Location: Rocky Run Shelter (412.9 miles) Tags: Appalachian Trail, Maryland, Tuscarora Trail The penultimate day of hiking on my Tuscarora-Appalachian Trail loop brought me a day of great weather and views. There are some nice views on both sides of Great North Mountain from the ridge just before arriving at Gerhard Shelter. The rest of the trail in the state is either paved or gravel road. We've hiked all around this particular loop but hadn't hiked this loop as described here, though we've done bits of it on other hikes. Tuscarora Trail Info: https://www.hikethetuscarora.org/Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAEjJfJjG43FBo_nLIbZoA?sub_confirmation=10:00 | Introduction0:58 | Trail Sign Correction1:23 | Charlie Irvin Shelter3:26 | PrivyGear I used in this video and use on my other hikes - As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases:AquaMira Drops: https://amzn.to/2TehA6EEsbit 14g Tablets: https://amzn.to/2WcBCjqEsbit 4g Tablets: https://amzn.to/38Msvc1Katadyn BeFree 0.6L Water Filter: https://amzn.to/34sttuZSawyer Squeeze Water Filter: https://amzn.to/3a2N9GsTOAKS Light Titanium 550ml Pot (Ultralight Version): https://amzn.to/2PWHadZTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress: https://amzn.to/2YuRyMUTherm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite Women's Ultralight Mattress: https://amzn.to/2YrxXNXTherm-a-Rest Z Seat: https://amzn.to/2sPoWSTSea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow: https://amzn.to/2RzPHFhLEKI Corklite Trekking Poles: https://amzn.to/2Lz0OdQVictorinox Swiss Army Signature Pocket Knife: https://amzn.to/3jt6PabBRS-3000T Stove: https://amzn.to/2YrxnQhOlicamp XTS Pot: https://amzn.to/2Lz0USKBulin BL300-F2: https://amzn.to/2rq5WtVMantles: https://amzn.to/2RwkdQwHillsound Trail Crampon Traction Device: https://amzn.to/3aJ9rgXSealSkinz Waterproof Hiking Sock: https://amzn.to/2OZLEAwAltra Lone Peak 3.0: https://amzn.to/2RqGqPkMy camera gear:Canon M50 Camera: https://amzn.to/341QKQMLens Polarizer Kit: https://amzn.to/2Ys0yCJSIRUI 3T-35 Video Tripod (best camera selfie stick): https://amzn.to/2LA4Na6#nosmallcreator #AppalachianTrail #nosectionleftbehind This is not on the white trail leading down. This should not be surprising, since it spends a lot of time on the top of mountain ridges. Lean-to Shelter Camping - Tuscarora Trail | Sintax77 In full sun at the overlook, I was comfortable. Devils Nose and Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter via Tuscarora Trail You should verify critical information such as directions, park hours, gate closings, blaze colors and specific regulations (pet policies, firearm/hunting regulations, etc.) Pennsylvania, though, had very uneven maintenance; some areas were very well maintained, while others were very poorly kept. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. You drive up and up and up to reach Timber Ridge Trail. Photos from previous days were youll uploaded but you have to go to the bottom of each days post to see that days photos. The first time I went to "scout" the area to see if it would be a good trip for my wife's second ever backpacking trip. New Boots - patc.net The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Camping is limited to one night without a permit. We were hiking right after seven. Highlights: Pinnacle overlook, Laurel Run Falls Access: The trail can be accessed from the northern terminus of section 15: US Route 50, limited shoulder parking (39.268, -78.314). PATC Map L, Guide to the South Half of the Tuscarora Trail. Ridge was not clearly marked to Gerhard Shelter. Trail conditions day 1 More day 1 trail. View of Route, Stay right on the now yellow blazed trail, http://www.meetup.com/CharityHikers/calendar/13157584/, http://hiking.meetup.com/162/calendar/13157640/, View all 12 archived reviews for the Gerhard Shelter hike, 5.5 hours Trail conditions and routes may be subject to frequent and unannounced change. When I thru-hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail in 2018, I came away with the impression that it made a quite reasonable alternate to the Appalachian Trail. Some great views some very long walks down a fire road and always fun to see a well maintained shelter. Trail conditions and routes may be subject to frequent and unannounced change. Most likely, Covid restrictions in the first half of 2020 caused the shortfall of maintenance in Pennsylvania. Reservations can be made online at the Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Reservation website at any time, or by calling 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday through Saturday, 7:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. I will go back and startearlier on a better day - the trail was worth it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And this is part of the BMTs charm. The overall distance does make it long, but the ascent is not overly high or steep. As you come to the end of the grey FS road on the HU map, you'll cross onto a dirt road and will see a clear trail to the right, now marked with white ribbon all the way to the yellow blazed trail. On a cold, drizzly December Saturday before Christmas, after a week of rain and wintry mix, I got a late start and left my rain