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Section 12 - PA 94 to Pine Grove Furnace Displayed from North to South

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  Mountain Club of Maryland http://www.mcomd.org/ contact @ mcomd.org Clarks Ferry Bridge to Darlington Trail/Tuscarora Trail and Center Point Knob to PA 233

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Mile
Marker
 
Hiker Rated
Parking Safety
Directions Comments Number of Vehicles  Map   &  
 Weather  
Source
0.0
PA 94
   Poor           Great



 
PA 94 We don't remember seeing any parking here. If anything it would be on the shoulder of the road. This section of the AT has few views from the trail. It is more-like a walk in the woods but isn't as rocky as most of the PA AT that we have hiked. 0
 

 

at @ rohland.org
We did use this road for parking two different days. We could actually park 2 or 3 cars by using more than one road shoulder. Would not recommend it for overnight parking. 5/25/06 3
 

 

dianak16 @ earthlink.net
Follow PA 34 from Carlisle (Exit 47 from I-81, I believe). Continue through the town of Mount Holly Springs. About a mile further is the intersection with PA 94. Continue straight on PA 94 for 1.3 miles to the AT crossing which is just before the first sign for Deer Run Campground. The intersection with Sheet Iron Roof Road is 0.1 miles further There is another Deer Run Campground sign there. As far as I'm concerned, parking at the crossing is non-existent. I did see a parking pull off on the east side about 0.1 miles north on PA 94. This is towards Mount Holly Springs. It is just at the top of hill and just south of some houses. See attached map. There were no signs prohibiting parking, just dumping. It would be a lousy place to park overnight. Much better parking is 0.2 miles trail north on Sheet Iron Roof Road (See Mile 8.6 of Sec. 11) At the crossing, the southbound AT goes right (if you are driving from the direction of Mt Holly Springs), starting to climb a hill. The northbound trail goes left and descends. The marker on the attached map indicates the trail crossing. 04/02/09 0 at trail crossing with 2-3 in pull off to the north
  1

  1

David Cullen
Click on the camera icon by A which marks the location of the trail crossing. Choose street view. Rotate to the east to see the northbound trail to Section 11. Rotate to the northwest to see the southbound trail to Section 12.Click on the camera icon by B which marks the parking pull off on PA 94. Choose street view and rotate to the north to see the parking pull-off mentioned. While this might work, much better parking is available at Sheet Iron Roof Road.
  1

  1

David Cullen
1.8
PA 34 (Appalachian Trail Road)
   Poor           Great



 
See next listings (Mile 1.9) for directions. The map here shows the area around Appalachian Trail Road. Rotate to the northeast to see Appalachian Trail Road. The northbound trail leaves from the left side. There is a place for 1-2 cars. There are no signs prohibiting parking here, but parking in the hikers parking lot (see above) might be more prudent.

The southbound trail follows PA 34 across the bridge over Hunters Run, then goes left back into the woods.

01/21/10
1-2
  1

  1

David Cullen
1.9
PA 34 (Hikers Parking Lot)
   Poor           Great




On PA State Hiway 34, south of intersection with PA State Hiway 94. AT crosses Hiway 34 just north of bridge over Hunter's Run. A half-mile south of the AT crossing, right at the intersection with Green Mountain Road, is a parking area designated for the AT. GPS is N40.04.63 W77.11.71 Parking lot has a small sign but is clearly delineated by boulders. It is north of Green Mountain Mercantile, south of Hempt's, and across from Ray's Garage. If going south on 34, watch for sign to Cherokee Restaurant. Avoid parking outside this lot. 09/26/08 15-20
 

 

MalteseCross @ comcast.Net
Follow PA 34 from Carlisle (Exit 47 from I-81, I believe). Continue through the town of Mount Holly Springs. About a mile further is the intersection with PA 94. Go right here, still following PA 34. In 1.9 miles the road crosses Hunters Run (creek). This is the AT Crossing. It is another tenth of a mile to the parking area on the right, just before Green Mountain Road. (See pictures). Closest access to the AT is to follow a blue-blazed trail a couple of hundred feet across a field to the trail. This intersection with the AT is at approximately mm 1.9. Alternatively walk north on PA 34 to the trail crossing at Mile 1.8 Rotate the street view to the west to see the parking lot. 8/4/11 15- 20 in Hiker Parking Lot.
  1

