Trailhead will show you the coordinates for the trailhead that I used on this specific hike. Some hikes have multiple trailheads, and the coordinates for these other trailheads will also be listed further down the page.
The elevation traversed is the total elevation that you will hike, including ascending and descending elevation. For out and back and loop hike types, where you finish where you started, half of the elevation traversed is elevation that you will climb, and the other half is elevation that you traverse going down hill.
Trail length is the total distance hiked on the trail. Your trail length may be different, especially if a side trail loop is included.
Hike time is calculated by assuming 1/2 hour for every mile hiked, plus an additional 1/2 hour for every 1000' ascended. Elevation descend time is treated the same as hiking on level ground. Hike times are rounded up to the nearest half hour.
Hike types are of three basic variations: out and back, loop or circuit, and shuttle.
Difficulty Rating is determined by the length of the hike and the elevation traversed. Ten points are assigned for every mile hiked and for every 500 feet ascended or descended. The total point value is then divided by the number of days spent on the hike.
Finally, near indicates some of the larger landmarks/towns/roads that the trailhead is near. Specific directions for getting to the trailhead are described in the narration of the hike.
]]>We strongly recommend that you filter all water that you find along the trail. Giardia is still around. Also, hunting camps were traditionally located at springs, although some of the springs are not reliable.
This discussion will go in a CCW direction, since that is the way most backpackers go—that is, starting from Parker Dam State Park on the south loop. There is a spring at the hunting camp at mile 4.8, and another spring at another camp where the trail loops back to the north side of Alex Branch at about mile 5.2. Alex Branch itself will hold water to some extent because it rises out of wetlands.
Trout Run, at mile 6.5, should continue holding water because it is fed out of extensive wetlands. A bridge may be installed at Trout Run later in 2007, because the crossing is dangerous at high water levels.
Roberts Run will probably go to a near-trickle even though there is a beaver pond at its head. However, about 100 yds east of the bridge crossing in the upper part of Roberts Run, the trail passes over the top of a spring. Also, another quarter-mile beyond, where the trail comes down to a vista over that beaver pond, look to the left to see a trickle coming out of a spring at the base of the hillside, 50 yds west of the lowest point on the trail. That would be about mile 9.5.
A little over a half-mile east of Knobs Road, at about mile 12.3, the trail presently crosses from south to north over a brook called Deer Creek. If you turn left after crossing the (dry?) brook, and bush-whack 200 yds back west on the north side of the little valley, you will come to the only hunting camp in the Deer Creek uplands. There is a large spring at that camp. Do not tent within sight of the camp. The trail will be relocated in August to a new crossing further down the Deer Creek valley, and water is available in pools at that crossing.
The next reliable water is met in the Gifford Run valley, starting at mile 14.6. At mile 16.9, just before crossing Merrill Road, the hunting camp there has a spring.
Unfortunately, the next 6.5 miles is all upland walking, with no reliable water source. At mile 19.2 a diversion could be made down to Mosquito Creek, using Lost Run Road. This would be about a 2 mile round-trip diversion. Going straight down to the stream on the Cross-Connector exposes you to big snakes.
Mosquito Creek, at mile 23.6, should always have at least a trickle in it. A bridge constructed here in 2007 makes crossing this creek a bit easier.
Between mile 23.6 and mile 30.5 there is no reliable water, although Cole Run might have a trickle. Near the Quehanna Highway there is a facility that trains PennDOT employees: in a pinch you should be able to get water there. At the bend in the trail near mile 30.5 there is a hunting camp 100 yds to the east, where there is a spring, usually good.
At about mile 31.5, Upper Three Runs should always have at least a trickle. The hiker can also walk down to the reservoir below and dip water out.
In the Lower Three Runs valley there are one or more springs, particularly at one well-developed site on the south side of the old grade, at mile 35.0.
North of mile 35.8 (Three Runs Road), water may be invisible until the lower part of Upper Jerry Run is reached, near or above the stream crossing at about mile 37.5. From that point over to the crossing of Wykoff Run at mile 40.1, water is not likely to be found. Wykoff Run always has water.