and head gear at home -- what was I thinking? Foliage/Fauna: I saw no animals. Highlights: Pinnacleoverlook, Laurel Run Falls. There's at least 47 miles of paved roadwalk on the Tuscarora (almost a fifth of its total length), including a 14 mile stretch in West Virginia, some of which had very narrow shoulders. The switchbacked section was sometimes obscured by a layer of leaves, but otherwise the trail was very easy to follow, even the unmarked connector trail towards the end of the loop. Youll find the hiking trail is mostly dirt and rocks, often way more rocks. Established in the 1960's as an alternate route for the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Tuscarora Trail is a 250-mile long trail through the Ridge and Valley Appalachians of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It was a bit cold this morning, but not terribly so. At Pinnacle Camp, youll find a flat and well-shaded area thats just right for pitching a tent and creating a campfire. Day 3 Gross Descent: 893, Day 3 Elevation Profile Gerhard Shelter Tuscarora Trail Backpacking Trip 2022 Sintax77, Total Trail Mileage: 9.8 Miles Difficultly: The stated difficultly is 4. We had trouble finding the trail head at first but after backtracking 0.8 miles (per directions) from the last point, we found it. The Great Eastern Trail is roughly 1600 miles long, a consists of a patchwork of other trails and roadwalks that will eventually stretch from the northern terminus of the Florida Trail, to the North Country Trail. Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest include: Bird Run Trail, Ellisic Trail, Allen Trail, Cove Trail, Sharpe Trail, Fox Trail Wagner Trail, Horseshoe Trail. I did note in other comments that some have camped this one, and at the shelter it appeared you definitely could, and with the spring/stream not far it would be an ok place. The wildflowers were in full bloom all along the way and it gave me and my dog some space to move. Being out of hiking shape (and with it hot and high humidity), the Roller Coaster section of West Virginia was brutal. At the 3.5-mile mark, stay left for the white-blazed Laurel Run Trail. There is evidently a trail leading from the shelter to an outhouse. There was remnants of a snow dusting on the ridgeline. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. Please respect the landowner's decision. It was a little after eleven when we finished lunch and started up. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 8:25 pm. Much of the ridge and fire roads are jog-able, as is part of the ascent (most if your in a little better shape than I am). Turn right when it does. We maintain twelve hiking shelters (and the privys!) Use tab to navigate through the menu items. I'll review the standard route. Advisory: Exercise caution in the Tuscarora State Forest during hunting season. This is a beautiful shelter and the trail, although rocky, appears well maintained on this tiny section I hiked. In addition to funding this website, part of the REI grant has been used by PATC volunteers to design and purchase hundreds of new full-color directional signs that will guide hikers through the entire 250 miles. Dont forget, the last mile is nearly all uphill until the end. Tuscarora - County Line Trail (Forest TR #1013.1) Access:The trail can be accessed from both the northern and southern termini of section 10: Little Tonoloway Day Use Area (39.698,-78.182), Little Pool C&O Canal Parking (39.684,-78.104), Camping: Licking Creek Campground (39.651, -78.048), Little Pool Campground (39.685, -78.113), 2017by PATC. Grand Total Gross Elevation Gain: 1,901. These signs are now fullyinstalled. Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest and Cowans Gap State Park include: Standing Stone Trail, Geyer Trail, Logslide Trail, Richmond Trail, Fore Trail, Lincoln Trail. Access: The trail can be accessed by road from both the northern and southern termini of section 6: Parking at Cowans Gap State Park (39.999,-77.921), Limited shoulder parking onFannettsburg Road (40.061, -77.864), Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest include:Bird Run Trail, Ellisic Trail, Allen Trail, Cove Trail, Sharpe Trail, Fox Trail Wagner Trail, Horseshoe Trail,StandingStone Trail. Re-trace your steps to the Biby Wilderness Trail, then turn left to continue along the switchback trail until you reach the Tuscarora Trail. Admittedly, I keep on the move to keep my heart rate up, so I am not too focused on smelling the roses, that being noted, I would place this one at a 3, instead of a four, except that the trail does go along the ridge for a good mile, more if you walk some from the trail, and views can be had on both sides of the mountain as you go along the ridge for a nice distance. I had seen on the map it spelled as Bird Run (trail) though, so I wasn't sure of the correct spelling. Roadwalks do have the benefit that its generally easy to keep a fast pace, but they are typically also quite boring, and pavement and asphalt are much harder on the legs and knees than dirt. I had spotty ATT cell service on the hike. Follow the ridge for 1.0 miles and arrive at Gerhard Shelter. Information on this site is presented with intent to be as accurate as possible at the time of