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Section 9 - Susquehanna River to PA 944 Displayed from North to South

Maintained by:
  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
  Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club http://cvatclub.org cvatclub @ gmail.com Darlington Trail/Tuscarora Trail to Center Point Knob

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Mile
Marker
 
Hiker Rated
Parking Safety
Directions Comments Number of Vehicles  Map   &  
 Weather  
Source
0.0
W. Clarks Ferry Bridge
   Poor           Great



 
The official south end of Section 8 and north end of Section 9 is at the west end of the Clarks Ferry Bridge which carries US 22/322 over the Susquehanna River. The marker on the attached map indicates the intersection of US22/232 and Juniata Avenue. GPS:N40.4024 W77.0106 The street view to the south from this point shows the northbound trail to Section 8 which follows a pedestrian walkway over the bridge. The west street view shows the southbound route to Section 9. The trail initially follows Juniata Road (PA 849). Parking appears to be minimal at best in this immediate area. According to the AT Guide to PA, parking is possible on the streets of Duncannon, although I don't imagine overnight parking would be wise. See miles 1.7, 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4. for details on parking in the Duncannon area on the west side of the Susquehanna River. The lot at Mile 2.3 is the preferred hiker parking area. 02/02/10 Probably 0 right here
  1

 

David Cullen
Best for parking is the East side of Bridge I would not park here. It seemed like the parking lot for the Base Camp Outfitters. (Spring '17) 07/02/20 DROP OFF ONLY! 0
 

  1

blue-carolina @ hotmail.com
1.7
Duncannon
   Poor           Great




There is a municipal parking lot by the old railroad section and a ball field. The intersection of Market St. and Cumberland St. is where the northbound AT goes left off Market onto Cumberland. (This is a short block south of the Doyle Hotel). To reach the parking lot, go east on Cumberland St. at this intersection (right if going north on Market). In one block go right again for a short distance to the parking area on the left. The marker on the attached map indicate the position of the lot. The Duncannon municipal authorities recommend that you park on the side closest to the train station because there is a ball field on the other side and vehicles have been struck by errant baseballs and damaged. 04/21/12 Revised by editor 08/22/19 Ample
 

 

pjwetzel @ gmail.com
The marker on the attached map indicates the lot. GPS: N40.3890 W77.0301 Rotate the street view from this point from north to east to south to see the lot. I am not entirely sure of the status of this municipal lot. While some people have parked there with no problems (see Parking Safety ratings), I have one report from a hiker who was told by police that cars would be towed. I have checked the Duncannon Parking Regulations and the only relevant rule is that cars may not be parked more than 24 hours except on Sundays and Holidays.There is a sign to this effect at the lot. See Pictures for this section (9). There is now a hiker's parking lot south of town just across from where the southbound trail leaves the road and starts to climb Cove Mountain. See Mile 2.3. 08/22/19
  1

  1

David Cullen
2.1
Shermans Creek
   Poor           Great




In the town of Duncannon take Market St. out of town going under the Routes11 and 15 bridge, take the first left turn on the old road past several businesses. After crossing Sherman's Creek bridge, make the first right at Little Boston Rd. Take the next right at Watershed. At the end of the road there is parking. The marker on the attached map indicates this point. GPS N40.3829 W77.0321 This parking area is now called the Hawk Rock Trailhead. There a huge sign at the trailhead saying Duncannon Borough Watershed--Hawk Rock Overlook. As you can see from the Google map link, there's space for at least nine cars on the north side of the lot. The south side was covered in chopped-down brush, vines, etc. when I was there, but looking again on the map, there obviously has been space to park there in the past, and if that was cleared away, i'd guess that you could get as many cars on that side as well. I did not see any signs forbidding long-term parking, although I'd probably do the lot at 2.3 first if there was space there. Do not block the two gates for the recycling center or the access road to the watershed. Note: if you're just doing a quick trip up to Hawk Rock, or if you're a non-purist long-distance hiker, the trail from this lot is a shorter way up the mountain than the official route, and also avoids an unnecessary up-and-down. 07/28/18 Revised by editor 08/22/19 9-18 (See comments)
  1

  1

davidperry1980 @ verizon.net
Parking at Mile 2.1 is the Hawk Rock parking area. Trail intersects the AT in about 1/3 mile. The watershed has an agreement with the Nature Conservancy and the parking area will be further developed for access to other watershed property and the recycling center moved. 08/19/19
 

