Trails: 190-mile hiking trail runs from the Appalachian
Trail west of Harrisburg east to the outskirts of Harrisburg then
southeast along the Susquehana River to the shores of Chesapeake
Bay in Maryland. The trail continues eastward to Delaware then
returns back to Pennsylvania. Access fee: Membership in the Mason-Dixon Trail Club is
appreciated Nearest town: Dillsburg, Strinestown, Wrightsville, York
Furnace, PA and Havre de Grace, Elkton, MD, Newark, Hockessin,
DE, Kaolin, Chadds Ford PA Trail map: Available from the Mason-Dixon Trail System
($10.50) Web site:York
Hiking Club has information on the
MDTS Points of interest: Other activities: Lodging: Camping: Gifford Pinchot and White Clay Creek state parks
(PA) and Susquehana State Park in Maryland are on the trail Weather forecast:Harrisburg Tourism info:York Chamber Getting to the trail: Map of local region:
Dillsburg |
Havre de Grace
Trail Name: Mason-Dixon Trail I have hiked there: Few I last hiked there in: Mar, 2004 Trails that I hiked: Mason- Dixon trail- Pa lock 12 to
Otter creak campground Favorite trails: Many descent trails on both sides of the
Susquehanna in this area. Mason- Dixon, Conestoga. Best time to go: Spring, Fall Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 4 stars What I liked: Scenery, solitude. What I disliked: trail is on road for about 2 miles of the
10 mile stretch i walked Comments: I hiked a 10.2 mile section of the Mason- Dixon
trail starting at Pa lock 12, heading north, and ending at the
Otter Creak campground, had lunch (bag of cookies) and hiked back
to lock 12. The entire round trip took eight hour and most of the
stretch made for an excellent hike. Starting out at Pa lock 12
the trail follows the river for about 1/2 mile than crosses over
the access road and heads into the woods, this section of the
trail was pretty wild.
You follow a run for about 1/4 mile than the trail really heads
up your traveling a ridge over looking Holtwood dam and it must
go up a good 500 ft the first half mile, than along the ridge and
back down to the access road and by the dam. If you have a fear
of heights, poor footwear, or aren't in good shape I'd suggest
skipping this portion, stay on the access road till it runs back
into the trail just before the dam.
The trail than follows the access road for another 1/2 mile or
so. Follow the blazes into the woods, you go behind a few remote
riverside cabins and then follow the river for about a mile. The
trail than turns and heads up a run. This portion of the trail
was excellent, rushing river, large boulders, overhanging rock
formations, this portion had it all and it was the most enjoyable
part of the hike. You go up and down a bit and the trail is
narrow in points till you come to a point where you have to cross
the run you've been following.
After crossing the run you follow it for awhile till you come to
state gamelands, about 6 miles into hike. In the gamelands the
trail becomes wide and goes up at a steady fairly steep grade for
a good mile. There's a spring surrounded by bamboo in this area,
i had plenty of water with me and don't know if it's
drinkable.
After leaving the gamelands the trail follows blacktop for about
2 miles, lots of farms and fairly remote area, it follows than
crosses Pa 425 turns left@ Bare ln. than follows the powerlines
for about 1/2 mile, than turns into the woods, you cross a small
stream and eventually end up on a gamelands access road( closed
no vehicles). Follow the access road watch the blazes because
there's a point where the trail turns left down to a footbridge
that you can't see because the runs like 50 ft below you at this
point. Excellent overhanging rock formations in this area and the
trail keeps having switchbacks to get you down to the foot
bridge. Cross the foot bridge, accend the opposite side and your
in Otter creak campground. Walk through campground and down to
Susquahanna River where there's some nice rocks you can walk out
to and relax awhile, if you've come this far, you've earned it! I
encountered no other hikers going either way, the entire day!
Trails fairly well marked with blue blazes. Submitted by: donny from: pa. Date submitted: March 27, 2004
2
Area name: Mason-Dixon Trail Times hiked: Several Date last hiked: August, 2002 Trails hiked: Mason-Dixon Trail from White Clay State Park
in Delaware to Delaware/Pennsylvania border north of Winterthur
(it goes back and forth between the two states) Favourite trails: Best time to go: Trail marking: Poor Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 2 stars What I liked: As it passes through the Delaware and
Pennsylvania portions of White Clay Creek (especially the
Pennsylvania section), it is beautiful. What I disliked: The road portion of the Mason-Dixon trail
after you leave the Pennsylvania section of White Clay Creek is
incredibily dangerous. There is far too much traffic on the roads
- both in Delaware and Pennsylvania - and there is almost no
shoulder anywhere to allow for safe walking. Even biking in those
areas would be problematic. Comments: Did I mention traffic on the roads? Submitted by: IFJ from: Newark, Delaware Date submitted: Aug 26, 2002
1
Trail name: Mason-Dixon Trail Times hiked: Several Date last hiked: May, 2002 Trails hiked: this trail goes down the road in front of my
house, so every time I get the mail I'm purportedly on the
"trail." It's not much of a continuous trail because it requries
a lot of road walking. Even the non-road portions would only be
used by people who live right nearby. Favourite trails: Best time to go: anytime Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 2 stars What I liked: What I disliked: Comments: Submitted by: from: Date submitted: June 2, 2002
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