Hemlocks to Hellbenders

High above the meeting point of two mighty rivers, where the Susquehanna splits into its North and West Branches, stands Shikellamy State Park. Perched on a forested bluff in central Pennsylvania, this park offers more than just scenic overlooks. It’s a gateway to the natural beauty, cultural history and outdoor adventure of the Susquehanna River Valley.  Shikellamy State Park is a place where geo...

When it comes to rewarding outdoor experiences, there are few things that can compete with seeing a waterfall. There’s just so much to enjoy. The mesmerizing sight of water cascading over rocks, the soothing sound of its rhythmic splash and the refreshing touch of mist in the air. No matter if the waterfall is five stories or five feet, they’re a wonderful sight in nature. And luckily, Pennsylvani...

Michaux State Forest is the place I spend the most time outdoors. Located about 30 miles from where I live, it’s where I hike and camp. It’s where I bring visitors to show off the South Mountain region. It’s where I breath in fresh air and explore the beauty of the Commonwealth. It’s my safe place away from the goings-on of Harrisburg.  But that safety was shattered in April 2025. I received text...

Tucked away in the rugged hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, Clear Creek State Forest offers a peaceful escape into one of the Commonwealth’s most scenic and secluded natural areas. Spread across thousands of acres, this forest is a haven for nature lovers, where trails wind through towering hardwoods, crystal-clear streams carve their way through valleys and wildlife flourishes in every directio...

I’ve known my guest Wes Robinson for more than a decade, beginning when we started at our new jobs together at PennLive/The Patriot News. When it comes to friends, I tend to seek out fun, critical thinkers. Someone that can challenge me and make me laugh. Someone who will get right to the line and roundly cross it. Someone who has a strong moral character and a diabolical sense of humor. After I l...

Point State Park stands as the crowned jewel of downtown Pittsburgh. It is a lush, 36-acre greenspace nestled at the historic confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, where the mighty Ohio River is born. Point State Park is a focal point for community gatherings, festivals and celebrations. It provides sweeping views of the city’s skyline and serves as a tranquil urban escape. The Point...

Many of us find our love for the outdoors the same way – with a hike. A short jaunt into the woods that brings us in touch with nature. But soon, short hikes just won’t do. There’re too many people. Too many screaming kids. Too much car traffic. So, the only logical next step is to take longer hikes. 2 miles turns into 5 miles, turns into 10 miles. The peaceful solitude of the woods, the rewarding...

The best part about having 124 state parks to explore in Pennsylvania is the variety. Each park is special in its own way. Each park offers a natural feature, a trail, a view, a piece of local history, or something that makes it stand out from others.  You’ve got the old growth forests at Cook Forest State Park. The waterfalls at Ricketts Glen State Park. The fly fishing at Poe Paddy State Park. E...

In the heart of Central Pennsylvania lies a true outdoor recreation paradise. If you're looking for adventure, Huntingdon County delivers—hiking, biking, paddling, and breathtaking views at every turn.  Whether you’re trekking through Rothrock State Forest, paddling on Raystown Lake or taking in the stunning views from the Standing Stone Trail, there’s no shortage of ways to explore the wild...

Tucked away just outside of Hollidaysburg, Canoe Creek State Park is underrated treasure. It’s got a little bit of everything to keep visitors busy, interested and engaged.  It’s location also makes it the perfect homebase for weekends visiting Altoona, Holidaysburg and so much more. I’m looking forward to getting back to Canoe Creek State Park with friends to explore even more of the Ridge and Va...

For generations, Pennsylvanians have been at the forefront of conservation movements that have shaped the United States. Pennsylvanians like Gifford Pinchot, Joseph Rothrock, J Horace McFarland and Rachel Carson have had immeasurable impacts on our natural world.  They’ve helped protect our forests, create state parks, beautify our cities and warn against the devastating affects of pesticides. Oth...

When taking a hike, people don’t often think about everything it takes to keep trails operational. The bridge building, the trail restoration, the habitat enhancement, the invasive species management and so on. The work often goes unseen.  And if you don’t spend much time thinking about the work that takes place, even less time is spent thinking about the people that do the work. The image of burl...

