As Berks County moved into the yellow phase of the governor’s Pennsylvania Reopening Plan, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has reopened trails with new safety protocols in place. June 5 marked the official opening of all trails, while the Visitor Center remains closed.
To ensure the health and well-being of visitors and employees, modified safety measures are currently in place.
“The safety of our visitors, members, staff, volunteers, and community remains most important. However, we are excited to finally welcome back the visitors and members who keep our local-to-global work possible,” says President Sean Grace.
All on-site programs through June 30 are cancelled, but summer events will still be available. These events are either being transformed into virtual programs or modified to meet social distancing and other CDC guidelines.
An up-to-date listing of programs can be found at hawkmountain.org/events.
When visiting the Mountain, members simply show their membership card while non-members are asked to purchase an online ticket and present their receipt or to pay with exact cash. The new procedure will make trail admission run smoothly with limited contact. Outdoor restrooms will be limited and sanitized daily.
Hawk Mountain encourages visitors to follow hiking etiquette guidelines to better protect themselves and others on the trails. Some of tips include wearing a mask upon entry and in the presence of other families, remaining at least six feet away from non-family members, and avoiding crowded overlooks and stops. It is not an expectation that visitors hike with a face mask.
Additional tips for hiking etiquette, details regarding new procedures, admission fees and links to online ticketing can be found at hawkmountain.org/visit/visiting-info/admission-hours. All recommendations are made with best practices in mind and are designed to keep visitors safe.
Hawk Mountain will continue to monitor the governor’s recommendations and orders regarding further reopening, and plans to proceed smoothly with the safety of visitors and employees as its first priority.
