Hiking South Central Pennsylvania

This page is dedicated to longtime SATC Treasurer Clarence Fredlund, who claims that within 50 miles of Harrisburg there are 1,000 miles of trails. Is he right? This will give you a head start on finding out!

The Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club, hundreds of hikers strong, welcomes your membership. But we know some people are just passing through, some people don't know anything about the area and just want to go hiking, and some people just aren't into the "club" thing.

This page is for ALL of you! See below for list of South Central Pennsylvania trails and hikes - click on each hike for more details regarding parking, length, difficulty and natural features. Any corrections, omissions, or suggestions, e-mail to the webmaster.

For more detailed information regarding hiking on the Appalachian Trail, visit or contact:

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
4 East First Street
Boiling Springs, PA 17007
Phone: (717) 258-5771
Email: atc-maro@appalachiantrail.org
Area covered: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia south through Shenandoah National Park (to Rockfish Gap/U.S. 250, near I-64). View ATC's interactive map.

Access information regarding Parking on the PA Appalachian Trail , use the Appalachian Trail Distance Calculator, brush up on Trail Use Etiquette and check Sunrise and Sunset Times to plan your hike and desired mileage.

Be sure to visit the newly renovated Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel near the mid-point of the A.T. in Pine Grove Furnace State Park and stop at the General Store where thru-hikers attempt the "Half-Gallon Challenge."

Click here to view or purchase area maps and guidebooks.

