Appalachian Trail #2 (PA 16 to Caledonia State Park)

The Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania covers 229 miles of trail and starts just 0.2 miles north of the Pen Mar State Park. Pennsylvania is notorious for its foot-bruising, boot-destroying rocks, and there are some fairly strenuous climbs in and out of gaps in the ridges of the Allegheny Mountains. In southern Pennsylvania, the Appalachian Trail runs for roughly 90 miles along the rugged ridgeline of South Mountain, following the state’s border with Maryland through a landscape of rocky footpaths, hardwood forests, and historic sites. This section is known for its challenging terrain, especially the ankle-twisting rocks of the quartzite ridges, but it also offers frequent viewpoints, well-maintained shelters, and access points near towns and roads. Highlights include the trail’s passage through Michaux State Forest, stops at places like Pen Mar Park and Caledonia State Park, and sweeping vistas from rocky overlooks. Rich in Civil War history and popular with both thru-hikers and day hikers, southern Pennsylvania’s stretch of the Appalachian Trail blends physical challenge with scenic and cultural interest.

This is another short section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania that heads northbound from PA 16 to Caledonia State Park at US 30. The A.T. passes a number of shelters in this area including the Antietam, Tumbling Run, and Rocky Mountain Shelters. At US 30, the Trail passes through Caledonia State Park which has a picnic area, restrooms, a public telephone, campsites, a shower, a snack area, and a pool. Pennsylvania summers are very hot and humid, and the pool was a welcome site during our thru-hike. The Thaddeus Stevens blacksmith shop is also located in the park and it has a small museum. Thaddeus Stevens was an abolitionist and owned the shop during the Civil War. The area was destroyed by Confederate troops on their way to the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.