Appalachian Trail - Pennsylvania

• Trail Stats: 229.4 Trail Miles, 24 Hiker Shelters
• This section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) is the third longest in the 14 states it passes through. If the AT in Pennsylvania is known for anything, it’s rocks. Long sections of the otherwise unchallenging trail are riddled with millions of foot-turners that require intense concentration. Good thing there aren’t many views, as most hikers spend much of the time watching their step. Where the trail isn’t rocky, it’s carving its way east to the other ridges via long, sometimes impossibly muddy, pastures.
• The state is also home to the precious midpoint of the entire AT, just a few miles south of Pine Grove Furnace State Park. To commemorate the moment, many thru-hikers take the “half-gallon challenge” at the Pine Grove General Store. This time-honored celebration entails sitting on the porch of the store and eating an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting.
• Recommended 2-Day Trip: The greatest thing about this easy 25-mile section is logistical in nature; the AT literally cuts through each town on the route. Start in small but charming Boiling Springs then cross over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-81 and shoot to spend the night in the superb Darlington shelter, at just about the midpoint in the trip. It’s a relatively new shelter that is well appointed and makes for a great night of camping. On day two, end in Duncannon, an even smaller town than Boiling Springs but home of the legendary Doyle Hotel. To anyone other than a tired hiker, the accommodations are, shall we say, “simple,” complete with exposed wiring and creaky beds. But the bar scene is loud and jovial, easily one of the best pub scenes on the entire trail—it’s a great place to kick back a few with locals and hikers alike. Directions: Pennsylvania 174 at Boiling Springs, north to Market Street at Duncannon.

Guidebook: Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion (Appalachian Trail Conservancy)
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