Near the top of Laurel Draft, 50 yds above a footbridge, there is a spring, usually good. This would be about mile 41.8. At about mile 44.5, marked Arch Springs on the map, there is a spring, but it will probably be dry due to the small catchment area above it.
A mile or two down in Sanders Draft there should be water running, and certainly water is available at the bridge crossing Red Run at mile 48.8. There is also a walled spring on the left side of the trail 100 yds west of Red Run Road. Thus it could be a dry eight or nine miles from the crossing of Wykoff Run, to the lower part of Sanders Draft and Red Run.
The next reliable place for water is at mile 54.4, the bottom of Mix Run. A mile up the valley from that point there is always a flow coming out of Ripper Hollow.
There are various small sources in Silver Mill Hollow at about mile 59.5; also try at the hunting camp where the trail crosses the Quehanna Highway at mile 62.3. At mile 63.2 the trail crosses over Medix Run, which always has water in it, coming from a large drainage area. Thus in a really dry season it could be 10 miles from water in the Mix Run valley, over to water in Medix Run.
Between mile 63.2 and 69.5 there are various stream possibilities, and at 69.5 there is a hunting camp with an associated piped spring, as you leave the state forest road. Between 69.5 and the end of the hike, Saunders Run usually has running water.
Back in the early 60’s, the 50 mile hike craze was spreading across the nation, even affecting the students of Penn State. Several hikes were organized, but as there were no real trail systems near State College, these hikes were mostly done on state forest roads. It was during this time that Dr. Boone Sumantri conceived the idea of a long trail running through the Seven Mountains.
In 1966, Dr. Sumantri proposed a ridge-top hiking trail, the Central Allegheny Trail. He founded the Central Allegheny Trail Hikers and had many meetings at his house to discuss his proposal. It was during 1966 that Dr. Thomas Thwaites attended one of these meetings and became a member of the Central Allegheny Trail Hikers.
The proposed trail, roughly sketched out on 15 minute topo maps hanging on Dr. Sumantri’s living room wall, started at the Colerain Picnic Area along Route PA 45. The other proposed trailhead was to be at a roadside rest on route US 15, just south of Williamsport. The plan, at least at the northern trailhead, was to connect the Central Allegheny Trail to the Loyalsock Trail.
In 1967, Sumantri began exploring a route for the trail by consulting with various state forest officials. The first hurdle encountered along the proposed trail route was Interstate 80. It was learned that a bridge would be built near Tea Spring at the western end of Sugar Valley that would cross over Interstate 80. This bridge is used today by the MST as it crosses over route I80.
Another hurdle encountered was the connection of the Central Allegheny Trail with the Loyalsock Trail. In order to reach the Loyalsock Trail, the trail would have to cross the Susquehanna River. This could be accomplished by using the route PA 405 bridge, and then following the Muncy Trail up towards the Loyalsock Trail. However, older maps showed the Muncy Trail crossing private land. This land was owned by PA Department of Corrections and was the location of the state prison for women. This put an end to any ideas of having the Central Allegheny Trail meet up with the Loyalsock Trail.
In August of 1967, Dr. Thwaites went to England on sabbatical leave. When he returned a year later he was disappointed to discover that no further progress had been made with the trail. Dr. Sumantri had developed a severe case of rheumatism that kept him from hiking. Other members of the CATHs had developed other interests. Dr. Thwaites returned to discover that not an inch (nor a millimeter) of the trail had been cleared or marked, and only a fraction of the trail route had been determined.
During the brief life of the Central Allegheny Trail Hikers, the Cabin and Trail Division of the Penn State Outing Club became involved. It was the Penn State Outing Club that continued exploring a route for the trail, and again Dr. Thwaites became involved with this latest group to develop the Central Allegheny Trail.
The Penn State Outing Club soon realized that the original route proposed by Dr. Sumantri was too much to tackle, so they focused on the route through the Rothrock State Forest. It was close to State College but presented formidable problems as most of the original trails in the area were perpendicular to the proposed Central Allegheny Trail.
