This allowed me to get my backpacks base weight down to around 10 lbs, while still including my puffy jacket and ultralight rain jacket for supplemental warmth at camp if needed. In the 1990's the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club took over responsibility for reopening it. The blue blazed trail climbs the side of Great North Mountain steeply and makes several switchbacks before reaching the ridge line in another 3.0 miles. There's easily another 40 miles of gravel and dirt roads, which makes nearly the entirety of the trail in Maryland "on road". (The Tuscarora loops around the north end of the mountain.) The first 3 miles were uphill via the switchbacks, which were decentlymarked. Primitive camping is allowed throughout Buchanan State Forest with free permit. The Tuscarora wasnt my favorite hike, but, on the whole, I had a good time. THE AUTHORS OF THIS SITE AND THE PATC ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HARM TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY THAT RESULTS FROM YOUR USE OF THIS SITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, USE OF ANY CONTENT ON THE SITE. Highlights:Great Eastern Trail joins/leaves the TT from/on Standing Stone Trail in Cowans Gap State Park. They built bridges, campsites, and shelters. Grand Total Gross Elevation Gain: 1,901. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. In a few more steps, you will exit the forest and reach a graffiti-laden powerline clearing with views. Tuscarora State Forest Snowmobile Trail - Northern Division (PDF) Overall, this was a great hike, but the first three miles till you get up to the ridge was just OK. I didn't get lost either, which is always a plus. Roadwalks do have the benefit that its generally easy to keep a fast pace, but they are typically also quite boring, and pavement and asphalt are much harder on the legs and knees than dirt. I hiked this two days ago on Saturday with my wife, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend. Access: The trail can be accessed from both the southern and northern termini of section 7: US Route 30, Tuscarora Summit (39.916, -77.9565). It was a beautiful day to go hiking but honestly, this was not one of our favorites. The shelter was pretty cool, and I would like to return to stay up here for a night. I've been thinking about planning a thru hike or section hike of the Tuscarora Trail sometime next year. In terms of gear malfunctions per mile, the Tuscarora Trail was my worst. Access:The trail can be accessed from the northern terminusof section 15: No direct access to southern terminus, but can be accessed from the Lucas Woods side trail with road access at WV 23/2 (39.183,-78.432). Camping: Fowlers Hollow Shelter (40.247,-77.611), Fowlers Hollow State Park. Also, I have in mind a thru-hike of the 71-mile Massanutten Trail, which circles the ridge of Massanutten Mountain. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. Continue down to Waites Run FS Road passing a private driveway on your left at the bottom of the hill. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Stay to the left and you will re-enter the forest by way of the yellow-blazed Frye Path. One was a couple 100 yards north of shelter and was a spring (pretty easy to get to). The Great Eastern Trail is roughly 1600 miles long, a consists of a patchwork of other trails and roadwalks that will eventually stretch from the northern terminus of the Florida Trail, to the North Country Trail. We maintain twelve hiking shelters (and the privys!) Follow the ridge for 1.0 miles and arrive at Gerhard Shelter. Reese Hollow Shelter in Pennsylvania had a beautiful crystal-clear spring flowing just off to the side from the shelter. The details of the aviation accident site that I was looking for can be found here. Trail conditions and routes may be subject to frequent and unannounced change. A beautiful day for Labor Day weekend of 2010. We were hiking right after seven. Tuscarora Trail: Biby Trail to Pinnacle Shelter Hard (377) High View, West Virginia Photos (495) Directions Print/PDF Map Discover this 9.0-km out-and-back trail near High View, West Virginia. I really enjoyed this hike and felt good afterwards. In Pennsylvania, the Charlie Irvin Shelter had one of, if not the best view of any shelter Ive ever stayed at, overlooking the Cumberland Valley and providing a fitting place to spend the last evening on the trail. White blaze downhill after the Shelter was steep, and pressure on the knees. This time of year, the fragrant mountain laurel is out in full force all along the trail, too. The morning started like yesterday, overcast, with fog in the treetops. The work didn't end there; once built, volunteers maintained . Youll see a double white blaze on a telephone pole and a small sign for the Biby Wilderness Trail. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Temperatures in the mid eighties. Create Recommended Route or Established in the 1960's as an alternate route for the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Tuscarora Trail is a 250-mile long trail through the Ridge and Valley Appalachians of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. I plan to go back at some point and hike from the Northern terminus back to this. I was disappointed that the Washington Monument in Boonsboro, MD was (understandably) closed due to Covid. Section Update. Water can be obtained at the spring down the hill, but keep in mind that it's a 1.2 mile round trip Day 1 Mileage:4.7 miles Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,474 Day 1 Gross Descent: 1,003 Thanks Ed for the response, sounds like there's water in the area. I pretty much had the entire hike to myself besides a few fishermen in the last 20 min of the hike. Like the Tuscarora, the BMT is more remote than the AT. Get to know this 6.1-mile loop trail near Concord, Pennsylvania. Information on this site is presented with intent to be as accurate as possible at the time of posting, but it is provided as is and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. Pennsylvania, though, had very uneven maintenance; some areas were very well maintained, while others were very poorly kept. I'll review the standard route. The last bit is an easy decent through grassy trail down to the shelter. With the exception of Maryland, every state on the Tuscarora had great ridge-top views. