1. Fires are not permitted on lands owned or managed by MNC.
2. The use of any off-road motorized travel vehicles (examples: ATV, Quad-Bike, Motorcycle, etc.) is prohibited on lands owned or managed by MNC.
3. The advice to "Wear Orange" or other bright colors is appropriate for everyday hiking on Mt. Nittany.
4. 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.
5. 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. Many 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!

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.

Time-Lapse Hike of Mt. Nittany:

YouTube user 'Yougimpytube' has posted an amazing video where they've stitched together 3,685 photos from their 2.5 hour hike on the Mountain. As you watch the video, note that they didn't take the most common route up the Mountain (White trail to the Mike Lynch Overlook). Instead, from Station #1 they went straight and followed the Blue trail to Station #10. From there they continued to the Tom Smyth Overlook at Station #9. They continued to follow the Blue trail around the Mountain to the Penns Valley and Boalsburg Overlooks. Then to the Lynch Overlook and back down the White trail to the trailhead! It was a sunny Spring day and you even get a chance to see Pennsylvania's State flower, Mountain Laurel, in bloom along the way.

Time Frame:

To watch the video on YouTube, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2G9PXAM1E

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.

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.