posting, but it is provided as is and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. Chincoteague Island: A Relaxing Hike on the Woodland & Bivalve Trails, Massanutten Hiking Trails: Massanutten Ridge & Kaylors Knob in McGaheysville, Virginia, Mountain Lake Lodge: 3 Scenic Hikes for Dirty Dancing Fans in Pembroke, Virginia, Strickler Knob: An Eye-Pleasing Rock Scramble Hike Near Luray, Virginia, Mostly dirt and rock trails, some grass and rock scrambles. White blaze downhill after the Shelter was steep, and pressure on the knees. Turn right on the blue blazed trail. Exercise caution in SGL #124 during hunting season. A hiking destination in its own right, the Tuscarora Trail leaves the AT near Mathews Arm Campground in Shenandoah National Park making its way west and north to rejoin the AT atop Blue Mountain, 10 miles south of Duncannon, Pa. Coupling the experience of remote wilderness, green pastures, small towns, rugged tread-way and country back roads, the Tuscarora offers a truly unique hiking adventure. Advisory: Trail follows easements on private property, stay on trail at all times, no camping. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You will quickly enter the woods and will be in nearly full shade for the majority of the hike. 3 days of Backpacking and Hammock Camping on Virginias Tuscarora Trail. What the Tuscarora lacks, though, is campsites. To detour this section, please consult the, The Tuscarora Trail 60th Anniversary Challenge, In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Tuscarora Trail, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is hosting the TT60Challenge. This is the Doll Ridge section from Three Top Mountain to Riverview Drive. Shockeys Knob Shelter in West Virginia had some of the most difficult to collect water I've ever collected, and it smelled so bad that I had to filter it three times before it seemed edible. It will have some family genealogy information as well as my travel journals. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. At this point the trail is a closed forestry road (FS) that slowly climbs the side of the mountain for 0.8 miles before the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail makes a sharp right, and the FS road continues straight. Tuscarora Trail I'm in the early planning stages to hike the Northern section of the Tuscarora Trail (Darlington Shelter to Hancock, MD) in May 2012. Another bear pole so we are getting spoiled. It is worth doing, please don't take my points as negative, simply trying to round out my opinion. The blue blazes are really light at the parking spot. You should verify critical information such as directions, park hours, gate closings, blaze colors and specific regulations (pet policies, firearm/hunting regulations, etc.) We realized it about 2 miles in but decided to keep going. It connects to the Appalachian Trail at both its . Tuscarora Trail - WhiteBlaze The BMT aims at being a more wild experience than the AT, and this partly manifests by the BMT having few campsites and only two shelters (one of which seemed placed explicitly to compensate for a lengthy no-camping zone). Views: I agree with the stated rating (4). Day 6: The Shelter That Has Everything | Tuscarora Trail, 2020 It does not store any personal data. Please contact John Stacy [email protected] any questions. Max Elevation: 1950ft. Min Elevation: 790 ft. Begin by turning left uphill on the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail passing a closed gate. This is a popular trail for birding, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. I enjoyed the yellow blazed trail on the FS road a lot. Weather: Thereabouts low 30s on the day of. . Bob and I put on our camp sandals to cross stopping on the other side to put our hiking shoes back on. Max Elevation:2400 ft. Min Elevation: 790 ft. Turn left here for a rock scramble and a mountain view. The Tuscarora is a somewhat dry trail. Recommend repainting the blue blazes. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Lesson learned. Links: PA State Game Lands,PATC Cabins Rentals, PATC Maps K and L, Guide to the North Half of the Tuscarora Trail, Max Elevation: 395 ft. Min Elevation: 415 ft, Highlights: C&O Canal NHP Visitor Center, Little Tonoloway Day Use Area. There are houses on the road that the parking area is at. Our first nine miles of the day were "country road" scenic and flat until we began to ascend the dry and rocky ridge that would be our playground for many miles. The trail is generally very well marked and easy to follow, but the leaf covering made some of the switchbacks hard todiscern in a number of places. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. All uphill though, a shorter day and the trail guide promises a waterfall near the shelter. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. plus a half hour for lunch. The Tuscarora Trail is located within the Tuscarora State Forest and is a branch off of the famous Appalachian Trail. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 44 min to complete. The Charlie Irvin Shelter is nestled on the edge of a cliff with wonderful a wonderful view of the valley. (The Tuscarora loops around the north end of the mountain.) Exercisecaution in Buchanan State Forest during hunting season. Enjoy! 