The initial plan was to utilize the state forest roads for most of the trail through Rothrock. These roads would be linked by short sections of trail along with three new sections of trail that would have to be cleared.
In the summer of 1969, after what seemed an eternity of exploring for possible routes, it was time to start putting the Central Allegheny Trail on the ground. In anticipation of state approval, the Outing Club began to stockpile tools during the spring and summer.
The proposed trail route was approved during the summer of 1969. After consulting with the district forester, the only changes made to the plan was to use orange paint instead of white paint to blaze the trail, as white paint was being used to mark the forest boundaries. The orange blazes were to be diamond shape, similar to metal tag trail markers used by the Outing Club some fifteen years earlier. The day for the first real trail clear, and the birth of the Mid State Trail was rapidly approaching.
On a sunny Sunday, in September of 1969, Dr. Thomas Thwaites and fifteen members of the Penn State Outings Club ascended to Little Flat just south of State College. With trail blazing tools in hand, this first group of MST trail blazers began opening a trail from Kettle Trail towards the North Meadows Trail. Following the ridgeline, this first group of MST trail blazers opened up a meandering trail on Fourth Mountain, opening up the first natural scenic view of the MST looking down on Bear Meadows.
This was the humble beginnings of the Mid State Trail which now bisects the middle of Pennsylvania, stretching from Maryland to the border of the Empire state. Still called the Central Allegheny Trail, Dr. Thwaites and members of the Penn State Outings club continued to clear trail through out the fall of 1969. So excited at blazing this trail, they even attempted to cut trail after the snows came. Hiking up the Spruce Gap Trail, climbing over 900 feet in less than three quarters of a mile, the group arrived at the work site so tired that they turned around and went home.
Come spring, trail clearing continued, this time starting at the North Meadows Trail, heading back to their previous trail blazing. Scott Troutman, the unsung hero in these early days of the Mid State Trail, put extra effort in clearing the trail. While others cut laurel, moved blowdowns, and made short order of saplings, Scott brought up the rear. Using a short handled hedge trimmer and side swiping motion of his feet, a footway appeared, making that day's efforts look polished and taking on the visage of a trail that had been in existence and used for years.
In May of 1970 this initial section, from Little Flat to the North Meadows Trail was completed. Blazed with an orange paint that turned a bright red after a few weeks of weather, the trail was inspected by the district forester and given their stamp of approval.
With this section complete, it was now time for Dr. Thwaites and the Outings Club to tackle the next section of trail in Rothrock State Forest that needed to be cleared. This section was from the power line clearing above Pine Grove Mills to the Campbell Trail. With twentytwo volunteers turning out for this trail clear, this section of the trail was cleared in one day.
On weekends when the Penn State Outings Club was not blazing trail, they spent their time searching for lost logging locomotives. On one of these hunts they discovered that convict laborers from Huntingdon had cleared the old railroad grades in Detweiler Valley. Using Axehandle Trail and these newly discovered cleared trails, the very first MST relocation took the trail off of Detweiler Road and followed the much more scenic Detweiler Run.
Another relocation occurred in November of 1970, near the Tower Road that leads up to Little Flat. Old railroad grades from the Linden Hall Lumber Company were discovered on newly released 7 1/2 minute topographical maps. Using these railroad grades another bit of road walking was removed.
In the spring of 1971, the last bit of trail clearing in Rothrock State Forest was started. This was to be the hardest and longest of the three planned trail clearings in Rothrock S.F. One end of the clearing was at the roadside rest on route US 322 and the other was on the Muttersbaugh Trail. With persistent work, including some very difficult rock work on the south side of Bald Mountain, the clearing was finished in mid-December of 1971.
Now known as the Mid State Trail, the trail started at the Colerain Picnic Area on route PA 45, followed forest roads and newly cleared trail, and terminated at the Seven Mountains roadside rest along route US 322.
