Healthy Adams County’s Physical Fitness Task Force is launching its 2025 Fall Walking Parties with a series of free, led walks across the county aimed at promoting fitness and community engagement; maps and full details are available at https://adamswellness.org or on Facebook, dogs on leashes are welcome except where noted, walkers should wear good shoes, bring water, and may email ejmeyer99@hotmail.com with questions.
Most walks begin at 1:00 PM unless otherwise noted; participants who cannot make the 1:00 start are encouraged to walk on their own and report it by email or Facebook to count toward perfect attendance, but they must attend the final walk to be eligible for prizes.
The schedule opens with a special Highmark Wholecare Labor Day Free 5K at 8:00 AM on Monday, Sept. 1, starting at the Wyndham Hotel in the Gateway Complex (register in advance at https://runsignup.com/race/PA/Gettysburg/LaborDayFree5k), a ~3.1-mile paved course with medals for all children and the option to use it as a make-up walk for attendance.
Weekly led walks include an Sept. 3 walk from Bantam Coffee to Culps Hill (2.8 miles, learn about local coffee shops), Sept. 10 at Land of Little Horses (a scenic 1-mile loop with animals and a gift shop), Sept. 17 from Gettysburg Rec Park to the GIL Blue Bridge with Janelle Gilbert of the YMCA discussing balance and posture, and Sept. 24 at Amblebrook circling ponds and community spaces.
October offerings feature an Oct. 1 loop on the GNMP North Trail with Eric Meyer of H.A.B.P.I. discussing trail-building work, Oct. 8 at Hollabaugh’s Orchards for fall color and apples and cheese (almost 2 miles; sorry, no dogs), Oct. 15 walking in McSherrystown around neighborhood trails and a new community park, Oct. 22 exploring Littlestown’s fall foliage from the high school, and a special Oct. 30 hike at Camp Eder (10:00 AM, hilly 2-mile out-and-back with an optional mile and summit views) led by Anne Gageby of Strawberry Hill.
Participants who achieve perfect attendance or complete the exercise goals chart will receive a T-shirt and an Adams County Farmer’s Market gift card as prizes; for more information or to check maps and updates, visit the website, Facebook page, or email ejmeyer99@hotmail.com.