Josh Stapleton Shares Insider Tips for Outdoor Adventures in Happy Valley
This article is part of our ‘Live, Work, Play in Happy Valley’ series. Each month, we sit down with Centre County residents to hear what they love about the area and their top tips for exploring it.
In 1999, Josh Stapleton arrived in Happy Valley for graduate school and never looked back. He and his wife fell in love with the region's abundant outdoor recreation. "The accessibility to outdoor activities is one of my favorite things about Centre County," he says. Now serving as director of Penn State's Materials Characterization Lab, Josh advises new graduate students: "Get out of town and explore Millheim, Black Moshannon, Rothrock, and Bald Eagle. It's incredible that all this is right in our backyard."
When his church, Calvary Harvest Fields, sought ways to share its hillside property outside Boalsburg with the community, Josh proposed a bold idea: "Create Centre region's only multi-use public trail system for a unique mountain biking experience designed for all ages."
His daughter's involvement in a youth mountain biking team highlighted a gap: beginner-friendly trails were scarce. While Centre County and nearby areas boast a "treasure trove" of trails—like Allegrippis at Raystown Lake—few catered to young riders or newcomers. This project also offered Calvary Harvest Fields a chance to unite the community.
Josh partnered with Applied Trails Research, a professional trails design firm, who confirmed the site's potential. A core team formed, including the Nittany Mountain Biking Association, donors, and volunteers. "The project brought together a diverse group united in making it happen," Josh notes.
In 2020, amid the pandemic, they raised $250,000 from 30 community partners. Professionals and volunteers logged 4,250 hours to build 17,134 feet of expert-crafted trails. The Harvest Fields Community Trails (HFCT) emerged as a safe haven for family outdoor fun.
"Watching my stepson grow stronger, faster, and more confident on the HFCT trails has been fantastic," shares Andrew Read. "These rides build essential life skills, plus endless family laughs. We can't wait for the bike park in Phase II!"
"We saw a huge spike in usage," Stapleton adds. "While centered on biking, it's really about community building, family bonding, and lifelong activities."
Now celebrating its first anniversary, the HFCT—Stapleton's "Gateway to Rothrock"—advances to Phase Two: a skills park with obstacles like logs, rocks, turns, and skinnies. This will boost riders' confidence, skills, and community ties.
"Community is the key word," Stapleton emphasizes. "That's what makes Happy Valley special."
Learn more on Facebook and join the HFCT mailing list here.
