Mid State Trail (Pennsylvania)

Pennsylvania Mid State Trail
The "Roman Tower", on the trail near Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
Length	327 mi; 526 km
Location	Pennsylvania and Maryland, United States
Trailheads	North: New York State border near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania South: Pine Lick Trail in Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland (at the Mason-Dixon Line)
Use	Hiking
Highest point	Martin Hill, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Trail difficulty	Moderate to Strenuous
Season	Spring to Fall
Sights	pastoral views and cultural remnants
Hazards	Severe Weather Poison ivy American Black Bear Timber Rattler

The Mid State Trail (MST) is a 526 km (327 mi) long main trail network with many side trails located in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians and Allegheny Plateau of Central Pennsylvania. It is known as "The Wildest Trail in Pennsylvania". In 2006, MST was announced as part of the Great Eastern Trail network of footpaths intended to extend from Alabama to New York State.

The northern terminus of the trail is at the New York State border near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. The southern end is a junction with the Pine Lick Trail in Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland at the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. As of April 2009 there remains a 9 km (5.6 mi) unmarked gap southeast of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. The MST is primarily on public land – state forests, game lands and parks. MST uses private lands by permission on occasion, generally closer to the Maryland and New York borders.

The Mid State Trail has many views offered by its placement on narrow ridges, as well as famed moist, dark caves. The MST provides an illusion of remoteness and solitude yet is rarely more than two kilometers from the nearest road.

Marking

Rectangular orange blazes mark the main trail. Yellow and blue blazes are used to mark other trails. The Mid State Trails mark the trail with single rectangles and two rectangles to denote turns. The orange blazes on most parts of the Mid State Trail are more numerous and recent (brighter color) than the blue blazes on other adjacent trails.

Trailheads

The Mid State Trail guide, published by the Mid State Trail Association, is an excellent source for the trailheads along the trail. Access points occur regularly, but not often enough to disrupt your hiking experience. The Purple Lizard Map illustrates the Mid State and Standing Stone Trail on their Rothrock State Forest map.

Hazards

While black bears, bobcats and rattlesnakes can present dangers, it is only if you are foolish or very unlucky. When bears and people cross paths in the wild, usually the bear just wishes to leave the area. Very rarely will a bear act hostile towards people.

The common rattlesnake of Pennsylvania, the Timber Rattler Crotalus horridus horridus, has venom of a medium potency that can cause painful injuries but is rarely lethal. Administering proper first aid, keeping calm and quickly receiving medical attention is the best response to a bite.

See also

• Tiadaghton State Forest
• Tioga State Forest
• Rothrock State Forest
• Bald Eagle State Forest
• Buchanan State Forest
• Pennsylvania State Gamelands
• Similarly named Midstate Trail in Massachusetts
• Great Eastern Trail

External links

• Mid State Trail Association - official website
• Photos of section of the Mid State Trail
• PA DCNR's Mid State Trail Page (covers only areas on their lands)
• Purple Lizard Maps includes detailed Mid State Trail linework on their Rothrock map

References

• Thomas Thwaites, Map & Guide Set to Mid State Trail in the Seven Mountains of Pennsylvania, Mid State Trail Association, 2001, ISBN 1-931496-01-3