2021 Tuscarora 2021 Tuscarora Trail - Day Three - Barclays Run Shelter Posted by stoffa on 20 May 2021 Thursday, 20 May Bob and I did not put the flies on our tents last night since we knew it works be warm and almost no chance of rain in the HR forecast. Advisory: Exercisecaution in Buchanan State Forest during hunting season. There seemed to be a lot of interesting trails in the George Washington National forest in Virginia and West Virginia, and it would be fun to explore those. You will see a mostly grassy trail to the right of the Biby Wilderness Trail sign. Perhaps a bit cold up on top in the wintertime (of course that's what fires are for, lol, and there is a spot for one at the shelter). They built bridges, campsites, and shelters. It rained a little that night and I ended up hammocking because there was no place to put the tent with all the rocks. From here, begin your descent along the rocky switchback-laden trail. I think the rating of 5 is accurate. Bob and I spent the afternoon solving the worlds problems and relaxing with afternoon snacks and catching up on our hydration. Hardly any views as trees were blocking but nevertheless,indeed a solace-finding trail. The Tuscarora wasnt my favorite hike, but, on the whole, I had a good time. Check out the Trail Finder feature or send Erin a message. It stretches from Mathews Arm in Virginia to Sterretts Gap in Pennsylvania. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The blue blazed trail climbs the side of Great North Mountain steeply and makes several switchbacks before reaching the ridge line in another 3.0 miles. The ascent up to ridge was as described, and a very good workout. Get to know this 8.5-mile loop trail near Newville, Pennsylvania. Parking might be lacking in the warmer months on weekends. on our section trails. There were 5-6 other cars in the parking area (not too big of a spot). In 0.5 miles pass a side trail on the left that takes you to a spring, and in another 0.2 miles emerge onto a FS road. before you embark upon your trip. To see more signs and volunteers installing them, The Tuscarora Trail section just west of Massanutten Mountain is closed due to loss of landowner permission. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I noted no hidden patches of ice on trail rocks (as tends to occur under leaves sometimes) that would make for 'awesome' footing. It was definitely worth a quick diversion. At the shelter, the white trail would be at your 10 o'clockposition if you were in the shelter and looking out (I didn't note a blaze on the trail until going down the trail a bit). We saw nobody else the entire day. There's a book where you can leave a note for other hikers/backpackers. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As much as I enjoyed one of the top hikes near Winchester, the rocks scrambles were a drag at times. Its a beautiful rocky overlook with far-reaching mountain views. And while both the Tuscaroras northern and southern termini are on the Appalachian Trail, and the Tuscarora goes through the Appalachian Mountains, those two trails could hardly be more different. Camping: Basore Ridge Shelter (39.324, -78.255), Gore, VA to West Virginia State Line, 10.4miles. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, along with other hiking organizations maintains the Tuscarora Trail, and in partnership with REI is promoting the trail as long distance hiking resource in the Midatlantic. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. A somewhat similar tail to the Tuscarora is the Benton MacKaye Trail, located in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. In a few more steps, youll start to hear moving water, then an easy-to-miss spur trail turns up on the right at the 1.9-mile mark. I would guess a phone could be had here in an emergency. Tuscarora Trail: Biby Trail to Pinnacle Shelter Hard 4.5 (395) High View, West Virginia Photos (538) Directions Print/PDF map Length 5.6 miElevation gain 1,322 ftRoute type Out & back Check out this 5.6-mile out-and-back trail near High View, West Virginia. To see more signs and volunteers installing them,check out the photos[opens new window]. Part of why it took me so long to write this post is that the Tuscarora is a hard trail for me to like. Turn left for Pinnacle Camp. Day 25: Shelter With A View | Tuscarora Trail, 2020 There is also a fire ring. The last part back to the parking area follows Waites Run - beautiful. (I'm hiking the Southern Section in the Fall, 2012) I have the latest guide book to the Northern Section, and map for the lower 1/2 of this section. The nearest being maybe 3/4 of a mile, give or take, in the direction that you come in on. