For northbound hikers the Appalachian Trail enters Pennsylvania from Pen Mar, a small town that straddles the state border with Maryland to the south.  This 16.9 mile section of trail features Michaux State Forest and Chimney Rocks.

The 85,000 acre Michaux State Forest was named in honor of Andre Michaux. He was a famous French botanist dispatched by the King & Queen of France in 1785 to gather plants for the Royal Garden.  In 1902 the first tree nursery was established at Mont Alto in Michaux State Forest.

This section of trail features the magnificent view from Chimney Rocks with an elevation of 1940 feet. A side trail leads 350 feet to the view of Green Ridge and the Waynesboro Reservoir.  There are four shelters along this section of trail.

View from Chimney Rocks

After crossing the Maryland border, which is the "Mason-Dixon Line", the trail reaches Pen Mar Road in 0.1 miles, which is the start of this section.  Between 1763 and 1767 Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon surveyed the border between Pennslyvania and Maryland to resolve a dispute between the then "provinces".  The Mason-Dixon Line became known at the border between northern and southern states.

From Pen Mar Road (traveling north), at 0.1 miles turn left off power line ROW and descend into the woods.  At 0.4 miles, pass an old stone wall on the left then cross old trolley line road bed that once served Pen Mar Park.  At 0.6 miles cross Falls Creek on a bridge.

At 1.0 miles cross Buena Vista Road and at 2.2 miles the trail crosses Old PA 16.  The AT soon crosses the southern boundary of Michaux State Forest and crosses Red Run on a log bridge.  At 2.5 miles the trail crosses PA 16.  At 2.7 miles the trail turns left and follows Mentzer Gap Road for 200 feet.

At 3.1 miles the trail crosses Rattlesnake Run Road.  At 4.6 miles the trail passes Deer Lick Shelters.  There are two shelters, built in the 1940s, that sleep four in each shelter and a privy nearby.  At 7.0 miles the trail crosses East Branch of Antietam Creek with Antietam Shelter to the right.  The shelter was built in 1940, sleeps six with a privy nearby.

At 7.1 miles the trail reaches the edge of Old Forge Picnic Grounds.  There is parking for ten cars nearby and water.  At 7.4 miles the trail crosses Rattlesnake Run Road.  At 8.0 miles the trail turns right on paved Old Forge Road and soon turns left off the road.  This is a popular trailhead for day hikers who explore Chimney Rocks.

At 8.2 miles the Tumbling Run Shelters are 100 feet to the left.  The two shelters were built in 1988-1989, each sleeps four and a privy is located nearby.  At 9.5 miles reach the junction of a blue blazed trail near the summit of Buzzard Peak that leads to Chimney Rocks.

At 12.1 miles cross Snowy Mountain Road.  At 12.7 miles turn left on Swamp Road and in 500 feet turn right off the road.  At 13.1 miles cross PA 233. At 14.8 miles reach a blue blazed side trail that leads 0.3 miles downhill to the Rocky Mountain Shelters.  The two shelters, built in 1989, sleep four in each shelter and a privy nearby.

The Appalachian Trail at US 30

At 16.9 miles the trail reaches US 30 and the end of this section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.  The AT continues north into Caledonia State Park. 

 

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 Pen Mar Rd to US 30 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 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