This 17.2 mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania takes northbound hikers from the Clarks Valley to Swatara Gap. The main features of this section of the AT are the remains of the historic mining villages of Rausch Gap and Yellow Springs. 

There is one shelters along this stretch of trail.  The Rausch Gap Shelter was built in 1972, sleeps twelve with a privy located nearby.  This shelter is built on original stone ruins from the old village that once stood in this area.

This section of trail starts off PA 325 in Clarks Valley and northbound hikers will be climbing over 1000 feet in elevation over the first two miles of hiking.  At 0.1 miles the trail passes the blue blazed Water Tank Trail that follows along an old service road.

A monument marks the northern terminus of the Horse-Shoe Trail at the AT junction

At 0.5 miles reach the junction with the red blazed Henry Knauber Trail that travels very steeply to the Horse-Shoe Trail in 1.6 miles.  The Horse-Shoe Trail travels nearly 140 miles to Valley Forge, PA.  At 3.2 miles the Appalachian Trail reaches the northern terminus of the Horse-Shoe Trail, which is marked with a monument.

At 3.3 miles reach the summit of Stoney Mountain.  At 3.9 miles cross Rattling Run on stepping stones.  At 4.0 miles the trail turns left to follow an old stage coach road, which the AT will follow for nearly seven miles.  At 6.4 miles reach the junction of the blue blazed Yellow Springs Trail in a narrow ravine. 

At 6.6 miles the trail travels through the ruins of Yellow Springs Village in St Anthony's Wilderness.  At 8.6 miles reach the junction of the blue blazed Sand Spring Trail which travels 1.7 miles to PA 325.  At 8.8 miles reach the Cold Spring Trail.

Rausch Gap Shelter along the Appalachian Trail

At 11.0 miles the AT bears right, leaving the old stage coach road.  There is an open cut strip mine on the right and Rausch Creek on the left.  At 11.2 miles reach a blue blazed trail that travels 0.2 miles to the Rausch Gap Shelter.

At 11.5 the trail turns left to follow a multiuse service road, which is on a railroad bed of the former Susquehanna & Schuylkill Railroad.  Cross Rausch Creek on an old stone arch railroad bridge and at 11.7 miles the AT turns right off the service road.  Soon the trail reaches the center of the Rausch Gap Village ruins.

At 12.0 miles cross Haystack Creek on a wooden footbridge.  At 12.8 miles reach the saddle of Second Mountain, where several unblazed trails intersect with the AT.  At 15.2 miles cross Greenpoint Schoolhouse Road and then cross PA 443.  At 15.8 miles reach and cross PA 443 two more times, plus a small parking lot. At 17.2 miles reach PA 72 in Swatara Gap and the end of this section of the Appalachian Trail. 

 

Appalachian Trail Hiking Guide Pennsylvania ** ONLY $9.99 Hiking guide with descriptions and maps for the Appalachian Trail as it travels in Pennsylvania. The guide is broken down by 14 sections of the AT. The book comes to you delivered as a pdf file via email. Use the buy now button and we will send you the file via email usually within 24 hours of receiving payment.

Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania PA 325 to PA 72 ** ONLY $1.50 Hiking guide with descriptions and maps for just this section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. The guide comes to you delivered as a pdf file via email. Use the buy now button below and we will send you the file via email usually within 24 hours of receiving payment. Happy Hiking!

For more information to assist in planning your Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania 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