  1

David Cullen
2.9
Hunters Run Rd./Pine Grove Rd.
   Poor           Great



 
From Interstate 81: Use Exit 47A in Carlisle. This will put you on Rt. 34 South. Take Rt. 34 South EXACTLY 6 miles to the junction of Rt. 34 and Rt. 94. Bear right and continue following Rt. 34 South EXACTLY 2 more miles. Bear right onto Green Mountain Road. Go 7/10 mile to stop sign. Just beyond the stop sign the shoulder on the right side is wider. The signs we saw on this road called it Pine Grove Rd. but on one of our maps it is referred to as Hunters Run Rd. GPS N40.04.304 W77.12.249 I don't know if I would want to park here although on two different occasions we did see a car parked here. This parking is just a wider road shoulder because of the two roads coming together. 1
  1

  1

at @ rohland.org
Intersection of Pine Grove/Hunter's Run Rd and Green Mountain Road. If headed west on Green Mountain, away from PA State Hiway 34, a large shoulder area occurs just before the stop sign for Pine Grove Road. A smaller shoulder area occurs just beyond the stop sign where the AT crosses Pine Grove Road. Parking at either shoulder area for more than a few hours is not recommended. Although you would be LEGALLY parked, you might create a hazard by parking just off the shoulder at an intersection. 09/26/08 1-2
 

 

MalteseCross @ comcast.Net
Rotate the street view of the map attached above to the north to see the northbound trail. Rotate to the west to see the southbound. Rotate to the east to see the intersection. Note the parking pull-off on the left side of the road on the left. (Green Mountain Road). 01/21/10
 

 

David Cullen
4.6
Mountain Creek Campground
   Poor           Great



 
From Interstate 81: Use Exit 47A in Carlisle. This will put you on Rt. 34 South. Take Rt. 34 South EXACTLY 6 miles to the junction of Rt. 34 and Rt. 94. Bear right and continue following Rt. 34 South EXACTLY 2 more miles. Bear right onto Green Mountain Road. Go 7/10 mile to stop sign. Bear right onto Pine Grove Rd. (Pine Grove Rd. is sometimes referred to as Hunter's Run Rd.) The campground is 1 mile ahead on the right. Across the street from the campground, head up the hill (walk on the right side of the fence) to a blue blazed trail that connects to the AT.

Campground: GPS N40.03.821 W77.13.594
There are very few parking areas along this section of the AT. The campground permits parking in front of the office for AT hikers even if they do not stay at the campground. The campground owners also permit weary hikers to rest at the campground. There is a vertical rise of about 250' from the campground to the AT. 4-5
 

 

at @ rohland.org
The road instructions above are good although my odometer indicated the distances are not as exact as the listing might suggest. If coming from the direction of Pine Grove State Park, the campground is 5.1 miles from the intersection of Pine Grove Road with PA 233. There is a 0.7 mile blue-blazed trail from the campground to the AT. At the campground end, there is no sign. See satellite view of the attached map. The campground office is on the north side of the highway. A house is across the street. Go right along the road from the campground store, cross it and then follow the west boundary between the lawn and woods. The blazes begin at the south east corner of the grassy area. At the AT end, there is no sign, just the blue blazes going trail west (compass south). 05/28/08
  1

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David Cullen
Rotate the street view of the map attached in the previous listing to the north to see the campground store and office. Rotate to the southeast to see the beginning of this side trail. Follow the fence line between the lawn and woods. The blazes begin at the back corner of the lawn. Coordinates at the AT are 40.0557 -77.2226 . 01/21/10
 

 

David Cullen
8.0
Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Dam parking for Pole Steeple Trail)
   Poor           Great



 
Continue South (compass west) on Pine Grove Rd. (from Mountain Creek Campground) turn left into Pine Grove Furnace State Park at the sign. Park at the dam. Across the road from the parking area is a VERY steep trail that leads to Pole Steeple viewpoint. This trail leads to the view point. Follow the blue blazed trail to the AT. Pole Steeple Trail is located off of Railroad Bed Road on the south side of Laurel Lake. There is parking there.



There are really great views here but a good many people hike/climb up to this spot from the State Park on a more direct route. There are not many views from the trail on this section of the AT so it worth the side trip to this viewpoint. GPS N40.041652 W77.267455 is for the parking lot at the dam.
10
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at @ rohland.org
It is 2.5 miles from Mountain Creek Campground to this junction. The sign mentioned above actually indicates Pine Grove State Park is to the right along Pine Grove Road. If you wish to park at the dam as suggested above keep right a short distance to the dam parking area which is on the left side of the road. (Marker on map attached above). Rotate the street view to the southeast to see the parking area.

