The Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania

The Appalachian Trail enters Pennsylvania from the south at Pen-Mar State Park on the Maryland State Line. Heading north, the trail leaves the Blue Ridge behind as it drops into the Cumberland Valley. The A.T. crosses farmland and passes through the towns of first Boiling Springs and then Duncannon, before turning east to cross the long ridge of Blue Mountain. Here the footpath gets rocky--at times almost absurdedly so. That has earned the 232-mile Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail the reputation of being where old boots go to die. The A.T. crosses out of Pennsylvania in Delaware Water Gap.

A.T. Clubs in Pennsylvania

The Keystone Trails Association serves as the blanket association for the following ten independent trail clubs.

The Springfield Trail Club maintains the 7 miles from Delaware Water Gap to Fox Gap.

The Batona Hiking Clubcovers the 8 miles from Fox Gap to Wind Gap.

The AMC-Delaware Valley Chapter maintains the 16 miles from Wind Gap to Little Gap.

The Philadelphia Trail Club has the 10 miles from Little Gap to Lehigh Furnace Gap.

The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club maintains two separate sections of trail. The 66 miles from Lehigh Furnace Gap to Bake Oven Knob and from Tri-County Corner to Rausch Creek.

The Allentown Hiking Club covers the 12 miles from Bake Oven Knob to Tri-County Corner.

The Brandywine Valley Outing Club has the 11 miles from Rausch Gap to Pennsylvania 325.

The Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club maintains the 9 miles from Pennsylvania 325 to Pennsylvania 225.

The York Hiking Club covers the 8 miles from Pennsylvania 225 to the Susquehanna River.

The Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Management Association has the 18 miles from Darlington Trail to Center Point Knob.

The Mountain Club of Maryland maintains the 30 miles from the Susquehanna River to Darlington Trail and from Center Point Knob to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA.

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club covers 238 miles from Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA to Rockfish Gap, VA.

Other Pennsylvania Resources

Pulpit Rock Astronomical Park home page.

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources home page.

Some other places on or near the trail to check out online include Cumberland County, Lehigh Valley, and Franklin County. You may also want to stop in at the home page for the Central Pennsylvania Visitors Network.

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