With a lot of determination, elbow grease, along with sweat and tears, Dr. Thwaites had taken the original idea of the Central Allegheny Trail by Dr. Sumantri and gave it life. Dr. Thwaites, the father of the Mid State Trail, and the dedicated members of the Penn State Outings Club had blazed a trail for hikers to enjoy, traversing the Rothrock State Forest just south of State College. After such an accomplishment, Dr.Thwaites could have hung up his brush cutters and enjoyed hiking the newly created MST. Thankfully he didn't, and the Mid State Trail continued to grow.
With the completion of the Mid State Trail, running from the Colerain Picnic Area along route PA 45 to the Seven Mountains roadside rest along route US 322, the first set of trail maps were produced. Scout Troutman, of the Penn State Outings Club, prepared the maps by tracing the route of the trail on 7 ½ minute USGS maps. There were a total of seven maps that covered the trail as it made its way through the Rothrock State Forest. The complete set of maps sold for 75 cents and they were a huge success.
The Penn State Outings Club began to hold hikes for the community, introducing them to the newly blazed Mid State Trail. Shortly after these hikes were started, the first trail guide was produced. In 1972 a total of 250 guides were printed and sold with the seven maps for $1.00. Soon another 250 trail guides needed to be printed to meet the demand.
In 1972 a push was also made to extend the Mid State Trail past route US 322 into the Bald Eagle State Forest. The trail would be somewhat easier to extend in the Bald Eagle State Forest as a number of trails, such as the Greens Valley, Little Poe and Dry Hollow Trails already heading in the direction that the MST wanted to go. With a little bit of scouting for cross connector trails, as well as blazing a new section of trail across Long Mountain, the Mid State Trail soon had a new terminus at Poe Paddy State Park. The 1973 edition of the trail guide covered this new section of trail and the maps now numbered ten in total. The map and guide set was now selling for $1.25.
As the Mid State Trail began to gain recognition among the local community as well as the hiking community, the Penn State Outings Club was faced with a dilemma. Because of limited man power and resources, a decision needed to be made regarding the mission of the PSOC. Should efforts be placed in rerouting the trail and getting it off of roads, or should efforts be placed in extending the trail to make the trail system bigger. There was also the idea of side-trails. These trails could link the MST trail system to more parks, picnic areas, natural areas, camping areas, swimming holes, services, views, springs and other points of interest near the trail as well as providing circuit hike opportunities.
It was decided that the PSOC would concentrate on rerouting the trail to remove as much road walking as possible. However, there was an opportunity to construct three side trails that would greatly enhance the access to the Mid State Trail. The first two side trails connected the MST to Penn Roosevelt and Poe Valley State Parks. These trails were blazed blue so as not to cause confusion with the orange blazes on the Mid State Trail proper.
The third side trail turned out to be a major undertaking. This side trail would connect the Greenwood Furnace State Park with the Mid State Trail. Little trail clearing would be required as existing trails could be used and it would add Alan Seeger Natural Area and the Greenwood Fire Tower to the trail system. Alan Seeger is thought to contain the oldest trees in the state and is the jewel in the Mid State crown.
Even though existing trails were mostly used for this side trail, routing problems soon developed. Should the trail go through the big trees at Alan Seeger or should it be relegated to the parking area? On the south flank of Broad Mountain, Rich Maggi and Larry Blumberg found a route on old charcoal roads that avoided the steep lower portion of the Collier Trail, but the old roads would have to be cleared. It was decided that the trail would wind through the Alan Seeger Natural Area and the time and effort would be put towards clearing the old charcoal roads of the Maggi cutoff. In 1974 the Greenwood Spur was complete and map number 11 was added to the set.
Rerouting of the Mid State Trail occurred during this time and the trail began to earn its moniker as the wildest footpath in Pennsylvania. In the next section of the history of the Mid State Trail, we’ll examine these reroutes and see where the trail blazing takes the MST next.
The year was 1973. The Mid State Trail now extended from the Colerain Picnic Area near Spruce Creek to Poe Paddy State Park, just south of Coburn, on the banks of Penns Creek. Since its inception in 1969, the trail had a number of reroutes along the way. These reroutes were attempts to move the trail into the woods, off forest roads, helping to emphasize the "wildness" of the trail.
