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By David Wenner
pennlive.com
dwenner@pennlive.com
Remnants of old structures and long-gone communities. Ancient cemeteries. Geological rarities. Places offering mountain-to-mountain views across valleys. Unexpected curiosities to contemplate or research later.
Not to mention exercise, peace of mind and health.
All those and more can be found again and again on the vast and constantly improving array of trails available to central Pennsylvanians.
The offerings include one of the ultimate trails in North America -- the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail extending from Maine to Georgia. The region enjoys a special relationship with the AT: it's home to the halfway point, located in Cumberland County, as well as the Appalachian Trail Museum, located nearby in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
A multitude of Appalachian Trail access points, often with parking and sometimes long-term parking, provide great opportunities for day or multi-day hikes in multiple central Pennsylvania counties.
But that only scratches the surface.
The region is also home to miles and miles of other hiking and biking trails. Some are remote and rugged. Some are near towns, with easy access to parking and restrooms. Many offer access to people with disabilities.
Most exist in a state of continual improvement. Ambitious new projects -- a trail between Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg in Cumberland County, for example -- are in the planning stages.