Hike	County
Appalachian Trail - Susquehanna River/Clarks Ferry Bridge to PA-225 Go from a lazy riverside to scenic outcrops to a wooded ridgeline on this 6.3-mile segment located in the State Game Lands of Central PA.	Dauphin 6.3 miles
Appalachian Trail - PA-225 to PA-325 This 9.7-mile SATC maintained section travels along the ridge of Peters Mountain and has two scenic outposts: Table Rock with the Ralph Kinter View and Shikellimy Overlook.	Dauphin 9.7 miles
Appalachian Trail - PA-325 to PA-443 This 15.8-mile stretch ascends Stony Mountain from Clarks Creek then onto Sharp Mountain through Yellow Springs Village ghost town to Rausch Gap Shelter into Schuylkill County.	Dauphin/ Schuylkill 15.8 miles
Appalachian Trail - PA-850 to Boiling Springs, PA This 12-mile day-hike travels over Blue Mountain then through the Cumberland Valley farm land.	Perry/ Cumberland 12 miles
Capital Area Greenbelt This 20+mile necklace that rings Pennsylvania's Capital City, is designed to provide its visitors an opportunity to hike, ride bicycles, skate, jog, walk their dog, practice up on flora and fauna identification and generally appreciate nature. The trail has some of the most beautiful and enjoyable natural surroundings that the area has to offer.	Dauphin 20+mile loop
Wildwood Park Tucked away in the rolling hills of Central PA, Wildwood Park (formerly Wildwood Lake Sanctuary) is conveniently located on the edge of Harrisburg, PA. Combine the Towpath and Wildwood Way trails for a 3.1-mile loop hike around the lake. There are endless opportunities for fun and adventure at Wildwood Park. Explore the Nature Center, walk the trails and boardwalks, rie your bike, pack a picnic lunch, watch the birds, check out the flowers and much more! There is fresh air and good times around every bend. Come and enjoy...it's fun and it's free!	Dauphin 3.1 miles
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area Straddling Peter's Mountain, the 370-acre Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is dominated by large hardwood trees. This large block of nearly unbroken forest is a haven for wildlife like forest warblers and other deep-woods animals. A main attraction to the conservation area is the elaborate trail system.	Dauphin
Ned Smith Center Located on the outskirts of historic Millersburg, the Ned Smith Center Lands and Trails encompass more than 500-acres of forest and meadow that stretch from the scenic Wiconisco Creek to the top of Berry's Mountain. The land includes a mature hardwood forest alive with deer, bear, wild turkey, grouse, fox, along with hundreds of species of songbirds, insects and reptiles.	Dauphin
Darlington Trail Originally a project of the Pennsylvania Alpine Club in the early 1900s, the Appalachian Trail was superimposed on much of the earlier Darlington route. Between 1998-2001, SATC relocated much of the Darlington Trail onto newly constructed footpath entirely within public land. The current orange-blazed 7.74-mile route of the Darlington Trail extends from Tower Road west of Marysville to the Appalachian Trail. Best access is from Lambs Gap Road and Millers Gap Road, both extending north from PA-944/Wertzville Rd west of I-81 exit 61 and east of I-81 exit 57.	Perry/ Cumberland 7.74 miles
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area A 12-mile labyrinth of 8 trails combine for a variety of loop hikes that provide vistas over a beautiful valley and wander through many large second-growth trees and a chestnut plantation. Trails are well blazed and signed. The 1,025-acre Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area straddles Blue Mountain and along the ridgetop, a tiny remnant of the east-shore Darlington Trail provides access to the Lower Paxton Township Hocker Park.	Dauphin
Shank Park Nature Trail Located in Hershey's largest park, it features a 1.63-mile loop nature trail that is in turn connected to the Jonathan Eshenaur Trail. From Harrisburg, travel east on US-322 to the US-322 exit, at first traffic light turn right onto Bullfrog Valley Road, and turn right again immediately at the "Receiving Dock" sign for Penn State Hershey Medical Center.	Dauphin 1.63 miles
Jonathan Eshenour Memorial Trail The 13-mile trail travels through a majority of the township and provides access to parks, neighborhoods, and commercial establishments. The trail presents an array of quality recreational opportunities. It's a wonderful avenue to exercise, experience nature, and enjoy friends and family.	Dauphin 13 miles
Horse-Shoe Trail The Horse-Shoe Trail is a 140-mile hiking and equestrian trail that runs from Valley Forge National Historical Park in southeastern Pennsylvania to the Appalachian Trail in teh mountains north of Hershey. 35 miles of the trail lie in Dauphin County.	Dauphin/ Lebanon
Stony Valley Rail Trail Stretching from Ellendale, Dauphin County, to Outwood, Schuylkill County, the Stony Valley Rail Trail traverses 19 miles of the former Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad in State Game Lands 211, known as St. Anthony's Wilderness. It winds through the ghost towns of Water Tank, Rattling Run, Yellow Spring, Cold Spring, Rausch Gap, and Gold Mine, while passing alongside the waters of Stony Creek on its western end and the Evening Branch of Fishing Creek on its eastern end. The trail is nearly flat and leads you into a mature oak, hickory and tulip poplar forest with animal life including deer, bobcats, foxes and coyotes.	Dauphin/ Schuylkill 19 miles
Fort Hunter Conservancy Located one mile from Fort Hunter Park, this 150-acre conservancy can be used for day hiking only. This tract is part of the old 1,500 acre Fort Hunter estate and was the furthest from the mansion. It was known historically as the Chuckey Hill Farm.	Dauphin 1 mile
Conewago Recreation Trail This 5-mile trail, formerly the Cornwall-Lebanon rail line, follows the Conewago Creek through scenic farmlands and woodlands in Lancaster County.	Lancaster 5 miles
Lebanon Valley Rail Trail From the Conewago Recreation Trail terminus at the Lebanon/Lancaster County line, this trail continues 14.5 miles to a new trailhead near the Lebanon Daily News building, between S. 8th and S. 9th Streets.	Lebanon 14.5 miles
Middle Creek WMA The WMA supports a network of trails ranging in difficulty from easy to moderately difficult. Circuits of less than a mile to over 8 miles can be formed. The Horse-Shoe Trail, a 140-mile hiking and equestrian trail, follows the southern ridges below the lake.	Lebanon
Union Canal Walking Trail This trail is about 1.25 miles encompassing forest, farmland and three locks of the historic Union Canal. The Union Canal operated in the 1800s as a waterway transportation through the Lebanon Valley. The scenic loop runs along pasture, wooded areas, the canal and farmland.	Lebanon 1.25 miles
Conestoga Trail Stretches 61 miles through Lancaster County. About 16 miles north of Lancaster City, the trail begins in the Furnace Hills, where it intersects the Horse-Shoe Trail. Then it winds its way south along various creeks through central Lancaster and County Central Park. From there it turns southwest to pass through the scenic and rather challenging river hills before crossing the Susquehanna River to reach the Mason Dixon Trail.	Lancaster
Mason Dixon Trail The 30-mile section, designated as a National Recreation Trail, follows the lower Susquehanna River in York County, PA. There are beautiful views, deep ravines with waterfalls, and several big climbs and descents to where streams have carved out canyons in river hills. The entire 193-mile long trail starts at Whiskey Springs on the Appalachian Trail in Cumberland County and connects the A.T. to the Brandywine Trail.	Cumberland, York
Holtwood Environmental Preserve Kelley's Run-Pinnacle Trail System consists of 6 miles of loop trails leading to a scenic vista that overlooks the Susquehanna River. Urey Overlook Trail leads to another spectacular vista. PLEASE NOTE: The Holtwood hydroelectric plant is currently under construction. Traffic and recreational access is limited in the Holtwood Dam area during construction, which is expected to be complete in 2013. To read more and see a map of the restricted area, click here.	Lancaster 6 miles
Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve Located just north of Pequea along the Susquehanna River in southern Lancaster County, the 50-acre glen surrounds Grubb Run off of Green Hill Road. The main wildflower trail is approximately 1-mile long and follows Grubb Run along an easy walking path on fairly flat terrain.	Lancaster 1 mile
Governor Dick Park All trails in the park are marked with a brown post designating the trail for biking, horseback riding, or foot travel only. As the Board and Trail Committee monitor the trails for ecological impact these designations may change. The trailhead posts also give the trail number, the painted blaze color and shape (red diamond), and the degree of difficulty.	Lebanon
State Forest Trails For the hiking enthusiast that wants a true challenge, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry has teamed up with Keystone Trails Association in recognizing any hiker who completes the entire 798 miles of the State Forest Hiking Trail system with the coveted State Forest Trails Award.	Statewide
"Hike for Health" Try these 20 featured hikes. This pilot series features locator maps to outdoor recreation destinations within a short driving distance from Harrisburg. Easy and moderate walks or hikes are highlighted within state parks, state forests, rail-trails and community trails in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Lancaster, Lebanon and Franklin counties.	Capital Region
Mount Holly Marsh Preserve Carving out part of South Mountain's rocky slope, the Mount Holly Marsh Preserve encapsulates what the surrounding landscape has to offer. Hike the wide path along Mountain Creek for a half-mile to view the wetland on one side and the upland foret on the other. View map.	Cumberland
White Rocks Ridge Trail 1.3-miles long, blue blazed, offering very limited parking at the Kuhn Road trailhead, but also giving generations of local children and new residents a satisfying sample of the rocks and views characteristic of Pennsylvania's mountain footpaths.	Cumberland 1.3 miles
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve 7 trails meander through a variety of Pennsylvania Habitats, including wet and dry woodlands, two mountain streams, ponds and a restored mineral quarry. Trails are open daily to the public, dawn to dusk. View map.	Adams
Standing Stone Trail Part of the Great Eastern Trail, the SST offers spectacular geological and botanical highlights through 70 miles of Pennsylvania's Tiltrock Country in Huntingdon, Mifflin and Fulton Counties.	Huntingdon, Mifflin Fulton
Thousand Steps Perhaps the highlight of the Standing Stone Trail is the Thousand Steps (actually there are almost 1,100). Located in Jack's Narrows near Mount Union, the steps were built in the 1930s by quarry workers who cut away a large slice out of Jack's Mountain, while quarrying the ganister stone used to make silica bricks. Learn more about the history of the Thousand Steps.	Huntingdon