From the other direction on Pine Grove Road, go 2.6 miles east from the intersection with PA 233 to the dam parking area, on the right.
According to the AT Guide for Pennsylvania (11th ed), it is 0.6 miles along a blue-blazed trail to the Pole Steeple viewpoint and then another 0.5 miles to the AT. Coordinates at the AT are 40.0287 -77.2664. 1/21/10 10-15



 

 

David Cullen
8.0
Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Old Railroad Bed parking for Pole Steeple Trail)
   Poor           Great



 
Go 2.5 miles south (compass west) from Mountain Creek Campground to the point where a sign says Pine Grove Furnace is to the right along Pine Grove Road. To reach this parking area go left at the intersection. The narrow gravel road follows what was an old railroad bed. A parking area specifically for the Pole Steeple Trail is on the right in 0.5 miles. From the other direction on Pine Grove Road, go 2.6 miles east from the intersection with PA 233. Just past the dam parking area, there is small sign 'Pole Steeple Parking' . Turn right here then almost immediately right again to get on the Old Railroad Bed Road. Continue 0.5 miles to the Pole Steeple parking area. The marker on the attached map indicates the position of this lot. 1/21/10 According to the AT Guide for Pennsylvania (11th ed), it is 0.6 miles along a blue-blazed trail to the Pole Steeple viewpoint and then another 0.5 miles to the AT. See previous listing (Mile 8.0) fore more details about this trail. 01/21/10 10-15 at Pole Steeple lot
  1

  1

David Cullen
9.5
Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Old Railroad Bed)
   Poor           Great




Continue South on Pine Grove Rd. (from Mountain Creek Campground) turn left into Pine Grove Furnace State Park at the sign. This is a long narrow road that is blocked off at the AT. GPS N40.03123999 W77.29038486 The "midpoint" marker of the AT between Main and Georgia is located just North of Pine Grove Furnace State Park at GPS N40.01.827 W77.17.225. The true midpoint shifts from year to year due to relocations of the trail and is currently a few miles south.

Not far beyond the midpoint (trail north) is a blue blazed trail to Pole Steeple.
4-5
  1

  1

at @ rohland.org
See Mile 8.0 for directions to the intersection of Pine Grove Road and the Old Railroad Bed Road. Follow the latter 2.1 miles to where it is gated. The markers on the map attached above indicate the parking just before the gate. The southbound AT comes in from the east along an old road. This road can clearly be seen on the satellite view of the map above. The southbound AT then turns south passes the gate and continues down the old railroad bed.
05/28/08

 

 

David Cullen
10.6
Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Hikers Parking)
   Poor           Great




Continue South on Pine Grove Rd. beyond the first park sign. Enter the park. Pine Grove Furnace does allow overnight parking with proper registration. It's really a nice section of the trail that winds thru the park. You walk past a stream and lake. 30
 

 

at @ rohland.org
From Mountain Creek Campground it is 5.1 miles to the the intersection with PA 233. Go straight and take the next left onto Bendersville Road. Pass the store (where there is space for day parking) and then take the next left onto Quarry Road in the park. Pass the old furnace to the parking lot just beyond. This is the official AT lot. A sign says that registration is required, but that may be only for overnight parking. The actual southern end of Section 13 is on PA 233 east of Bendersville Road. The B marker on the attached map indicates the approximate location. Parking is in Pine Grove State Park. On the map, the furnace is slightly to the north and west of the A marker. The AT lot is slightly to the north and east of the marker. The blue line indicates the path of the AT which follows roads to the actual southern end of Section 12. 05/28/08 20-25 in AT lot
  1

  1

David Cullen
10.7
Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Iron Masters Mansion Store)
   Poor           Great



 
See directions to the Hikers Parking Lot (Mile 10.6). The store and its parking lot are on theleft shortly after turning onto Bendersville Road. I've parked here twice, both in off season and both for day hikes. Probably overnight parking would not be wise. The green arrow on the attached map indicates the location of the parking lot. The Iron Masters Mansion, now a youth hostel, is next to the store. to reach the AT continue on the road for a few hundred feet to the next intersection. The southbound trail goes straight ahead, while the northbound trail goes to the left.

The store is famous among thru-hikers as the home of the "Half-Gallon Club". You become a member by eating a half-gallon of ice cram at one sitting. 04/18/10
10-15
  1

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David Cullen
10.9
PA 233
   Poor           Great



 
There is no parking here. Good parking available at Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Mile 10.6). Marker B on the attached map shows this point which is the north end of Section 13 and the south end of section 12. The blue line shows the route the AT follows from the parking (Marker A) to this point. The street view shows the vicinity of this point. Rotate the street view to the north to see the gravel road which the southbound trail follows. 01/21/10 0
  1

  1

David Cullen

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