Hemlocks to Hellbenders
Hemlocks to Hellbenders is an award-winnning podcast hosted by Christian Alexandersen highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.
Our episodes feature engaging conversations with park managers, forest rangers, scientists, educators, outdoor recreationalists, volunteers, officials and more that help you plan your next adventure in the Commonwealth's incredible parks and forests.
Episodes
82 episodes
Little Pine State Park - Surrounded by mountains, filled with activities
If you’ve ever stood beside a cold mountain stream at first light — mist rising off the water, hemlocks towering overhead and the gentle sound of moving water— then you already understand the magic of Little Pine State Park.Tucked deep i...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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22:24
Washington Crossing Historic Park - Experience the American Revolution's boldest endeavor
It’s December 26th, 1776. Gen. George Washington has just successfully gotten 2,400 men from the Continental Army across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey. The first year of the American Revolution has been a diff...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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1:07:27
Trough Creek State Park – Where rugged cliffs, creeks and waterfalls shape a wild landscape
When I was on my journey of running one mile in all-then 121 Pennsylvania state parks in 2021, I took notes after every run. It was an effort to make sure I would remember my experiences. I’d take notes like, I spotted a fox here. Or I fell the...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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29:44
Pymatuning State Park - Explore the largest lake in Pennsylvania, where ducks walk on the backs of fish
Pymatuning State Park is big in every sense of the word. It is the largest state park in Pennsylvania. Its Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest lake in Pennsylvania. And it’s one of the most visited state parks with more than three and a half mi...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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54:42
Celebrating Pennsylvania's historic place in America's 250th birthday
The story of the United States of America cannot be told without Pennsylvania. Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell. Benjamin Franklin. George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware. The Battle of Br...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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53:12
Exploring ancient rock carvings in the Susquehanna River with Paul Nevin
Hundreds of years ago, a group of Native Americans living along the lower Susquehanna River made an indelible mark on the valley. At what is now known as Safe Harbor, they made hundreds of carvings into the rocks found in the middle of the rive...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:17:09
Hemlocks to Hellbenders Season 4 Trailer
Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.Season four of Hemlocks to Hellbenders is...
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Season 4
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1:28
Feeling posh? Try one of Pennsylvania's new state park glamping sites
For a long time, there’s been this mostly unspoken rule that “real” outdoor experiences have to be rugged. You’ve got to rough it, hike ten miles in the rain, sleep on the ground and eat beans from a can — or else it somehow doesn’t count. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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43:47
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center - How one tree led to a thriving outdoor classroom
In Pennsylvania, every state park has its purpose. Allegheny Islands shows people what undeveloped islands once looked like on the river. Colton Point features stunning views of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. And Pine Grove Furnace highlights t...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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32:04
Under the surface of the Keystone State with geologist Russell Losco
One of the strangest things about getting older has been the shift in my interests. Despite being intensely curious as a kid, I never cared about nature growing up. I didn’t climb trees or capture bugs or explore creeks. But as I’ve...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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1:05:32
Salt Springs State Park - Explore ancient hemlocks, waterfalls and wildflowers in NEPA
What is it that makes a state park special? It’s a question I’ve asked my self countless times since I began exploring Pennsylvania’s public lands in 2021. For some it’s deep, meaningful history to indigenous cultures, to early sett...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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26:53
Uncovering the battles that scarred Pennsylvania's public lands with author Brady J. Crytzer
When people think about history, especially armed conflicts, many picture dusty textbooks, old maps and long-forgotten generals. But here in Pennsylvania, history isn’t just words on a page—it’s written into the very ground beneath our feet.
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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1:06:14
Connecting communities through conservation with the South Mountain Partnership
When you stand on the ridgeline of South Mountain and look out across the valleys, you see more than just trees and farmland. You see orchards stretching toward the horizon, you see trails that have carried travelers for centuries and you see s...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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1:03:14
Hyner Run & Hyner View State Parks - Uncover adventure in the forest & in the clouds
When you stand at the edge of Hyner View State Park, it feels like Pennsylvania has stretched itself out just for you. Rolling mountains covered in endless green, the West Branch of the Susquehanna winding far below, and a sky so wide it makes ...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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43:59
Hidden heroes of Pennsylvania’s bat conservation and rehabilitation efforts
As the sun dips below the tree line and the night sky takes over, a quiet but critical process begins above our heads. Tiny silhouettes flit through the dark, weaving between branches and barn rafters, doing the work of a thousand pesticides—si...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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31:47
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve - America's only native plant museum
While most of the places we feature on this podcast are either a state park or forest, this episode is about something a little different. Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is not just a garden or a park. It’s a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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1:04:41
Watching over the waters with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper
Stretching 444 miles from New York through Pennsylvania and into Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay the Susquehanna River is one of the oldest rivers in the world. And while it served generations as fertile hunting and fishing grounds and tr...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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48:44
Shikellamy State Park - Where cultures and currents converge
High above the meeting point of two mighty rivers, where the Susquehanna splits into its North and West Branches, stands Shikellamy State Park. Perched on a forested bluff in central Pennsylvania, this park offers more than just scenic overlook...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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30:35
Chasing Pennsylvania waterfalls with Uncovering PA's Jim Cheney
When it comes to rewarding outdoor experiences, there are few things that can compete with seeing a waterfall. There’s just so much to enjoy. The mesmerizing sight of water cascading over rocks, the soothing sound of its rhythmic splash and the...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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33:47
Here's how Pennsylvania fights nearly 2,000 wildfires every year
Michaux State Forest is the place I spend the most time outdoors. Located about 30 miles from where I live, it’s where I hike and camp. It’s where I bring visitors to show off the South Mountain region. It’s where I breath in fresh air and expl...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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48:09
Clear Creek State Forest - Endless adventures through unbroken wilderness
Tucked away in the rugged hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, Clear Creek State Forest offers a peaceful escape into one of the Commonwealth’s most scenic and secluded natural areas.Spread across thousands of acres, this forest is a have...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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1:00:00
On Pennsylvania parks, forests and friendships with DCNR's Wes Robinson
I’ve known my guest Wes Robinson for more than a decade, beginning when we started at our new jobs together at PennLive/The Patriot News.When it comes to friends, I tend to seek out fun, critical thinkers. Someone that can challenge me a...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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52:58
Point State Park - From military stronghold to Pittsburgh's downtown gem
Point State Park stands as the crowned jewel of downtown Pittsburgh. It is a lush, 36-acre greenspace nestled at the historic confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, where the mighty Ohio River is born.Point State Park is a f...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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45:26
Snacks solve everything and other backpacking tips with Tory Mather
Many of us find our love for the outdoors the same way – with a hike. A short jaunt into the woods that brings us in touch with nature. But soon, short hikes just won’t do. There’re too many people. Too many screaming kids. Too much car traffic...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:15:21
Susquehannock State Park - Breathtaking views of the Lower Susquehanna River
The best part about having 124 state parks to explore in Pennsylvania is the variety. Each park is special in its own way. Each park offers a natural feature, a trail, a view, a piece of local history, or something that makes it stand out from ...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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33:04