Details:
Highlights: A vigorous
hike to a great overlook of the PSU campus
and Beaver Stadium
Near: Lemont, PA
/ State College, PA
Blue Trail Distance:
4.6 miles round trip
White Trail Distance: 3.5
miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 650 –
HIke starts at ~1350 and the high point
is ~2000
Hike Time: approx 3 to
3 1/2 hours total if an entire loop is
completed
Difficulty: Intermediate
- Strenuous
Trail Condition: Well
maintained trail
Hike Type: Out with a
loop and Back
Note:
If you hike to the Mike Lynch Overlook,
Trail marker #3, the distance is 0.6 miles.
This loop of 1.2 miles will take from
1 to 1 1/2 hours (assuming you take a
break to enjoy the view).
Summary:
This is a great hike, particularly
if you are a Penn State fan. Go on a clear
day to see an awesome view of Beaver Stadium.
It is a very strenuous hike to the top
but a nice walk around once you are there.
See the
Trails & Maps page
for driving directions and maps of the
Mountain.
Seasons:
A
hike on the trails blazed through the
woods is rewarding any season. (spring
and fall are best for favorites though)
AT THE START of the climb, the richer
soils and gentler slopes support a diverse
assortment of forest trees, including
several kinds of oaks, white ash, sugar
and red maples, shagbark hickory, basswood
and several other kinds. As you climb
the trails, the major trees are chestnut
oaks, with a scattering of red and black
oaks, pignut hickories, and white, pitch
and table mountain pines.
NEAR THE TOP, numerous American chestnuts
continue to sprout from old roots, and
there are dense growths of black birch
and some paper birch and sassafras. Thickets
of the fast growing but scrubby striped
maple or moosewood and bracken fern are
troublesome along some of the trails as
they tend to take over. The forest floor
is covered everywhere with low-bush blueberries
and other shrubs.
SPRING, Mother's
Day is an ideal time. Spicy fragrant,
pink azaleas have burst forth on upper
areas, with occasional pink lady slipper
orchids appearing underneath. Pink trailing
arbutus line some trails. Mountain laurels
peak a month later. Serviceberries bloom
earlier, their white flowers presaging
red/purple fruits in June. May sees the
return of migratory birds.
SUMMER,
yellow false foxgloves and loostrifes
are common on some trails. Blackberries
and black raspberries flourish on the
far side. The small red berries of wintergreen
or teaberry are almost everywhere. In
some damper areas, mushrooms and saprophytic
white Indian pipes and red and yellow
pine saps sprout.
FALL,
birches, ashes, hickories, and some maples
turn yellow. Oaks follow from bronze to
dark red. A sampling of wildflowers are
held in check by dense forest cover. In
low damp areas, witch hazel bushes yield
yellow, stringy flowers.
WINTER,
leafless trees along ridge trails offer
additional valley views. Snow shows deer,
fox, turkey and bear tracks. Woodpeckers
abound.
User
Groups:
Hikers, College Students, Outing Clubs,
and Nature Enthusiasts of all ages!
Safety
notes:
-
Fires
are not
permitted on lands owned or
managed by MNC.
-
The
use of any off-road motorized travel
vehicles (examples: ATV, Quad-Bike,
Motorcycle, etc.) is prohibited on
lands
owned or managed by MNC.
-
The
advice to "Wear Orange"
or other bright colors is appropriate
for everyday hiking on Mt. Nittany.
-
Hunting
is permitted on lands owned or managed
by MNC.
In addition, a former landowner has
retained exclusive hunting rights for
a parcel of MNC lands which he posts
each year.
Note that you may still hike on all
MNC lands
during hunting season.
-
It
is unlawful to hunt on Sundays except
for crows, foxes or coyotes as provided
by federal and state regulations. See
the PA Game Commission site for Hunting
Season dates.
Suggested
Equipment:
Always take the following items along with
you when hiking...
Extra
food and water - Take more food
and water than you think you will need,
particularly water.
Extra Clothing - A warm
morning can quickly turn into a wet cold
afternoon. Take an extra shirt and some
rain gear.
