New fitness trail opens at Hopewell Furnace

ELVERSON — A new fitness trail will be opened to the public 11 a.m. Aug. 4 during the Establishment Day celebration commemorating the 74th birthday of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Park.

The trail offers six exercise stations for a self-guided workout. It begins at the visitors center and continues through the furnace grounds to Hopewell Lake.

A free guide to the trail is available at the visitor’s center.

The trail exists thanks to the work of Bradley Anstadt of Birdsboro, who achieved his Eagle Scout rank by creating it.

Free events will be held at the park during the celebration starting at 11 a.m. on Aug. 4. There will be a “lighting the pile” event signaling another year of charcoal production at the furnace. Charcoal making will continue through Aug. 11 at the furnace. Trail hikes and guided tours will be offered and visitors can bring along their used aluminum soda cans and trade them for baseball cards. For more information on Hopewell Furnace, visit www.nps.gov/hofu or call 610-582-8773.