Also during this time a number of side trails had been blazed. These side trails connected the Mid State Trail to state parks, making it more accessible. Short side trails connected the Mid State Trail to Poe Valley and Penn Roosevelt, with a much larger undertaking producing the Greenwood Spur. This side trail connect Greenwood State Park via Broad Mountain to the Mid State Trail, along the way introducing hikers to the large hemlocks of Alan Seeger.
It was during the fall of 1973 that the Bureau of Forestry contacted the Penn State Outings Club, the builders and maintainers of the MST at this point in time, expressing interest in seeing the trail extended beyond Poe Paddy State Park. The Bureau of Forestry asked the Outing Club to explore a route from Poe Paddy to R.B. Winter State Park.
In March of 1974, Tom Thwaites and four others set off for Ravensburg State Park to explore a route back to Poe Paddy. Somewhere during the course of the winter a few extra miles were added to the extension plan, now looking to connect Ravensburg as well as R.B. Winter State Park. Over the course of five days the trail was scouted along Betterton Trail on White Deer Ridge, over Interstate I80 on the Tea Spring bridge, across Naked Mountain and through the Hook Natural Area. Maps were poured over and plans began to take shape for continuing the MST east.
From Poe Paddy State Park, the Mid State Trail headed east, following the abandoned Conrail railroad grade. The tunnel under Paddy Mountain was closed when the railroad was abandoned, but it had just been reopened. This allowed the trail to go through Paddy Mountain instead of over it. The Mid State Trail became the first, and so far only, hiking trail in Pennsylvania to tunnel under a mountain rather than climb over it.
The trail followed the railroad grade to Cherry Run, where it turned north, passing through a gap in Paddy Mountain. It would continue up Lyman Run and over Thick Mountain on a trail that was cut with assistance from the Susquehanna University Outing Club. Descending off Thick Mountain, the MST proceeded through Sand Hollow and cut across Sand Mountain to Hairy Johns Picnic Area on PA45. This was completed and opened in 1976.
Beyond route PA 45, the Mid State Trail followed Hairy Johns Trail to the top of Winkelblech Mountain and then headed east on Sheesley and Kessler Trails. Trail clearing in this area was assisted by the Bucknell Outing Club. From Pine Ridge, the trail climbed Buck Ridge and then rejoined with Hairy Johns Trail atop Shriner Mountain. Connecting up with Brush Hollow Trail, the MST continued the rest of the way to R.B. Winter State Park. This part of the trail was opened in 1978.
The final section of the extension that was first scouted back in March of 1974 routes the Mid State Trail from R.B. Winter State Park to Ravensburg State Park. The MST would follow Bake Oven ridge east to Sand Mountain Fire Tower, then turning north and crossing Spruce Run Valley and Chestnut Flat. Climbing up and over Naked Mountain, the trail crossed White Deer Creek and Nittany Valley before confronting its first Interstate highway. Serendipitously there was a bridge here, avoiding a dangerous highway crossing or extended reroute.
North of interstate I80 the MST continued across the grain of the landscape. The trail climbed over Tea Knob, Last Ridge, and Brushy Ridge before descending to White Deer Hole. Westward and a climb over Big Mountain, the trail crossed Sand Spring Flat and then ended at Ravensburg State Park.
With the addition of this section, the Mid State Trail extended from Colerain to Ravensburg State Park. As the trail grew it began to feel growing pains. As a result a monumental event was about to happen to the MST. The year was 1982 and the event was the founding of a non-profit, all volunteer organization, tasked with maintaing the ever-expanding trail; the Mid State Trail Association.
]]>The Pennsylvania DCNR has set guidelines for marking trails on state forest land. These guidelines are typically followed on state gamelands as well as within state parks. Pennsylvania DCNR has guidelines for both motorized and non-motorized trails. Motorized trail blazes are in the shape of diamonds while blazes for non-motorized trails are in the shape of rectangles, measuring 2" x 6".
