Mason-Dixon Trail
Mason-Dixon Trail | |
---|---|
National Recreation Trail | |
Trailheads | Appalachian Trail, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania |
Use | Hiking |
Elevation change | Moderate |
Difficulty | Moderate |
Season | Year-round |
Hazards | Road walking, mosquitoes, ticks |
The Mason-Dixon Trail is a 193-mile (311 km) hiking trail that begins at the Appalachian Trail in south-central Pennsylvania, continues through northeastern Maryland and northern Delaware, and re-enters Pennsylvania shortly before ending at Chadds Ford. It is named for the historic Mason–Dixon line, which it crosses twice.[1] About one-third of the route follows roads through rural areas, but the rest is on traditional footpaths. The trail also traverses many tracts of private land, at which passage for hikers has been arranged with owners. This results in occasional relocations.[2] The trail takes hikers through a variety or rural and semi-urban landscapes, with most of the route in Pennsylvania featuring farmlands and forested areas, and most of the route in Maryland and Delaware featuring historic sites and small towns.[3]
Route
The Mason-Dixon Trail begins near Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, at a junction with the Appalachian Trail on South Mountain. Heading east, the Mason-Dixon Trail soon descends into an agricultural area and passes through Gifford Pinchot State Park.[4] Except for the park, in this general area the trail mostly follows rural roads. It briefly follows Pennsylvania Route 297 over Interstate 83 and through the village of Strinestown, and continues on rural roads to an escarpment above the Susquehanna River.[5]
The trail then travels primarily to the southeast, parallel to the right bank of the Susquehanna. It passes near the
The Mason-Dixon Trail continues to generally follow the Susquehanna, except for a trip inland at Muddy Creek and its substantial side gorge, with a brief walk along Pennsylvania Route 74 near the village of Castle Fin. The trail then returns to the Susquehanna and crosses the border into Maryland at about 115 miles from its western terminus.[8]
In Maryland, the trail continues to follow the right bank of the Susquehanna, nearly to its outlet at Chesapeake Bay, passing through Susquehanna State Park along the way. At Havre de Grace, the trail crosses the Susquehanna via US 40 and now heads to the east via various rural roads and occasional footpaths through Cecil County. A few miles after walking through the village of North East, there is a longer sojourn on footpaths through Elk Neck State Forest.[9] The trail then follows urban and suburban streets toward and through Elkton, and then crosses the border into Delaware.[nb 1]
The Mason-Dixon Trail then turns north and follows various roads in the
See also
Notes
- ^ The route description for Maryland and Delaware is gleaned from a map available at Fastest Known Time.
- ^ The route description for Chester County in Pennsylvania is gleaned from the same map at Fastest Known Time.
References
- ^ "Mason-Dixon Trail". Susquehanna Riverlands. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ISBN 0811731804.
- ISBN 9780811734776.
- ISBN 088150372X.
- ^ a b Mitchell, p. 76
- ^ Blue Ridge Outdoors
- ^ Mitchell, p. 71
- ^ Mitchell, p. 78
- ^ "Elk Neck State Forest - Hiking and Trails". Maryland Department of Natural Resources.