 

jmw0149 @ hotmail.com
2.3
Hiker Parking Lot
   Poor           Great




Directions off of US 11&15 northbound are as follows: Exit off 11/15 onto Duncannon exit. At bottom of exit, turn left. This is South Main St. Proceed 1/2 mile to parking area on the left. Somewhere the street name changes to Inn Road. This new parking area is just across from the point where the southbound trail leaves Inn Road and starts to climb towards Cove Mountain. The northbound trail follows Inn Road towards downtown Duncannon. The red marker on the attached map indicates this point. GPS N40.3815 W 77.0293 There are photos of this lot and the area around it in the Pictures for this section (9). This information was supplied my Michael Gelinas of Michael's Shuttle Service. 08/25/17 6-8
  1

  1

David Cullen
Parking lot is actually on the left as you go south on Inn Road. There are no signs forbidding long-term parking here, and the bulletin board has ads for the Appalachian Long-Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA), so it looks like it's OK to leave the car here overnight. This is the first place I would look for long-term parking on the Duncannon side of the river. 07/28/18 Editor's Note: It has been confirmed that long-term parking is allowed here. 08/22/19 7-8
 

 

davidperry1980 @ verizon.net
2.4
Bar Overflow Lot
   Poor           Great




See directions for Miles 2.1 or 2.3. Continue to the end of Inn Road. There is a dirt parking area on the west side. This formerly was an overflow parking area for a bar on the other side of the street. However this burned down in 2017 and the building has been removed. The marker indicates the position of the lot. GPS: N40.3807 W77.0284 The actual trail crossing is about 0.1 miles north on Inn Road across from the hiker parking area at Mile 2.3. Before the completion of that lot, hikers had used this area for parking for years. Now it would be an overflow option at best, but see Comments. The following comments from davidperry1980 @ verizon.net which were submitted on 7/28/18 should be helpful. "The paved space on the east side of Inn Road, next to the freeway, is posted with No Trespassing signs. The gravel spaces against the hill on the west side are still there, and are not explicitly marked no parking. One could also park at the very end of the road. However, with the lots at Miles 2.1 and 2.3 now available, I think one would be taking an unneeded chance parking here." 08/23/19 10-15
  1

  1

David Cullen
10.3
PA 850 (AT Parking Lot)
   Poor           Great




Take PA 34 north from Carlisle to top of mountain (Sterretts Gap). Take round-about to 2nd exit, Mountain road. Go 2.4 miles to PA 850. Go right for 2.1 miles where there is a small parking lot on the right hand side just before the AT crosses Route 850. The marker on the attached map indicates the entrance to the lot. GPS:N40.32195 W77.07825 The south street view from this point shows the lot. There are also photos in the Pictures for this section (9). About 0.4 miles past the AT crossing, there is a larger parking lot (See Eastern Parking lot below). Walk east along the road to the trail crossing. The northbound trail goes left (north) while the southbound goes right(south). The trail on both sides of Route 850 traverses hilly meadows and then enters the woods with steep climbs. South of 850 there is Darlington shelter. South of the shelter there is a rock bench with nice view. Updated 08/24/19 6 in AT lot
  1

  1

at @ rohland.org
Exit 65 from I-81, just west of bridge over Susquehanna River at Harrisburg. Go north on US Hiway 15 towards Marysville. Go 2.4 miles. At this town, turn left (west) on PA Hiway 850. In 8.3 miles, just after you pass Keystone Village (with its animal hospital) there is a small parking lot just west of where the AT crosses Hiway 850, on the south side of the road. The parking lot has a large, covered bulletin board with AT info. The lot has no shade. The trail is just east of this lot. The marker on the map attached here indicates the trail crossing. GPS: N40.32195 W77.07745 Rotate the street view to the north to see the northbound trail and to the south to see the southbound trail. There is a larger lot about a half mile east of this one. 10/23/07 Updated:08/24/29 4-6
  1

 

MalteseCross @ comcast.Net
10.3
PA 850 (Eastern Parking Lot)
   Poor           Great



 
See directions to the AT parking lot (Mile 10.3 above). This lot is 0.4 miles east of that on PA 850. It is on the south side of the road. That would make it 2.1 miles east of the intersection of PA 850 and Mountain Road and 7.9 miles west of the intersection of US 15 and PA 850 in Marysville. The marker on the attached map indicates the entrance to the lot. GPS: N40.3229 W77.0709 The south street view from this point shows the lot. There are also a photo in the Pictures for this section (9). This lot is further from the AT than the official AT lot but is bigger. To reach the trail walk west along the road about 0.3 miles to the crossing. Here the northbound trail goes right (north) while the southbound goes left (south). 01/31/10 Updated: 08/24/19 8-10
  1

