time to introduce my son to nature.  I am so lucky to have parents who made sure I lived a life rich with outdoor experience, (although back in my day, electronics weren’t such a big deal), and now more than ever, I want that for my son too.  

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.

Whether you are a beginner hiker, or getting back out there for the first time in a while, this guide will give you some simple steps to enjoying hiking safely during the pandemic and any time. 

Fall and early winter can be perfect times to explore the forest.  Whether you are interested in a short drive in the woods before the snow falls to check out some vistas or want to plan a winter hike, this short video by Purple Lizard Maps owners Mike and Justine will be sure to get you warmed up and ready to head out for some adventure. Editing credit:  the Mighty Wiggus.

The novelty and adrenaline of running my first major race unfolded before me and I suddenly realized that, in many ways, I was getting a lot more out of this than they were.

The adventure began at the Congdon Run Trailhead in the Otter Creek Wilderness at FS 303 with a friendly shuttle and equipped with the Purple Lizard Maps the shuttler recommended for navigation. The day was overcast, but no rain, as the duo plodded along the trail with Steve relating many memories of hiking with the youth group long ago. Otter Creek at this point wandered among green grasses in a tranquil manner, and the first river crossing could be negotiated with crocs. A connoisseur of maps, Steve diligently studied the Otter Creek version of the map, remarking on some of the whimsical quotes scattered within the map such as“Rivers know this: There is no hurry, we shall get there some day.” Winnie the Pooh.