The Mason Dixon Trail System
last updated 06/28/2009
The next meeting and hike are on Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Perryville, Maryland.
See the details,
See our updated Photos Page.
Hike 25 miles on both the Mason Dixon and Conestoga Trails
on September 12 on the Susquehanna Super Hike.
You need advance permission from York County to camp overnight at Apollo Park.
We are getting permission to cross a piece of land that the Archaeological Conservancy has just acquired with state help. The M-DTS is donating money toward the cost of the land. If anyone else wishes to contribute, scroll down to information about the Susquehannock village site at its web page.
Read more about it here. Please mention the trail in your correspondence.
For other news, including the marathon runner on the trail, click here
An Article about running the Trail
The
Mason Dixon Trail connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail.
This 193 mile long trail starts at Whiskey Springs, on the Appalachian Trail,
in Cumberland County, PA and heads east towards the Susquehanna River, passing
through Pinchot
State Park en route. The trail then follows the west bank of the Susquehanna
south to Havre de
Grace in Maryland. Across the river, the M-DT continues east, passes through Elk
Neck State Forest, then on
to Iron Hill Park in Delaware, north along the Christina River and White
Clay Creek to the White Clay Creek
Preserve. The trail then heads northeast to its eastern terminus at Chadds
Ford, PA on the banks of the Brandywine River.
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The members of the Mason Dixon Trail System, Inc.
hope that you enjoy your hikes on the trail. Volunteers from several
states have constructed and are maintaining it. Our organization is
aging and needs to |
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June 27 Hike and Meeting
The Morning Hike
We will hike a proposed seven mile rerouting of the
Mason-Dixon Trail from Belvedere Road to Perryville. Participants will meet by
9:00 a.m. at the Perryville Middle School (MDT Map 7: w-e at mile 2 where the
“P” marks the large parking lot), and will car pool to the starting point on
Logistics Way off of Belvedere Road, north of Rte 40.
The relocation includes sidewalks in the town of
Perryville, greenways near the Susquehanna River, pathways through fields and
woods, and sections along roadways. We will pass by Furnace Bay Golf Course and
historic Principio Furnace, and climb to the top of Foy’s Hill for grand views
of the surrounding countryside. This relocation, if approved, will appear in
our updated map set that is due out within the year. It replaces the dangerous
section of railroad walking described in the current Map 7.
Directions to the Perryville Middle School
Parking Lot: Heading west or
east on I-95 take the exit south to Perryville on Rte 222 South. (This is the
first exit after crossing the Susquehanna from the west and the last exit on
I-95 from the east before I-95
crosses the Susquehanna.) Stay on Rte 222 about a mile and when you cross the
major intersection with Rte 40, the Middle School Parking lot will be
immediately on your left (Rte 222 becomes Aiken Avenue when it crosses Rte 40).
The Quarterly Meeting
The quarterly board and members meeting will start
2:00 p.m. in the yard and garden area of the historic Rodgers Tavern at the west
end of Broad Street (#259) in Perryville, overlooking the Susquehanna River.
Following the directions above to Perryville Middle School, one reaches Rodgers
Tavern by continuing on Rte 222 south (Aiken Avenue) to where it ends at Main
Street, and turning right on Main Street. The Tavern, clearly signed, will be a
short distance on your right.
In the case of bad weather, the meeting will convene
at 2:00 p.m. in the meeting room of the public library in North East, Maryland.
From I-95 take exit 100 (North East/Rising Sun) in Cecil County. Go south on
Rte. 272 , and cross Route 40 (south of Rte 40 Rte 272 becomes N. Mauldin
Street). Shortly after crossing over some tracks and the road divides, stay on
Rte 272 by bearing right onto Main St and in a short block turn right again onto
Rte. 7 (Cecil Ave). The North East Library comes very quickly on the left.
There is a parking lot on the left side of Cecil Ave. just past Race St. Cecil
County members, especially, please come!
A runner takes on the Mason Dixon Trail
Dupont donates land along Mason Dixon Trail in Newark DE.
Click below:
High Point Article in York Daily Record.