The standard blaze colors set forth by DCNR are red, yellow, blue, and orange. Red blazes are used to mark shared-use trails. Shared-use trails are open to horseback, mountain bike and foot travel. Trails designated as state forest hiking trails are blazed in orange. These trails are intended to be for foot travel only. Cross-country ski trails are marked with blue blazes. These trails are also typically marked with the international symbol of a white skier on a brown background, posted at the trailhed. Finally, local hiking trails are blazed in yellow. Trailheads and major intersections may be marked with the international symbol of a hiker on a brown trailhead, indicating the trail to be used for foot travel only.
There are exceptions to the blaze color scheme to a number of trails found in Pennsylvania. The trails are designated to be for foot travel only, regardless of the color of their blazes. These exceptions are:
Most blazes will be painted on trees or sign posts. On occasions blazes can be painted onto rocks. When crossing large talus slopes or fields, rock cairns can also be used to mark the route of the trail. It is important not to build rock cairns along trails, or disassemble exiting cairns, as this may cause confusion to those hiking the trail. Outside of Pennsylvania, cairns are used quite frequently to mark trails, especially on trails that follow ridge lines and mountain tops above the tree line.
When hiking a blazed trail you may encounter a double blaze. This means "caution" or "heads up". You will typically find these double blazes 20 to 50 feet prior to an abrupt turn in the trail or a trail junction. These double blazes are painted one above another on a tree. The direction of a turn can be indicated when the top blaze is offset to one side or the other of the bottom blaze. When the top blaze is positioned to the left of the bottom blaze, then look for the trail to make a sharp or abrupt turn to the left. And if the top blaze is offset to the right of the bottom blaze, then a turn to the right can be expected. You may also encounter what appears to be a double blaze, only being the size of a single blaze (2" x 6") and comprised of two different colors. This style of blaze is used to indicate trails that briefly share the same path or corridor.
Prior to 2008, side trails and local foot paths were marked with blue blazes. With the guidance published by DCNR, these trails are now marked with yellow blazes. This is an on-going and methodical process and you may still find blue-blazed local footpaths when out hiking. One of the catalyst to make this change was confusion occurring on trails that were routed through areas of the forest that were to be harvested for timber. Trees in harvest areas that were suppose to remain standing and not cut down were typically marked with blue marking paint. In many cases this paint was applied to the trees in a vertical orientation. When a trail, blazed in blue, crossed one of these ares, the route of the trail was near impossible to follow with all of the trees being marked with blue blazes. This prompted DCNR to modify the guidelines and to mark side trails and local footpaths with yellow blazes. Of course, this confusion can still exist for those trails that are indicated for cross-country skiing use (as these trails are still marked with blue blazes) and also the fact that logging companies have now taken to using yellow paint to mark trees in harvest areas as well. When hiking in areas marked for timber harvesting, remember to have a map with you and take your time following the route of the trail: don't rely on blazes alone.
]]>Hiking is usually referenced as the slowest of the activities. Hikers typically want to enjoy their surroundings as they hike. Hikers take to the trails at a leisurely rate, enjoying the experience of the trail and the scenery. Speed hikers want to take in the scenery as well, but their goal is to see more of the scenery in a set amount of time.
Speed Hiking can sometimes be confused with Fastpacking. The main difference between these two activities is that Fastpacking usually involves overnight stays with a pack on your back (but as lite as possible), traversing the trails at speed similar to those that speed hike. For Fastpackers, they appreciate the challenge of traversing long distance in as short of a span of time as possible; the activity is more about the destination than the journey.
This brings us to Trail Running. Trail Running is very similar to Speed Hiking with one major difference: running. Trail runners will traverse distance much faster since they are running. That doesn't mean that they can travel further distances than speed hikers, they just do it faster. This usually means that Trail Running requires a more established fitness level. The cardiovascular strain put on the body of a Speed Hiker is not nearly as great as that put on a Trail Runner.
Regardless if you like to run, hike quickly over short or long distances, or just tackle the trail at a leisurely pace, the most important thing is to get out, hit the trails and enjoy the outdoors.
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