Also, I am of mid-fitness level sporting about 15 extra pounds, and with no pack was back at the car in 2.5hrs. While I doubt Id hike the whole thing again, there were a couple of places I wouldnt mind revisiting. It was a little after eleven when we finished lunch and started up. Before you take your first steps, enjoy the mountain views in the distance. Trail conditions and routes may be subject to frequent and unannounced change. 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. I didn't see it but I believe one does exist. This long-distance trail was created in the 1960's as an alternate route for the Appalachian Trail. The rock scramble is fun but it does not better the view. Didn't see anyone else the whole hike. I was dumb. You'll find the hiking trail is mostly dirt and rocks, often way more rocks. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". That might be a good shakedown hike for my twice-delayed but upcoming Continental Divide Trail hike. Camping: I've never camped on one of these hikes so I don't have an experiential benchmark. I think the rating of 5 is accurate. Links: Fowlers Hollow State Park,Tuscarora State Forest. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We've hiked all around this particular loop but hadn't hiked this loop as described here, though we've done bits of it on other hikes. The ascent up to ridge was as described, and a very good workout. The overall distance does make it long, but the ascent is not overly high or steep. Streams: The spring described in the directions is a small stream (maybe there was a recent rain as another post stated the spring/stream was practically non-existent). The blue blazes are really light at the parking spot. In terms of gear malfunctions per mile, the Tuscarora Trail was my worst. I noted no hidden patches of ice on trail rocks (as tends to occur under leaves sometimes) that would make for 'awesome' footing. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Although they rate in discreet integers, I think a 3.5 is in order if you're looking at picking a trail. FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of my links. I wasn't overwhelmed on the ascent as it is not as far up or steep as say Old Rag. This 252-mile trail cuts through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. This is the Doll Ridge section from Three Top Mountain to Riverview Drive. Theres plenty of room for everyone, too. There are houses on the road that the parking area is at. Erin Metcalf PA Tuscarora Trail ~ Bill Miller Trail to Cowpens Road. We maintain twelve hiking shelters (and the privys!) 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 connects to the AT near Harrisburg and in Shenandoah National Park (SNP). 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. This does give a nice experience, but then to balance my comments, the views weren't over the top. For more information, visit. From here, begin your descent along the rocky switchback-laden trail. This means that hikers generally must hike shelter-to-shelter, which in a couple of cases forces some relatively long days. She is also the author of three hiking guidebooks from Falcon Guides. It connects to the Appalachian Trail at both its . 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. I would recommend wearing a hat during this hike about 50 percent of the hike is in a field also bring sun block I have a little red to me today. Follow the trail for 0.5 miles where it merges with the yellow blazed Vance's Cove Trail. The intense patchwork of private land ownership around the Tuscarora Trail also manifests in some rather extensive road walks. Access: The trail can be accessed by road from both the northern and southern termini of section 6: Parking at Cowans Gap State Park (39.999,-77.921), Limited shoulder parking onFannettsburg Road (40.061, -77.864), 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,StandingStone Trail. The views from the ridge, well, they left something to be desired. Max Elevation: 2080ft. Min Elevation: 525ft. Access:The trail can be accessed from both the southern and northern termini of section 8: Additional trail connections in SGL-124 include: Alice Trail, Reese Hollow Trail, Hells Hill Trail, Yellow Trail, Advisory:No primitive camping allowed in SGL #124. Location: Gravel Springs Hut (66.4 miles) Tags: Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Tuscarora Trail, Virginia. At the ridge, the trail flattens out somewhat to a much more gradual ascent and is anoutstanding walk. It is very rocky there, so do not expect to tent. This made the need for maintenance in Maryland almost nonexistent. Re-trace your steps to the trail, then turn left to continue on. In fact, there are several very nice shelters that seem almost too good for the trail (and are palatial mansions by AT standards), given the relatively small number of hikers on the Tuscarora. There seemed to be a lot of interesting trails in the George Washington National forest in Virginia and West Virginia, and it would be fun to explore those. Great Eastern Trail joins/leaves the TT from/on Standing Stone Trail in Cowans Gap State Park. It was a beautiful day to go hiking but honestly, this was not one of our favorites. Take it slow on this white-blazed trail. We were hiking right after seven. At the .3-mile mark, you will reach a sign for the Allegheny View and a yellow-blazed spur trail. There is also a fire ring. Lots of rock covered with wet leaves -- hmmmm. The ascent now begins, but really, you go up a little, walk a flat section, go down, then back up again, then walk once more on a flat section. In a few more steps, youll start to hear moving water, then an easy-to-miss spur trail turns up on the right at the 1.9-mile mark. 3 days of Backpacking and Hammock Camping on Virginias Tuscarora Trail. That was after they hauled in materials. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Difficultly: The stated difficultly is 4. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The trail follows an extensive route that bypasses the Appalachian Trail by following mountain ridges to the west. There are some loose stones/rocks under foot as you make your way up though. At this point the trail is a closed forestry road (FS) that slowly climbs the side of the mountain for 0.8 miles before the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail makes a sharp right, and the FS road continues straight. I had seen on the map it spelled as Bird Run (trail) though, so I wasn't sure of the correct spelling. I noted no ticks. Part of why it took me so long to write this post is that the Tuscarora is a hard trail for me to like. Would love to do again in a few weeks when more leaves and flowers are out in full. Day 1 Mileage: 4.7 miles It was definitely worth a quick diversion. I found two water sources near here. There are numerous sections of the trail. 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. It was not easy, but it was a great hike. To detour this section, please consult the updates page for current detour information. This is my personal website. At the end of my second day on trail, the internal frame on my pack broke (leading to hiking for two days with a sharp rusty metal rod poking into my side), though in fairness to the Tuscarora, that happened on the AT section of my hike, and the pack already had 5400 miles on it by that point. But it does make hiking the trail somewhat inconvenient. plus a half hour for lunch. Erin Gifford is the editor of Go Hike Virginia. Its a beautiful rocky overlook with far-reaching mountain views. Despite the 90+ degree day, the temps at the top and along the hike were manageable. Perhaps a bit cold up on top in the wintertime (of course that's what fires are for, lol, and there is a spot for one at the shelter). We ended up going further down the road then we needed to and then hiked the loop in reverse by accident. Advisory: Exercise caution in the Buchanan State Forest during hunting season. Timber Ridge Trail is not an actual trail. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. There's a book where you can leave a note for other hikers/backpackers. Most likely, Covid restrictions in the first half of 2020 caused the shortfall of maintenance in Pennsylvania. Max Elevation: 2850ft. Min Elevation: 2105 ft. Access:The trail can be accessed from the southern terminusof section 16: Capon Springs Road, Route 609 (39.110,-78.478). On day one I would hike up to the ridge using the Tuscarora Trail, day two I would base camp and explore, and on day three I would hike back out via a different set of trails to complete the loop. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. PA-641 to Cowans Gap State Park, 15.7 miles, PATC Map K, Guide to the North Half of the Tuscarora Trail. Additional Road Access in Tuscarora State Forest: Limited Parking at Three Square Hollow Road (40.228, -77.569), Limited Parking at 2nd Narrow Road (40.224, -77.594). Primitive camping is allowed throughout Buchanan State Forest with free permit. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. There is another nice shelter here. At the shelter, the white trail would be at your 10 o'clockposition if you were in the shelter and looking out (I didn't note a blaze on the trail until going down the trail a bit). This is a beautiful shelter and the trail, although rocky, appears well maintained on this tiny section I hiked. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. That would add another six plus miles to our day and most of that would be uphill. We chose this hike because it offered seclusion though, and we certainly got that. You will quickly enter the woods and will be in nearly full shade for the majority of the hike. 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. Exercise caution in SGL #124 during hunting season. Tuscarora Trail: Route 55 to Van Buren Furnace Hard 4.2 (10) George Washington National Forest - Lee District Photos (615) Directions Print/PDF map Length 25.8 miElevation gain 4,058 ftRoute type Point to point Head out on this 25.8-mile point-to-point trail near Wardensville, West Virginia. Highlights: Big Mountain overlook. So yeah, it was a nice day but not much to look at other than service roads for the majority of the hike. Youll find the hiking trail is mostly dirt and rocks, often way more rocks. There are many, many prominent green blazes. I pretty much had the entire hike to myself besides a few fishermen in the last 20 min of the hike. This complete trail was originally built as separate trailsthe Tuscarora Trail in the north and the Big Blue Trail in the south. Initially the Tuscarora Trail follows a disused forestry road, then becomes a single lane trail that is overgrown in places. Max Elevation: 2300ft. Min Elevation: 800 ft. Access: The trail can be accessed by road from both the northern and southern termini of section 5: Advisory: No water along this section, Exercise caution in the Tuscarora State Forest during hunting season. At the 3.5-mile mark, stay left for the white-blazed Laurel Run Trail. You should verify critical information such as directions, park hours, gate closings, blaze colors and specific regulations (pet policies, firearm/hunting regulations, etc.) As in, the view doesnt improve the further down you go on the rock scramble. This is the Doll Ridge section from Three Top Mountain to Riverview Drive. Going into Shenandoah backwards was very weird, and I did not recall a substantial portion of that part of the AT from my 2016 thru-hike. Weenjoyed our small lunch, signed the book and off we went. One was a couple 100 yards north of shelter and was a spring (pretty easy to get to). Follow the ridge for 1.0 miles and arrive at Gerhard Shelter. 