Major Lancaster County Conservancy Update
York Daily Record Article from April 15, 2007
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Scenic Wrightsville Area Sunday, March 22
Directions to the Wrightsville Boat Launch Map 3 marks the location of the boat launch with a P
From Lancaster: Go west on Rt. 30. Take the Columbia Exit (on the east side of the Susquehanna River) and turn left toward Columbia. Turn right at second light onto Rte 462 and the Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge. Proceed across the bridge and turn right at end of bridge and then right again under the bridge on to Rte 624. The parking area for the boat launch will be on your left by the river boat launch. From York: Go east on Rte 30. Take the Wrightsville exit (that comes before the Susquehanna River), and go right. Go down to the light. Turn left onto Rte 462. Just before the bridge turn left and go down under the bridge on to Rt. 624 . The parking area will be immediately on your left by the water.
If anyone has problems call Jim or Joyce at 717/252-3784 or 717/951-6808 (cell)
Susquehanna Heritage
Park is becoming a place to go, an
official said.
"PP&L is in the process of giving 3200 acres of land to a consortium lead by the Lancaster County Conservancy. It involves land along the Susquehanna in both Lancaster and York Counties. They also gave $5M for an endowment to maintain the land. The Mason-Dixon Trail is on the York County Land and the Conestoga Trail is on the Lancaster County Land. |
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From the York Daily Record/Sunday News
Volunteers moved part of the nature
walk off Route 624 onto safer land.
HOW TO HELP Dec 1, 2005 — A small group of seniors Wednesday said opening their hearts, giving their time and digging in the dirt keeps them appearing and feeling young. The volunteers, all of whom are retired, worked to clear about a mile of path for a hiking trail to be moved to a safer location.
They moved the portion of the 193-mile Mason-Dixon Trail off a dangerous part of Route 624 near Wrightsville. Now it crosses properties owned by Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. and County Line Quarry, which run along the Susquehanna River.
Jim Hooper, vice president of Mason-Dixon Trail System, and several other volunteers a few months ago used chainsaws and a Pulaski ax - a combination ax and hoe - to clear growth and vines on the side of a hill for the trail. "I'm excited to get it off the main road," said Hooper, who has been a trail volunteer for 28 years. The Mason-Dixon Trail, a public hiking path, crosses Delaware and Maryland, follows the western shore of the Susquehanna River, extends through Gifford Pinchot State Park and connects to the Appalachian Trail. It was built with member financing and contributions by volunteers who also maintain it.
The York Hiking Club has helped maintain the Appalachian Trail since 1948. The group monitors 40 miles of trail between Route 30 and Norman Wood bridges. A group of retired club volunteers meets weekly on relocation projects such as Wednesday's Wrightsville-area project. Volunteers don't need special skills or experience to help with trail projects.
"There's no government funding in this at all," Hooper said. "We need volunteers all of the time. ... We're finding younger (adults) don't join the club until they are in their 50s." York Township residents and club members Allen and Lore Britton, both in their 70s, have been volunteering for trail projects for more than three decades. "I love it," Allen said. "If I didn't do it, who is going to do it? If I like the trails, I've got to maintain them." He said people who work and walk on hiking trails are healthy for many reasons. "Everybody I know as a hiker has a youthful attitude," he said. "People who do volunteer work are healthier." Freysville resident Ron Gray, 62, is also a club member. He's hooked on trail work. "It's kind of in my blood," he said. Hooper and his wife, Joyce, met while working on hiking trails about five years ago. A lot of people have no idea of the pleasure of a hike through the land that we have," Joyce said. "It's very healthy, and you go home feeling very tired and relaxed. I find nature soothes the soul and clears your mind."
HOW TO HELPVolunteers are needed to do trail work including trail building, cutting brush back from the trail, cutting blown-down trees, blazing the trail and maintaining bulletin boards. For more information: yhc.trails @ worldnet.att.net, http://www.appalachiantrail.org, http://www.masondixontrail.org.
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Trail Work
The York Hiking Club is having weekly trail work hikes on
Thursdays. Most of the work hikes are on the Mason-Dixon Trail
System. Contact Jim Hooper 717/252-3784 if you are interested in
joining the group.
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