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To reach the parking lot for this trailhead, use the following coordinates in Google Maps: 40.480835, -76.531552, or 148 Old State Road, Jonestown, PA 17038. DO NOT park on Route 72!! See Mile 20.7.
Take exit 90 of I-81 toward Fisher Ave
Turn left onto Fisher Ave
Go 0.1 mi
Turn left onto PA-72 N
Go 0.9 mi
Turn right onto Monroe Valley Rd
1.0 mi
Turn left onto Old State Rd
Go 1.7 mi
Parking lot at end of road (148 Old State Rd
Jonestown, PA 17038)
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This parking area is actually at Mile 20.6 of Section 5 hence the negative milemarker. It is being included here since it is the only parking in Swatara Gap. 04/25/17
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8
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dneily333 @ gmail.com
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The directions given in the previous listing are excellent. With the prohibition of parking along the side of PA 72 this is the only legal parking in Swatara Gap. The marker on the attached map indicate the location of the parking area. Cars can be seen parked there in the satellite view.
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The southbound trail goes left (west) near the north end of the parking area and crosses the Old Waterville Bridge before reaching the crossing of PA 72. The northbound trail goes south along Old State Road. After crossing under I-81, the AT goes left off the road. 08/30/19
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David Cullen
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June 2020 using the geocoords for the Swatara Gap parking area, our GPS wanted to take us across a currently nonexistent bridge from PA 72 There are step by step directions above that work fine BUT we also found that typing in the address from a nearby church 169 Valley Dr Fredericksburg PA 17026 got us on the right side of the water and we were able to then proceed straight several miles down the road using the geocoords to the parking area And FYI there was construction on what appeared to be a new vehicle bridge that may make crossing over the water from PA 72 easier in the future 06/04/20
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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The AT crosses or comes to PA RT 443.
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There is Bayshore Boy Scout Camp a mile or so Southeast of that crossing that may allow overnight parking.
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MarkovicPL @ aol.com
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From I81 old exit number 30, go east on Lickdale Road to Route 72 North. We believe that our AT guide book refers to this as SR1001. Continue past the point where the AT crosses Route 72 for approximately 1-2 miles. Turn left on Route 443. The parking is immediately on your left.
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GPS: N 40.28.913 W 076.33.044 This is a fairly large parking area with no overnight parking. There are no overlooks on this part of the trail going south. The creek is pretty at the spot where Rausch Gap Village was located in the early 1900's. (10/17/2004)
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10
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at @ rohland.org
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Here is an updated and more detailed version of the above directions. Take Exit 90 off I-81. Go east on Fisher Aveneue for about 0.3 miles to PA 72. Go left on that for 3.5 miles to PA 443. Go left on PA 443 to the parking area on the left.
Alternatively if coming from the north, take Exit 100 off I-81 and go west on Suedberg Road (PA 443). This eventually swings to the southwest and meets PA 72 in 8 miles. Turn right here. The lot will be on the left.
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The green arrow on the attached map marks the parking area. It can be seen on the south side of the road in the satellite view. Rotate the street view to the southwest to see the parking lot. The northbound trail crosses the lot, goes east on the road for a short distance then goes left. (north). Rotate the street view to the north to see the northbound trail. This parallels Route 443 for a short distance before crossing under the road via a pedestrian tunnel. This can be seen at the top center of the satellite view. Note: The position of the Appalachian Trail shown on the map is totally erroneous. 02/07/10
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David Cullen
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An update on whether overnight parking is allowed here or not. There is a signboard in the eparking area that states that Swatara State Park is open during daylight hours only. However next to that is a sign that says that if hikers have overnight plans, they should call the rangers at Memorial Lake State Park who apparently also administer this park. Apparently then overnight parking is allowed if the rangers are notified. 11/24/10
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David Cullen
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I parked here and saw the sign , so I called the number. I got voice mail so left my details on the machine. No issues . 07/28/22
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john.mcmccabe @ gmail.com
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See previous listing (Mile 1.4) for directions to the intersection of PA 443 and PA 72. There is a fairly large gravel pull off on the east side of the road. The satellite view shows a car parked there. Rotate the street view to the northeast to see this pull-off.
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Walk west along PA 443 a short distance to intersect the AT. The northbound AT goes right (north). The southbound continues west along the road for a short distance then turns left into the hikers parking lot. Note: The position of the Appalachian Trail shown on the map is totally erroneous. 02/08/10
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4-5
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David Cullen
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To reach the trail crossing of Greenpoint Schoolhouse Road, go west on PA 443 from its intersection with PA 72. See Mile 1.4. In 0.2 miles, go right on Greenpoint Schoolhouse Road. Go 0.8 miles to where the road comes close to PA 443, which is to the right. There is a parking pull-off for 2-3 cars on the right.