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I am uncertain if it merits a 3 or 4, maybe halfway in-between. The shelter sits overlooking the valley, so on Saturday, June 21, they had to build a temporary scaffold to complete the roofing boards, underlayment & install the roofing metal. Take it slow on this white-blazed trail. Need help finding a hike? US Route 30, Tuscarora Summit (39.916, -77.9565) Additional trail connections in the Buchanan State Forest and Cowans Gap State Park include: Standing Stone Trail, Geyer Trail, Logslide Trail, Richmond Trail, Fore Trail, Lincoln Trail. My experience largely matched my expectation: there were relatively few hikers on the trail, and, I only met a handful of other people who were attempting to hike the whole trail (though, no one that was thru-hiking). There is also a picnic shelter, two stone fire pits (one for cooking) and an outdoor privy. In the 1990's the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club took over responsibility for reopening it. This long-distance trail was created in the 1960's as an alternate route for the Appalachian Trail. However, much to my surprise, every day I was on the trail, I saw at least one other person. Tuscarora Trail | Newville, PA 17241 We ended up going further down the road then we needed to and then hiked the loop in reverse by accident. " A W OpenMapTiles OSM 9.8 Miles Point to Point 2,451' High 1,222' Low 1,779' Up 1,076' Down 6% Avg Grade (3) 38% Max Grade (21) Toolbox Plan in onX Backcountry Driving directions Download GPX File Know This Trail? The views from the ridge, well, they left something to be desired. Pinnacle Shelter Hike - HikingUpward Max Elevation: 990 ft. Min Elevation:600 ft. Access: The trail can be accessed from both the southern and northern termini of section 14: Siler, VA. Va Route 600 and 690 (39.351, -78.240). Tuscarora Trail At the trail sign, turn left onto the southbound section of the 252-mile Tuscarora Trail. The trail head was a little tricky to find, but once I found it and parked, I wondered how I could have missed it. It's intended to be a western alternative through the Appalachians to the Appalachian Trail. Primitive camping is allowed throughout the Bucahan State Forest with a free permit. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. What a great day for a great hike. Overall, this was a great hike, but the first three miles till you get up to the ridge was just OK. Proudly created with Wix.com. The information available on this site, including without limitation, overviews, opinions,directions, GPS data, photographs, (collectively "Content") may contain information relating to a hazardous activity. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Tuscarora Trail: Biby Trail to Pinnacle Shelter - AllTrails.com She is also the author of three hiking guidebooks from Falcon Guides. Reports indicate the next few miles to the north are not nearly as enjoyable as the section described here, with multiple ATV trails intersecting the TT. Additional trail connections in section 15: Gore Connector Trail, Biby WildernessTrail, Laurel Run Trail, Fry Path, Lucas Woods Trail. There are three ways to complete the challenge: hiking, doing volunteer trail maintenance with the PATC, or completing a combination of both hiking and trail maintenance that adds up to 60. Day 1 Gross Descent: 1,003, Day 1 Elevation Profile Gerhard Shelter Tuscarora Trail Backpacking Trip 2022 Sintax77, Day 3 Mileage: 5.1 miles Youll see a double white blaze on a telephone pole and a small sign for the Biby Wilderness Trail. Didn't see anyone else the whole hike. Get to know this 6.1-mile loop trail near Concord, Pennsylvania. Theres easily another 40 miles of gravel and dirt roads, which makes nearly the entirety of the trail in Maryland on road. The PATC is dedicatedto providing a challengingand rewarding hiking experience alongthe Tuscarora Trail, which is more remote and rugged than the AT. At the 1.0-mile mark, you will reach the second of several rock scrambles. I did hear some rustling leaves from a scurrying something, so maybe a hidden rabbit or two. There's easily another 40 miles of gravel and dirt roads, which makes nearly the entirety of the trail in Maryland "on road". Re-trace your steps to the trail, then turn left to continue on. As in, nearly 600 feet over the course of one mile. Thanks Ed for the response, sounds like there's water in the area. Re-trace your steps on the Tuscarora Trail and Biby Wilderness Trail to reach your vehicle. Links:The Standing Stone Trail,PATC Cabin Rentals, Buchanan State Forest,Cowans Gap State Park, **All GPS coordinates given on this site use the WGS-84 datum**. High Rock/Shockeys Knob Hike - HikingUpward Other: The trail markings as per the instructions seemed sound, as did the given instructions in general. My options for shelter would be to either use the Gerhard Shelter lean-to if I had the place to myself, or a lightweight tarp and minimalist hammock if I decided to wander out further into the woods and camp near the search area and nearby spring. Also, plan to carry water, as the water at the shelter is cistern based. The intense patchwork of private land ownership around the Tuscarora Trail also manifests in some rather extensive road walks. I Did this in 5 hrs with 120 pictures taken. One of the challenges of maintaining the Tuscarora Trail has been its incomplete, inconsistent, and inadequate signage. Tuscarora Trail Sections 14-16 We are working on a shorter reroute. Temperatures in the mid eighties. On the return on the fire road, a mile or so is along a large stream I noted a guy fishing in. Still warm. Further, I expected there would be days where I saw nobody else.
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