Darlington Trail

The Darlington Trail is a hiking trail of 7.7 miles (12.4 km) in south-central Pennsylvania. Its western end is at a junction with the Tuscarora Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Its eastern end is northwest of Harrisburg at Tower Road, which is only accessible for rugged vehicles.[1]

Darlington Trail
The western terminus of the Darlington Trail, at a junction with the Tuscarora Trail and Appalachian Trail.
Length7.7 mi (12.4 km)
LocationCumberland County and Perry County, Pennsylvania, US
Established1908
TrailheadsWest: Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania State Game Land 170
East: Tower Road near Marysville, Pennsylvania
UseHiking
Highest point1,300 ft (400 m)
Lowest point600 ft (180 m)
DifficultyModerate
SeasonYear-round
HazardsUneven and rocky terrain, rattlesnakes, mosquitoes, ticks, black bears

History and route

The Darlington Trail predates the Appalachian Trail, and was founded in 1908 by the former Pennsylvania Alpine Club. It was named for the secretary of the club, Bishop Darlington of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Harrisburg.[1] The trail was originally much longer, reaching from near Chambersburg in the southwest to a vista over the Susquehanna River at its northeastern end. The trail was adopted by the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club in 1954, after it had mostly deteriorated. A portion of the original route was later incorporated into the Appalachian Trail.[2][3] Near the trail's present western end, Darlington Shelter is commonly used by hikers on the Tuscarora and Appalachian Trails.[4] The Darlington Trail also features two evenly-spaced camping shelters of its own at Millers Gap and Lambs Gap.[1]

References
  1. Cramer, Ben, ed. (2008). Pennsylvania Hiking Trails (13th ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 54. ISBN 9780811734776.
  2. "Transfer of Protected Property". Central Pennsylvania Conservancy. Archived from the original on September 7, 2007.
  3. Lillard, David (2002). Appalachian Trail Names. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-2672-X.
  4. Mitchell, Jeff (2005). Backpacking Pennsylvania: 37 Great Hikes. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 82. ISBN 0811731804.

40.30269°N 77.07478°W / 40.30269; -77.07478

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