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The southbound trail crosses PA 443 (no parking), the goes through a thin strip of woods to Greenpoint Schoolhouse Road. It crosses the road and continues on towards St. Anthonys Wilderness. The street view on the attached map is actually from the vantage point of PA 443. Rotate to the southeast to see the northbound. The view to the northeast shows the southbound trail. Greenpoint Schoolhouse Road can be seen in the background. 07/02/10
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2-3
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David Cullen
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There is a PA State Game Lands parking area just off Gold Mine road.
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This is about a 3 mile hike from that parking area to the AT along the service road.
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MarkovicPL @ aol.com
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From the intersection of PA 72 and PA 443 (See Mile 1.4), go north on PA 443. This swings to the east. In 2.1 miles go left on Gold Mine Road. Proceed another 2.8 miles to the intersection with a Gamelands Commision Service Road, formerly the road bed of the Stony Valley Railroad. This is at the the low point in the valley between two ridges. There is a large 'Welcome to Gamelands"'sign. If one zooms in on the area around Marker B on the attached map, a parking area can clearly be seen on the right side of the highway. This could hold 10-12 cars. However more extensive parking is available on the other side of Gold Mine Road. The service road is open to vehicles for approximately 0.2 miles, then it is gated. There is ample parking on the north side .
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From the parking area on Gold Mine Road (marker B) follow the orange blazed service road southwest 3.5 miles to its intersection with the AT (Marker A). The blue line shows the route. At the AT intersection the northbound AT goes left (south), the southbound continues straight ahead on the railroad grade. 02/06/10
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Ample
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David Cullen
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From the north take Exit 107 off I-81. Go west for 6 miles on US 209 to the intersection with PA 325 in the the town of Tower City. Go left on PA 325 for about 1.5 miles to the intersection with Gold Mine Road. Go left on that for about 4 miles to the intersection with the service road.
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11/24/10
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Ample
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David Cullen
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See Mile 8.5 for information about parking on Cold Spring Road.
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Assuming one has made it to the Gamelands Parking area (Marker B on the attached map) continue on the extension of the road which is now the Cold Spring Trail. In 0.2-0.3 miles this intersects with the old railroad bed which is now a Gamelands service road. This is orange-blazed. Go right on the service road for 2.5 miles northwest to the AT in Rausch Gap. The A marker indicates the approximate location. The blue line on the map shows this access route. Here the southbound trail goes left (north) while the northbound trail goes straight ahead on the railroad grade. 02/07/10
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David Cullen
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From the intersection of Route 72 and Moonshine Road (PA 443) at Swatara State Park (See Mile 1.4) , take Moonshine Road south-west for 2.7 miles. Bear right onto Tomstown Road. Go 1.8 miles west an then turn right (north) onto Cold Spring Road. Shortly after you pass closed Hotel Road on your left in an additional 1.6 miles, Cold Spring Road becomes very rough. I would advise a four-wheel drive vehicle from this point on. In another mile there is a Gamelands parking lot.
From Exit 90 on I81, take Fisher Ave Southwest for about 3 miles then bear right on Clement Avenue. In about a mile go right on Asher Miner Road (PA 443). In another mile turn left onto what the Google map calls Ammo Road. Go 0.5 miles and bear right. In another 0.5 miles go right again on Cold Spring Road. Continue 1.7 miles to the Hotel Road intersection and 2.7 miles to the parking area.
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We had our motorhome and could not get up the rough road. There is an area right before the road becomes real rough that you can park. This adds about an additional .9 mile hike to the AT. There is a gamelands parking lot on the right by Stony Creek. There are a couple of orange and blue blazed trails in the area that, combined with part of the AT, provide several different loop hikes. The green arrow on the attached map indicates the Gamelands parking area. 2/6/10.
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15+
At the gamelands parking lot
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at @ rohland.org
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Another route that may be more convenient from the south and west than those given above is to take Fisher Avenue north from Exit 85 on I-81. Go 0.8 miles, then go left on Asher Miner Road. This eventually becomes PA 443. In 2.2 miles turn left onto what the Google map calls Ammo Road. Go 0.5 miles and bear right. In another 0.5 miles go right again on Cold Spring Road. Continue 1.7 miles to the Hotel Road intersection and 2.7 miles to the parking area.