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hiking in Tuscarora State Forest Tuscarora Trail The Tuscarora Trail is the northern portion of an extensive 220-mile bypass route of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. Full GPS track data, including campsites, etc, for this tripand many others can be downloaded on my Trip Data Page. Advisory: Trail follows easements on private property, stay on trail at all times, no camping. Great Eastern Trail joins/leaves the TT from/on Standing Stone Trail in Cowans Gap State Park. Camping: Big Mountain Shelter (39.952, -77.943), Cowans Gap State Park. Other: The trail markings as per the instructions seemed sound, as did the given instructions in general. Advisory: Exercise caution in the Buchanan State Forest during hunting season. As we entered the woods, we had a discussion about hiking to the next shelter since it was so early. Camping is limited to one night without a permit. As you come to the end of the grey FS road on the HU map, you'll cross onto a dirt road and will see a clear trail to the right, now marked with white ribbon all the way to the yellow blazed trail. Theres easily another 40 miles of gravel and dirt roads, which makes nearly the entirety of the trail in Maryland on road. Tuscarora State Forest Treasures Maps and Information (PDF) Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area Trail Guide (PDF) Tuscarora Trail. In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Tuscarora Trail, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is hosting the TT60Challenge. Sleeping was pleasant and we were up early since we knew we had nearly seven and a half miles of road walking to start the day. I did hear some rustling leaves from a scurrying something, so maybe a hidden rabbit or two. It is less busy and a bit more rugged compared to the A.T. At one point we misread the map and missed the turn on to Vance's Cove trail as well, which ultimately increased our total distance to about 13 miles. This is a beautiful shelter and the trail, although rocky, appears well maintained on this tiny section I hiked. Also, I am of mid-fitness level sporting about 15 extra pounds, and with no pack was back at the car in 2.5hrs. Tuscarora Trailing: Day Two, May 30 - Licking Creek to Reese Hollow Shelter, ~21 miles. One of the challenges of maintaining the Tuscarora Trail has been its incomplete, inconsistent, and inadequate signage. The Tuscarora runs through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. There are three ways to complete the challenge: hiking, doing volunteer trail maintenance with the PATC, or completing a combination of both hiking and trail maintenance that adds up to 60. Stay right on the now yellow blazed trail for another 0.2 miles where the Vance's Cove Trail ends and a sign marking the border of WV and VA. You will see a mostly grassy trail to the right of the Biby Wilderness Trail sign. US Route 50, limited shoulder parking (39.268, -78.314). You should verify critical information such as directions, park hours, gate closings, blaze colors and specific regulations (pet policies, firearm/hunting regulations, etc.) The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. But it does make hiking the trail somewhat inconvenient. 2017by PATC. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A lot of rotted and dying trees and there were a couple of signs about chemicals that had been applied, so who knows. Turn right downhill on the white blazed Gerhard Shelter Trail that very steeply descends Great North Mountain. 2017by PATC. The intense patchwork of private land ownership around the Tuscarora Trail also manifests in some rather extensive road walks. When I thru-hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail in 2018, I came away with the impression that it made a quite reasonable alternate to the Appalachian Trail. View of Route, Stay right on the now yellow blazed trail, http://www.meetup.com/CharityHikers/calendar/13157584/, http://hiking.meetup.com/162/calendar/13157640/, View all 12 archived reviews for the Gerhard Shelter hike, 5.5 hours I plan to go back at some point and hike from the Northern terminus back to this site (Section 1 of the Tuscarora Trail). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest include: Bird Run Trail, Ellisic Trail, Allen Trail, Cove Trail, Sharpe Trail, Fox Trail Wagner Trail, Horseshoe Trail. Bob and I spent the afternoon solving the worlds problems and relaxing with afternoon snacks and catching up on our hydration. The Tuscarora Trail is located within the Tuscarora State Forest and is a branch off of the famous Appalachian Trail. Camping: Barclays Run Shelter (39.253, -78.319),PinnacleShelter (39.193,-78.3815), Pinnacle Camp (39.193,-78.385), Lucas Woods Hiker Camp (39.177, -78.409). It connects to the AT near Harrisburg and in Shenandoah National Park (SNP). Theres at least 47 miles of paved roadwalk on the Tuscarora (almost a fifth of its total length), including a 14 mile stretch in West Virginia, some of which had very narrow shoulders. Day 3 Gross Descent: 893, Day 3 Elevation Profile Gerhard Shelter Tuscarora Trail Backpacking Trip 2022 Sintax77, Total Trail Mileage: 9.8 Miles Tuscarora Trail East Map (PDF) Tuscarora Trail West Map (PDF) Snowmobile Trail Maps . Besides the elevation change early on, this hike is lacking a bit of challenge and variety, but I found those both to be forgivable. Waites Run, West Virginia 26851. Max Elevation: 990 ft. Min Elevation:600 ft. Access: The trail can be accessed from both the southern and northern termini of section 14: Siler, VA. Va Route 600 and 690 (39.351, -78.240). Once you reach the open ridge, though, it was really nice. Check out the Trail Finder feature or send Erin a message. