| Pennsylvania Mid State Trail | |
|---|---|
| The "Roman Tower", on the trail near Boalsburg, Pennsylvania | |
| Length | 327 mi; 526 km |
| Location | Pennsylvania and Maryland, United States |
| Trailheads | North: New York State border near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania South: Pine Lick Trail in Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland (at the Mason-Dixon Line) |
| Use | Hiking |
| Highest point | Martin Hill, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania |
| Trail difficulty | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Season | Spring to Fall |
| Sights | pastoral views and cultural remnants |
| Hazards | Severe Weather Poison ivy American Black Bear Timber Rattler |
The Mid State Trail (MST) is a 526 km (327 mi) long main trail network with many side trails located in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians and Allegheny Plateau of Central Pennsylvania. It is known as "The Wildest Trail in Pennsylvania". In 2006, MST was announced as part of the Great Eastern Trail network of footpaths intended to extend from Alabama to New York State.
The northern terminus of the trail is at the New York State border near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. The southern end is a junction with the Pine Lick Trail in Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland at the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. As of April 2009 there remains a 9 km (5.6 mi) unmarked gap southeast of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. The MST is primarily on public land – state forests, game lands and parks. MST uses private lands by permission on occasion, generally closer to the Maryland and New York borders.
The Mid State Trail has many views offered by its placement on narrow ridges, as well as famed moist, dark caves. The MST provides an illusion of remoteness and solitude yet is rarely more than two kilometers from the nearest road.
Contents |
Rectangular orange blazes mark the main trail. Yellow and blue blazes are used to mark other trails. The Mid State Trails mark the trail with single rectangles and two rectangles to denote turns. The orange blazes on most parts of the Mid State Trail are more numerous and recent (brighter color) than the blue blazes on other adjacent trails.
The Mid State Trail guide, published by the Mid State Trail Association, is an excellent source for the trailheads along the trail. Access points occur regularly, but not often enough to disrupt your hiking experience. The Purple Lizard Map illustrates the Mid State and Standing Stone Trail on their Rothrock State Forest map.
While black bears, bobcats and rattlesnakes can present dangers, it is only if you are foolish or very unlucky. When bears and people cross paths in the wild, usually the bear just wishes to leave the area. Very rarely will a bear act hostile towards people.
The common rattlesnake of Pennsylvania, the Timber Rattler Crotalus horridus horridus, has venom of a medium potency that can cause painful injuries but is rarely lethal. Administering proper first aid, keeping calm and quickly receiving medical attention is the best response to a bite.
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