If abbreviations like "SR," "DCNR," and "SGL," or terms like "borough" and "prothonotary" confuse you, check out the companion page: A Hiker's Introduction to the Pennsylvania Outdoors, written just for you by someone who moved here from Iowa a few years ago.

More Hikes

SATC organized the hiking program for the 2001 Biennial Meeting of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy held at Shippensburg University. The hike information compiled included data covering 75 different hikes on the A.T. from Weverton, MD to Swatara Gap, Lebanon County; the Tuscarora Trail from the Carlisle area to the MD line; and highlights of many other trails between the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers, including the Link (now know as the Standing Stone Trail) and even one on the Mid-State Trail.

Click here for an Excel spreadsheet showing each of the hikes, an abbreviated ("E" was easy, "M" moderate, and "S"strenuous) and brief description, and directions from Shippensburg to the hikes.

"Miles" is the hike length, "Drive" is the drive length from Shippensburg U, and "Run_rnd" is a driving distance 'running around' from one trailhead to the other on a point-to-point hike. "Book" is a cryptic code referring to a published guide, e.g. "50HE" refers to 50 Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania. "Map" is another cryptic code referring to a published map.

Bear in mind the directions were current as of summer 2001 and the roads and trails may have changed since then. Exit numbers have changed.Get the book and map and scout the area before you lead a hike.E-mail the webmaster if you have questions.

For statewide trail listings visit ExplorePATrails.com

Hiking South Central Pennsylvania

Additional Resources