Maps
- This should be a detailed map of the general
area you are hiking that shows the specific
trail you intent to hike. We recommend taking
a topo map with latitude and longitude coordinates
on the map. You can print the topo maps
on this site to take with you, although
the may come out a bit small. You can also
use a topo map to orient yourself to major
landscape features, helping to find your
current location.
Compass - When you reach
the trailhead, note on the map the general
direction of the trail, then use your compass
periodically to make sure you are still
heading the right direction. If you get
lost, you can also use the compass to find
you position on the map by taking bearings.
First
Aid Kit - This is a must take
item. May outdoor stores sell well stocked,
compact first aide kits for hikers. For
those new to hiking, make sure the kit contains
moleskin, and indispensable solution for
blisters on the trail. Learn
more about Wilderness First Aid!
Sun Protection - Don't
forget a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
Camera
- Bonus item... There are sure to be plenty
of great views as well as wildlife and more!
Geo-Game,
Geocaching, Letterboxing, Geo-dashing:
Geocaching
involves the placement of ‘caches’
(usually small containers) in natural areas.
The Mount Nittany Conservancy welcomes geo-gaming
as a healthy physical activity that encourages
recreation. The purpose of our Geo-Game
Policy and Guidelines policy is to establish
management and placement guidelines for
geo-gaming so as to minimize the impact
on natural and cultural resources on MNC-managed
land.
Control
of dogs on Mt. Nittany Trails:
Visitors
to the Mounatin need to be aware that Pennsylvania
has a state-wide dog law. This is why
the Conservancy has no formal rules / policies
on the subject while on our trails.
The
PA law states an owner must have "reasonable
control" their dog at all times. Here
is the law section for PA:
§
459-305. Confinement and housing of dogs
not part of a kennel
(a)
Confinement and control.--It shall be
unlawful for the owner or keeper of any
dog to fail to keep at all times the dog
in any of the following manners:
(1)
confined within the premises of the
owner;
(2) firmly secured by means of a collar
and chain or other device so that it
cannot stray beyond the premises on
which it is secured; or
(3) under the reasonable control
of some person, or when engaged
in lawful hunting, exhibition, performance
events or field training.
This
site, http://www.animallaw.info,
has more info on the law here.
The
same site also discusses the PA law in
great detail here
(and this at the end):
Finally, from the Website from Pennsylvania
Magistrate District Judge George Clark
comes this FAQ:
10.
Does the PA Dog Law require that I use
a leash when I walk my dog?
People would be amazed to know how much
time we spend on cases involving dogs
and the responsibilities of dog owners.
This is an inevitable phenomenon associated
with residential development as our
neighborhoods grow. The Dog Law, 3 P.S.
sec 459-305, requires "dog owners
and keepers at all times" to (1)
confine their dogs within the owner's
premises, (2) secure firmly by collar
and chain or other device to prevent
straying and (3) maintain the dog(s)
under reasonable control. "Reasonable
control" does not necessarily mean
"on a leash" but the absence
of a leash while walking a dog is a
relevant factor to consider in determining
the issue. The best practice to follow
is to use a leash whenever possible
because such a device makes it easier
to control the dog.
Please
consider the above as you walk your dog
anywhere in our state, just not on Mt. Nittany.
Notice:
Traveling in the back country can be hazardous.
You are responsible for informing yourself
about these hazards and taking necessary
precautions. Information on this web site
may contain errors or omissions. Please
use common sense when hiking, and follow
all rules & regulations as well as Leave
No Trace principles when recreating in the
out of doors. The Mount Nittany Conservancy
takes NO responsibility for any injuries,
accidents, mishaps, etc. that might take
place on the grounds of the Conservancy.
|
. 
Mt.
Nittany is more than a local landscape or
symbol, it is a place of bustling activity.
It has been called the "classic hike for
local residents, tourists and returning
alumni," providing exceptional views of
the campus and the community from several
natural overlooks. The popular Mike Lynch
Overlook features a birds-eye view of the
campus, including Beaver Stadium and the
Bryce Jordan Center.
Up
and down, the trails are rocky and steep.
Those on top are relatively flat. Following
the primary trails is simply a big loop.
Take a right at the top and follow the perimeter
trail around the whole mountain and enjoy
several overlooks - town and campus to the
west; south to Boalsburg, the ski slopes
of Tussey Mountain, and across Penns Valley.