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) maintains and manages the approximate 250 mile Tuscarora Trail that is located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. Instead, you park parallel on Timber Ridge Trail where it meets Rockwood Trail. There are wooden platforms for tents. A hiking destination in its own right, the Tuscarora Trail leaves the AT near Mathews Arm Campground in Shenandoah National Park making its way west and north to rejoin the AT atop Blue Mountain, 10 miles south of Duncannon, Pa. Coupling the experience of remote wilderness, green pastures, small towns, rugged tread-way and country back roads, the Tuscarora offers a truly unique hiking adventure. From my car, this Shenandoah Valley hike took me just over three hours, including time spent exploring Pinnacle Shelter and Pinnacle Overlook. Day 1 Gross Descent: 1,003, Day 1 Elevation Profile Gerhard Shelter Tuscarora Trail Backpacking Trip 2022 Sintax77, Day 3 Mileage: 5.1 miles By contrast, the Tuscarora does have plenty of shelters (and hikers are encouraged to use them), and with only a couple of exceptions, they are reasonably well-spaced. The trail down isn't ladder-like, but if you have some knee issues you will feel it given friends I have hiked with. It is very rocky there, so do not expect to tent. The view was pleasant, but it was also obstructed by leaves, so it may be better in late-fall or winter. Please respect the landowner's decision. For this backpacking trip, I decided to head down to the border of West Virginia and Virginia to check out a pretty cool mountaintop lean-to shelter and do a little airplane scavenger hunt in-between the occasional rain showers that always tend to follow me around. This section of the Tuscarora Trail has several overlooks, highlighted by one at Terrapin Spring near the southern end, and the Paul Gerhard Shelter at the midpoint. The rest of the trail in the state is either paved or gravel road. But its a difficult trail to thru-hike because of the challenges presented by the trails location and design. In Maryland, a little more than half the trail is the C&O Canal Tow Path. The Tuscarora Trail departs to the west from the Appalachian Trail at the top of Blue Mountain about ten miles west of the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA. and rejoins the Appalachian Trail in the North . Cowans Gap State Park to PA 16, 9.6 miles, PATC Map K, Guide to the North Half of the Tuscarora Trail. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. The Tuscarora is a bypass route of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that is about 250 miles long. Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 427 This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Max Elevation: 760 ft. Min Elevation: 380 ft. Access:The trail can be accessed from both the northern and southern termini of section 9: End of Licking Creek Access Road (39.657, -78.055), Camp Harding Park on Pectonville Road (39.670,-78.041), Advisory:Exercise caution in Indian Springs WMA during hunting season. I am uncertain if it merits a 3 or 4, maybe halfway in-between. At the end of the FS road in 0.8 miles, just past a burn, the unmarked Vance's Cove connector trail will bear right. Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,474 You should verify critical information such as directions, park hours, gate closings, blaze colors and specific regulations (pet policies, firearm/hunting regulations, etc.) If you start going downward on the FS road you missed the right turn. This 252-mile trail cuts through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. A note that you will actually pass two gates/small parking areas - the first off the yellow trail, then the second one mentioned in the directions above after you pass the pink blazed trail on your left (you'll see a bench and trailhead, which is the start to the White Rocks hike, another great one posted here on HU). The PATC is dedicatedto providing a challengingand rewarding hiking experience alongthe Tuscarora Trail, which is more remote and rugged than the AT. The PATC 2011 trailguide refers to the spelling of the shelter as Burd Run in several spots in the discription of section 6, PA 641 to Cowans Gap SP. Admittedly, I keep on the move to keep my heart rate up, so I am not too focused on smelling the roses, that being noted, I would place this one at a 3, instead of a four, except that the trail does go along the ridge for a good mile, more if you walk some from the trail, and views can be had on both sides of the mountain as you go along the ridge for a nice distance. I would guess a phone could be had here in an emergency. While I doubt Id hike the whole thing again, there were a couple of places I wouldnt mind revisiting. (I'm hiking the Southern Section in the Fall, 2012) I have the latest guide book to the Northern Section, and map for the lower 1/2 of this section. Youll find the hiking trail is mostly dirt and rocks, often way more rocks.
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