It’s 1910 and Anthony Wayne Cook has just inherited his family’s land. Over the last 80 years, the Cook family had made their money off the land. It started with his grandfather John Cook - who purchased the land in 1828. He built a sawmill on the property to process the timber he was harvesting from the forest.  Andrew Cook – Anthony’s father - would go on to build three sawmills, one flouring mi...

In the 1930s, a beautiful forest in northeast Pennsylvania was set to become a national park. Which made sense. The area was special, even to those that purchased the land to timber it. In a time when forests across the Commonwealth were being clear cut to feed the growing nation of raw materials, this forest received some reprieve. As a result, 300-year-old trees were allowed to continue to grow...

Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors. We have an incredible lineup of parks, forests, guests and topics that we will be exploring during our third season in 2025. Park and forest managers, outdoor educators, historians, authors, conservationists and recreatio...

In September of 2022 before leaving office, then Gov. Tom Wolf announced the creation of three new state parks. Susquehanna Riverlands in York County, Big Elk Creek in Chester County and Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County.  While these new state parks were quickly opened following the announcement, they have not taken their final form. Before they can be completed – or really before they even start –...

In the early 20th Century, Americans had become alarmed at the disappearing forests in the eastern United States. Whether through private land purchases, deforestation, mining or other activities, the beautiful forests of the east were vanishing. Where once stood primeval forests of giant eastern hemlocks now stood stumps. As a result, wildfires spread through these devastated lands. Waterways wer...

On this – the Halloween episode – of the podcast, we’re going to be exploring the many tales of ghosts, creatures, hauntings, cryptid sightings, unexplained phenomenon, legends and folk tales that have a history in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests. From the ghost sightings at Greenwood Furnace State Park to the Kecksburg UFO incident in Forbes State Forest, we’re going to be hearing stories and so...

Those visiting Hickory Run State Park in the Pocono Mountains should expect to see something they’ve never see before. In the northeast corner of the park, formed by millions of years of glacial movement is the Boulder Field.  At 400 feet by 1,800 feet, this vast, rocky landscape is a geological marvel. The field is made up of tightly packed sandstone boulders, ranging in size from small stones to...

There’s just something about mushrooms that so are cool. I can’t really explain it. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, often looking like they belong in a fairy tale or another planet. They transform any landscape with their mysterious, almost magical appearance. They are not plants or animals but belong to a fascinating kingdom of their own. They thrive in the most unexpected places. The...

This episode is sponsored by the Keystone Trails Association. Most people never know how much volunteer work goes into their favorite hiking trail. Countless hours are spent breaking trails, cutting back brush, moving rocks, building steps, preventing water erosion and blazing trails. Then, after the trail is built, even more hours are spent maintaining it. When wind knocks down trees, they need t...

For thousands of years, the land that would become Pennsylvania was dominated by dense, ancient forests that stretched as far as the eye could see. Towering trees such as white oaks, chestnuts and hemlocks formed a vast green canopy that covered hundreds of miles. The forests were such an integral part of this landscape that it was named Pennsylvania by King Carles the Second. Penn – in honor of S...

The vast majority of Pennsylvania’s state parks are easy to drive to. That’s one of the reasons our parks are so accessible to residents and visitors. They’re located on paved roads and can often be found just a few minutes from a highway.  But then there are parks that are not so easy to get to. They’re the ones that can only be explored using gravel roads. Leaving the smooth pavement behind and...

To list all of the features of Forbes State Forest would be pointless. That’s because it has so much to offer so many people. You want trails, it’s got it. You want overlooks, its got it. You want waterfalls, it’s got it. Forbes State Forest has some of the best land in Pennsylvania for everything from mountain biking and hiking to ATV riding and wildlife watching. The forest is comprised of 15 tr...

Standing on the shore of Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, you’d never think the area was the site of massive deforestation, coal mining and gas drilling practices that scarred the landscape for decades. But it is.  In the 1800s, farmers cleared the forests and drained the swamps that would one day be Moraine State Park. Materials such as sand, gravel, limestone, clay and shale were mined and sol...