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. 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. The last bit is an easy decent through grassy trail down to the shelter. " A W OpenMapTiles OSM 9.8 Miles Point to Point 2,451' High 1,222' Low 1,779' Up 1,076' Down 6% Avg Grade (3) 38% Max Grade (21) Toolbox Plan in onX Backcountry Driving directions Download GPX File Know This 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. Day 1 Gross Descent: 1,003, Day 1 Elevation Profile Gerhard Shelter Tuscarora Trail Backpacking Trip 2022 Sintax77, Day 3 Mileage: 5.1 miles There's 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. 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. This is not on the white trail leading down. Additional trail connections in section 15: Gore Connector Trail, Biby WildernessTrail, Laurel Run Trail, Fry Path, Lucas Woods Trail. There is also a picnic shelter, two stone fire pits (one for cooking) and an outdoor privy. Shortly after we turned off the road and into the woods, we decided on an early lunch at a creek crossing. 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. on our section trails. We had trouble finding the trail head at first but after backtracking 0.8 miles (per directions) from the last point, we found it. Pennsylvania, though, had very uneven maintenance; some areas were very well maintained, while others were very poorly kept. Proudly created with Wix.com, **All GPS coordinates given on this site use the WGS-84 datum**. But its a difficult trail to thru-hike because of the challenges presented by the trails location and design. We have never seen other hikers on this route. It was a small Cessna 150J that went down due to engine power loss and fortunately their were only minimal injuries to one of the two passengers. Dont forget, the last mile is nearly all uphill until the end. The Charlie Irvin Shelter is nestled on the edge of a cliff with wonderful a wonderful view of the valley. Hmm? 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. Section Update, Camping:Licking Creek Campground (39.651, -78.048). 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. Also, the blue trail that leads off this initial trail/road can be located by two green blazes circling a tree, not too mention that the fire road begins to descend as per the instructions. he trail can be accessed by road from both the northern and southern termini of section 5: he trail can be accessed by road from both the northern and southern termini of section 6: Limited shoulder parking onFannettsburg Road (. 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. Cowan's Gap State Park campground with lake. It may have been in the high 20s up high, as my beanie cap seemed stiff in parts, I think from frozen sweat. They built bridges, campsites, and shelters. One of the challenges of maintaining the Tuscarora Trail has been its incomplete, inconsistent, and inadequate signage. Weather was crisp and perfect. The Gerhard Shelter was well kept and clean. To detour this section, please consult the, The Tuscarora Trail 60th Anniversary Challenge, In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Tuscarora Trail, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is hosting the TT60Challenge. I never made it to the Shelter and decided to turn back -- I was probably within a half mile. There were also a couple places here and there where water was flowing across the trail/road. But it's a gradual ascent - in fact, I never thought this hike was ever difficult. Yes, all roads. Weather: Thereabouts low 30s on the day of. Parking might be lacking in the warmer months on weekends. The steep trail near Gerhard Shelter was challenging but fun, and the Shelter itself offered a fun respite in the middle of our journey. If you start going downward on the FS road you missed the right turn. Day 3 Gross Descent: 893, Day 3 Elevation Profile Gerhard Shelter Tuscarora Trail Backpacking Trip 2022 Sintax77, Total Trail Mileage: 9.8 Miles Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest and Cowans Gap State Park include: Standing Stone Trail, Geyer Trail, Logslide Trail, Richmond Trail, Fore Trail, Lincoln Trail. And this is part of the BMTs charm. before you embark upon your trip. Tuscarora State Forest Treasures Maps and Information (PDF) Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area Trail Guide (PDF) Tuscarora Trail. Turn right when it does. These signs are now fullyinstalled. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 8:25 pm. Welcome to the Tuscarora Trail 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. The first time I went to "scout" the area to see if it would be a good trip for my wife's second ever backpacking trip. 