Pennsylvania Mid State Trail
Encyclopedia
The Mid State Trail is a 526 km (326.8 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.
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.
, bobcat
s and rattlesnake
s 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.
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
network with many side trails located in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
and Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
of Central Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is known as "The Wildest Trail in Pennsylvania". In 2006, MST was announced as part of the Great Eastern Trail
Great Eastern Trail
The Great Eastern Trail project began as an attempt to create a second long hiking route through the Appalachians west of the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States...
network of footpaths intended to extend from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State.
The northern terminus of the trail is at the New York State border near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania
Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania
Lawrenceville is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 627 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lawrenceville is located at . It is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 287 and Pennsylvania Route 49. The only traffic light in town can be found at this...
. The southern end is a junction with the Pine Lick Trail in Green Ridge State Forest
Green Ridge State Forest
Green Ridge State Forest is a state forest in Western Maryland. Approximately in size, it is situated along Green Ridge and Town Hill in eastern Allegany County.Camping, Hiking, Biking, ORV, Fishing, and Boating are all permitted in Green Ridge State Forest...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
at the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. As of April 2009 there remains a 9 km (5.6 mi) unmarked gap southeast of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
Wellsboro is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 52 miles northwest of Williamsport. Early in the twentieth century, Wellsboro was the shipping point and trade center for a large area...
. 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 blazesTrail blazing
Trail blazing, or trailblazing, is the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain — though not necessarily exactly defined — distances and mark the direction of the trail...
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 bearsAmerican black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s and rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
s 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
Crotalus horridus
Crotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake, is a species of venomous pitviper found in the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized....
, 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 ForestTiadaghton State ForestTiadaghton State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #12. The forest is chiefly in western and southern Lycoming County, with small portions in Clinton, Potter, Tioga, and Union counties....
- Tioga State ForestTioga State ForestTioga State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in District #16. The main offices are located in Wellsboro in Tioga County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
- Rothrock State ForestRothrock State ForestRothrock State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #5. The main offices are located in Huntingdon in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
- Bald Eagle State ForestBald Eagle State ForestBald Eagle State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #7. The main office is located in Laurelton in Union County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The forest is found in Centre, Clinton, Mifflin, Snyder, and Union Counties...
- Buchanan State Forest
- Pennsylvania State Gamelands
- Similarly named Midstate Trail in Massachusetts
- Great Eastern TrailGreat Eastern TrailThe Great Eastern Trail project began as an attempt to create a second long hiking route through the Appalachians west of the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States...