Shippensburg Weather Forecast, PA

AT in Pennsylvania US 30 to PA 233 Caledonia State Park

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This 19 mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania features Caledonia State Park and Big Flat Fire Tower.  There are three shelters available during this stretch of trail for thru hikers.  Quarry Gap Shelters are two shelters that sleep four in each shelter.  They were built in 1935 and there is a privy located nearby.  Birch Run Shelter was built in 2003, sleeps eight and there is a privy.  Toms Run Shelters were built in 1936.  The two shelters sleep four in each and there is a privy closeby.

This section of trail begins at US 30 (traveling northbound) and in 0.1 mile the trail crosses an old canal on a bridge.  At 0.4 miles cross Conococheague Creek on a Caledonia State Park bridge.  At 0.7 miles pass a seasonal restroom, then two parking lots in Caledonia State Park.

The AT now climbs steeply between Orebank Hill on the left and Chinquapin Hill on the right.  At 1.8 miles pass the blue blazed Caledonia Park Three Valley Trail.  The land that is now Caledonia State Park was once owned by Thaddeus Stevens, who is known as the father of the public school system in Pennsylvania.  He built the iron furnace in 1837 and the Confederate Cavalry destroyed it in early July 1863.  The fields around the furnace were used as field hospitals during the battle of Gettysburg.  The land was sold to the state and became a state park in 1903.

At 2.7 miles arrive at Quarry Gap Shelter.  The trail crosses a stream at 2.9 miles.  The Hosack Run Trail is on the right.  At 4.1 miles turn right on Ridge Road and soon turn right off the road.  At 6.7 miles cross Middle Ridge Road.  At 6.8 miles cross Dughill Trail.

At 7.2 miles cross the intersection of Canada Hollow Road, Means Hollow Road and Ridge Road.  At 7.6 miles cross Milesburn Road.  At 8.0 miles cross Ridge Road.  At 8.7 miles cross Michaux Forest's Rocky Knob Trail.  At 9.4 miles cross the old bed of Fegley Hollow Road.

At 10.0 miles reach Birch Run Shelter.  At 11.4 miles cross Arendtsville-Shippensburg Road.  At 12.4 miles cross the old bed of Dead Woman Hollow Road, which is now a snowmobile trail.  At 13.8 miles cross the entrance road to the PRIVATE Tumbling Run Game Preserve.  No camping or fires in the preserve.  Trail turns right, then left, generally following the boundary of the game preserve, leaving the boundary at 14.5 miles.

At 15.1 miles cross Woodrow Road.  At 16.2 miles reach the blue blazed Sunset Rocks Trail.  At 16.3 miles reach Toms Run Shelters.  At 17.4 miles turn right onto Michaux Road and soon pass the former site of Camp Michaux, where you'll see the ruins of a large stone barn. 

At 18.4 miles reach blue blazed Sunset Rocks Trail.  At 19.7 miles reach PA 233 and the end of this section of the Appalachian Trail.  

For more information to assist in planning your Appalachian Trail adventure, we recommend these hiking books:

Appalachian Trail Guide to Pennsylvania

 Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Mid-Atlantic States - MD PA NJ NY

 Pennsylvania Hiking Trails: Keystone Trails Association

 AMC's Best Day Hikes Near Philadelphia

 50 Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania: From the Mason-Dixon Line to the Poconos and North Mountain

 Backpacking Pennsylvania: 37 Great Hikes

 50 Hikes in Central Pennsylvania

 Hiking the Poconos: A Guide to the Area's Best Hiking Adventures

 Hiking Pennsylvania