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). Other: The trail markings as per the instructions seemed sound, as did the given instructions in general. I have done Wildcat Mountain, and you could stop to bury a body and smoke a cigarette and not see anyone (rated a 6), so a 5 seems about right having seen three others. I haven't had any poison ivy. , Guide to the North Half of the Tuscarora Trail, C&O Canal NHP Visitor Center, Little Tonoloway Day Use Area. I personally thought the third one had the most superior vistas. 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. If you start going downward on the FS road you missed the right turn. 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. I don't think you'd have too serious of issues doing this one after a large rain, although you would definitely get your feet a bit wet in a couple of places. Views: I agree with the stated rating (4). There was remnants of a snow dusting on the ridgeline. US Route 30, Tuscarora Summit (39.916, -77.9565) Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest and Cowans Gap State Park include: Standing Stone Trail, Geyer Trail, Logslide Trail, Richmond Trail, Fore Trail, Lincoln Trail. I really enjoyed myself. Camping: Burd Run Shelter (40.053,-77.888), PATC Silberman Trail Center (by reservation only), Cowans Gap State Park. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. PATC Map J, Guide to the North Half of the Tuscarora Trail. Our first nine miles of the day were "country road" scenic and flat until we began to ascend the dry and rocky ridge that would be our playground for many miles. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 44 min to complete. It will have some family genealogy information as well as my travel journals. Grand Total Gross Elevation Gain: 1,901. At the trail sign, turn left onto the southbound section of the 252-mile Tuscarora Trail. But it was getting late, had started to drizzle, and fog was settling in as the ridge walk started to climb more severely. To an extent, the Tuscarora is largely what I expected: remote, isolated, and with few people. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Besides the elevation change early on, this hike is lacking a bit of challenge and variety, but I found those both to be forgivable. Today is my last full day on the AT before reaching the Tuscarora Trail. Follow the Tuscarora Trail back to the intersection with the High Rock trail and continue straight on the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail as it generally follows the ridge. The work didn't end there; once built, volunteers maintained . On this hike, I took a detour for a night while finishing hiking the Appalachian Trail in PA. After finishing 10.5 miles of hiking on the AT, I drove over to the parking near Waggoners Gap just outside the Parking at Audubon Hawk Watch and hiked 0.9 miles of the Tuscarora Trail to the Charlie Irvin Shelter to meet fellow hiker White Castle for the night. Water is heavy, so naturally, Id prefer not to have to carry more than necessary. Wildlife. It stretches from Mathews Arm in Virginia to Sterretts Gap in Pennsylvania. Reports indicate the next few miles to the north are not nearly as enjoyable as the section described here, with multiple ATV trails intersecting the TT. In a few more steps, this white-blazed trail will re-connect with the blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail. Camping: Reese Hollow Shelter (39.852, -77.979), PATC Little Cove Cabin (by reservation only). The cold water felt good on our feet. In Maryland, a little more than half the trail is the C&O Canal Tow Path. West Virginia State Line to Dry Gap, 7.8 miles. Most other water sources fell somewhere in-between. We had no problem getting to Wardensville but once we got to Great North Mountain we couldn't really tell where to park. CAUTION: Not all sections of the Tuscarora Trail are appropriate for young or inexperienced hikers. However, much to my surprise, every day I was on the trail, I saw at least one other person. The Tuscarora is a somewhat dry trail. Please respect the landowner's decision. Cowans Gap State Park to PA 16, 9.6 miles, PATC Map K, Guide to the North Half of the Tuscarora Trail. You dont want to miss the Allegheny View. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Carry lots of water. The PATC revived the trail, began maintaining it, and united the Tuscarora-Big Blue Trail with blue blazes and one name. 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. Camping: Fowlers Hollow Shelter (40.247,-77.611), Fowlers Hollow State Park. US Route 50, limited shoulder parking (39.268, -78.314). The ridge walk itself was not nearly asinteresting as I thought it would be either, but that may have had something to do with the constant tick removal we were doing at that point. Trail conditions and routes may be subject to frequent and unannounced change. Turn right onto the spur trail to reach the three-sided Pinnacle Shelter. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 0 min to complete. 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. No direct access to northernterminus, but can be accessed from the Lucas Woods side trail with road access at WV 23/2 (39.183,-78.432). Access:The trail can be accessed from both the northern and southern termini of section 10: Little Tonoloway Day Use Area (39.698,-78.182), Little Pool C&O Canal Parking (39.684,-78.104), Camping: Licking Creek Campground (39.651, -78.048), Little Pool Campground (39.685, -78.113), 2017by PATC. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Re-trace your steps to the Biby Wilderness Trail, then turn left to continue along the switchback trail until you reach the Tuscarora Trail.
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