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The Cold Spring Trail goes north climbing to meet the AT in 0.9 miles. At the intersection, the southbound At goes left (west), the northbound goes right (east). Coordinates at the intersection are 40.48645 -76.6362. 02/05/10
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David Cullen
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June 2020 The road leading to this parking lot has been redone and had not a single pothole or protrusion requiring a high clearance vehicle We easily made it in our mini van The Cold Springs Trail is well marked and so much an easier climbing access than the Sand Spring Trail which goes up the opposite side of the mountain and lands you at about the same access point to the AT 06/04/20
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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We used the Cold Spring Trail to access the AT on Saturday March 27th 2021. GPS 40.477484,-76.626305 Paved road for most of the way. About 1.3 miles and just past barrier road become rough with some pot holes. My Subaru Forester and my friends RAV 4 handled the road well. Large parking area. About 600 foot climb with lots of stone steps to AT. About 8/10ths of a mile according to my Garmin inReach. Sign at AT says 1 mile 03/29/21
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At least 8 to 10
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grandpaharveydennenberg @ yahoo.com
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See previous listing for directions and a discussion of this alternative parking on Cold Spring Road.
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The green arrow on the attached map indicates the intersection of Hotel Road and Cold Spring Road. Walk north 0.9 -1.0 miles to the regular Gamelands parking lot. GPS N40.465961 W76.629764 02/05/10
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8-10 where road gets rough
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at @ rohland.org
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Take Exit 67B off I-81 north of Harrisburg. This is just east of the Susquehanna River. Go north for 6 miles to the intersection with PA 225 near Dauphin. Turn right on PA 225 and go 2 miles to the intersection with PA 325. Go right on PA 325 for 17.3 miles to a small dirt parking area on the right. This is shortly after passing De Hart Reservoir.
Alternatively take Exit 107 off I-81. Go west for 6 miles on US 209 to the intersection with PA 325 in the the town of Tower City. Go left on PA 325 for 8.8 miles to the parking area on the left. GPS N40.5026 W76.65375
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Rotate the street view on the attached map to the north see the parking area. The blue-blazed Sand Spring Trail, a SIDE TRAIL, climbs to the south for 1.7 miles to meet the AT. At the intersection the northbound AT goes left (east), the southbound goes right (west). Coordinates at the AT are 40.48606 -76.63626 . 02/05/10
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4-5
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David Cullen
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see directions given above. Beware: There is no sign stating Sand Spring trail. At this trailhead, the trees have a double blue-blaze.
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Be prepared to ford a stream within 0.2 mi of the parking area. The water is about 2-3 feet deep. The distance across is about 20 feet. There are rocks to step across, but the water was flowing over them on the day I wanted to attempt this route. As a result, I could not take the Sand Spring Trail. - 6/26/2012 06/27/12
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1-2
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polyengr @ aol.com
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I honestly don't know why anyone would consider this access trail unless the forest road access to Cold Spring Trail is closed off It is a VERY steep up and down, scrambling down washes, and rock scrambling. The stream crossing has only boulders that for the most part are under water so are very slippery The Trail itself was well marked We chose this access originally because of the notes in Rohland that indicated the access road to Cold Spring Trail was closed for construction After our grueling experience on this trail I checked on social media and found the Cold Spring Trail access road had been repaired So we accessed that for our next time and it was a much nicer experience I am including pictures that show the pull off area has been improved with rock gravel so it is not a muddy area anymore Also note that though there is no trailhead sign, the area is fairly well marked with blue blazes AND a giant B carved into a tree 06/04/20
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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from Harrisburg:Take US 22/322 north to PA 225 North. Turn right on 325 East. Got about 9-10 miles. Parking is on the right.
From Swatara SP:From the intersection of PA 443 and PA 72 ( See Mile 1.4) take PA 443 east for 2 miles. Turn left on Gold Mine Road. Go 7 miles and turn left on PA 325. Go about 15 miles on 325 past the Dehart Reservoir. Parking is on the left.
From I81: Take Exit 67B. This is just east of the Susquehanna River. Go north for 6 miles to the intersection with PA 225 near Dauphin. Turn right on PA 225 and go 2 miles to the intersection with PA 325. Go right on PA 325 for 10 miles to the entrance to the parking area on the right.
Alternatively take Exit 107. Go west for 6 miles on US 209 to the intersection with PA 325 in the the town of Tower City. Go left on PA 325 for 16 miles to the entrance to the parking area on the left.
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From the editor: The following is a consolidation of information pre 2010. Please send updates validating the information or provide any updates to information that is no longer valid: The AT crosses PA RT 325 (State Game Land/SGL 211) some 20 miles Northeast of Harrisburg. The parking area is off the road and not visible from 325. It is a large parking area which can accommodate at least 20 cars and even an RV. It is fairly large and popular with fishermen and is heavily used during hunting season 09/30/20
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20 or more
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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Great gravel lot off the road. Plenty of parking 10/01/20
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Jlhawkes @ gmail.com
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