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A Pennsylvania statewide outdoor recreation map is officially out for this year, giving outdoor enthusiasts plenty to be happy about.
The publication by Purple Lizard Maps -- "Purple Lizard Pennsylvania Statewide Outdoor Recreation Map" -- includes assets for Pennsylvania, notably 124 state parks, 20 state forests, 114 rail trails and bikeways, 53 mountain bike destinations, 30 long-distance hiking trails, 20 ski areas and 17 water trails and whitewater destinations.
Any possible thing an outdoor enthusiast would want to see or explore is covered with maps produced by Purple Lizard Maps.
"This new Purple Lizard Map lets people see the incredible depth and diversity of public lands across the Commonwealth," Purple Lizard Maps founder Mike Hermmann said. "It shows the connections of our long distance hiking trails and rail trails to state parks, forest and the communities that surround them."
The maps are created with old world cartographic artistry mixed with modern data resources. And it's something the company takes pride in.
"We spend countless hours on each map, carefully designing, curating and field checking so that our customers can connect with the landscapes and make their own outstanding adventures," Hermmann said. "We are outdoor recreation enthusiasts ourselves, so our maps are a reflection of what we know our customers are looking for when they explore."
Purple Lizard Maps is based in State College and is a Pennsylvania-based recreational cartography company. They noted that the first map it created was of Rothrock State Forest more than 20 years ago. The past decade, the company has produced maps of 11 different state forests in Pennsylvania.
"We wanted to design a map to help people see the extraordinary outdoor recreation assets the state offers," Hermmann said. "In some ways, this map is a tribute to the exceptional outdoor recreation and beauty in the Commonwealth, and public lands where we have had the privilege of living, working, playing and growing as a company and as a community."
Purple Lizard Maps announced a partnership with Pennsylvania Environmental Council in an effort to highlight the Commonwealth's conservation history. And the company and Hermmann are proud to be able to partner with PEC regarding the conservation history and future in Pennsylvania.
"PEC does great work across many facets of outdoor recreation across the state, and this map shows the connections between the many rail trails that have been built, as well as letting people visualize the possibilities of what can be built in the future," Hermmann said. "PEC's work benefits so many communities across Pennsylvania and this partnership was a natural match to showcase those efforts."
This year's map is the 18th in the collection for Purple Lizard Maps.
"There are so many fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities and beautiful public lands in Pennsylvania and our neighboring states, and a lot of people want to unplug from their devices and reconnect with the real world," Hermmann said. "Our maps help them to unlock broad landscapes and explore more."