  1

David Cullen
10.3
PA 850 (Gamelands Parking Lot)
   Poor           Great



 
See directions to the AT parking lot (Mile 10.3). The road to the Gamelands Parking lot is on the north side of PA 850 a short distance to the west of the AT lot. There are two closely spaced dirt roads going north from PA 850. Follow the more easterly (closer to the AT lot) narrow dirt road about 0.4 miles to the parking area. There is a "Use at your own risk" sign. and another sign indicating the lot is only seasonally open. According to jmw0149 @ hotmail.com, the lot opens 30 days before hunting season and closes afterwards. The marker on the attached map here is at the entrance to this Gamelands parking area. GPS:N40.3220 W77.0788 The street view to the north from this point shows the entrance road. I have not visited this particular lot, but from the satellite the parking appears to be ample. I don't think there is a direct connection to the AT so one must hike the 0.4 miles back to the highway, then go east to the trail crossing. The GPS coordinates of the lot itself are N40.3270 W77.0782 See the following for a map with the marker set at the lot: https://goo.gl/maps/NhdwG863L5DRG5ap7 01/31/10 Revised 08/24/19 Ample if it is open.
  1

  1

David Cullen
10.7
Millers Gap Road
   Poor           Great



 
The intersection of Millers Gap Road and PA 850 is 0.2 miles west of the AT parking lot on PA 850. This would make it 8.5 miles from Marysville and 2.2 miles from the intersection of Mountain Road and PA 850. Follow Millers Gap Road south for 0.2 miles to the trail crossing. The marker on the attached map indicates this point. GPS:N40.3190 W77.0810 As can be seen from the street map, the road is narrow with no shoulder, so parking is impractical AI suppose one could pull off on the grassy shoulder for a quick drop off. Rotate the street view from the point of the marker to the north to see the northbound trail going off to the right.. Rotate it to the south to see the southbound trail (by the sign on the right side of the view). 01/31/10 Updated: 08/24/19 0
  1

  1

David Cullen
12.7
Tuscarora Trail
   Poor           Great



 

 

 

12.7
Darlington Trail
   Poor           Great



 
Directions to Miller Gap Trailhead of Darlington Trail:The intersection of Millers Gap Road and PA 850 is 0.2 miles west of the AT parking lot on PA 850. This would make it 8.5 miles from Marysville and 2.2 miles from the intersection of Mountain Road and PA 850. Follow Millers Gap Road south for 1.8 miles to the top of the ridge. There is a large dirt parking lot on the right.
From the south: Take Exit 57 off I-81 and go north on PA 114 for 1.3 miles to PA 944. Go right (east) here for 0.3 miles then go left (north) on Millers Gap Road. In 0.2 miles go left to stay on Millers Gap Road. Continue another 1.8 miles to the dirt parking lot on the left. The marker indicates the parking area. The west and south street views from this point shows the lot.
The Darlington Trail is an orange blazed SIDE trail. The trail actually starts further east so this is an intermediate access point for that trail. The trail crossing of Millers Gap Road is 150 feet north of the parking lot. Go west for 1.5 miles more or less along the crest of the ridge to meet the AT. This is the western terminus of the Darlington Trail. On the other side of the AT the blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail begins. Northbound AT is to the right, southbound is to the left. The trail to the Darlington Shelter is a short distance to the north on the AT. Coordinates at the AT are N40.3008 -W7.0889. I have seen the trailhead but have not hiked the trail. Much of the information here is from: https://web.archive.org/web/20070225213219/http://www.satc-hike.org/darlmap.pdf 01/31/10 Updated 08/24/19 10-15
  1

  1

David Cullen
14.7
PA 944
   Poor           Great




The AT passes under PA 944 (Wertzville Road) via a pedestrian tunnel. This is 4.3 miles east of the intersection of PA 944 and PA 34 and 2.3 miles west of the intersection of PA 944 and PA 114. The marker on the attached map indicates this point. GPS: N40.2844 W77.0938 There are crowd paths which will allow access to the trail from the road. From here the northbound trail goes north towards Section 9. The southbound trail goes south towards Section 10. The current AT Guide to PA (12th ed., 2012) states that there is no parking here and there are many no parking signs along PA 944. The shoulder is not safe. The nearby business does not permit parking in his lot. Some older guides say there is limited parking along Deer Lane, the first road to the east. Anyone tempted to park on Deer Run should consider this 2010 statement from the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club and avoid parking there.. "There is NO parking on PA 944. There is a very limited space for parking on Deer Lane, and we do not recommend parking there. You can't get your car completely off the road. You are much better off parking 1 mile south at Sherwood Drive." See Mile 0.9 of Section 10 for details about this parking. 1/30/10 Updated 08/25/19 0
  1

  1

David Cullen

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