The Mason Dixon Trail System
last updated 07/21/2010
The Secretary of Interior has designated the Mason-Dixon
Trail from Wrightsville to the Norman Wood Bridge as a National
Recreational 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.
The bridge across Sawmill Run got removed by a storm. A temporary water level bridge is in place. Please proceed with caution since the tread way had not been restored and another storm could take out the temporary bridge.
Hike 25 miles on both the Mason Dixon and Conestoga Trails
on September 11, 2010, on the Susquehanna Super Hike. Volunteers needed.
You need advance permission from York County to camp overnight at Apollo Park.
For other info, including the marathon runner on the trail, click here
An Article about running the Trail
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Susquehanna Super Hike & Ultra Trail Run (York & Lancaster Counties):
The Keystone Trails Association will host the second annual Susquehanna Super Hike & Ultra Trail Run on Saturday, September 11, 2010. Join KTA for the 28.4-mile trail challenge for adventurous hikers and trail runners on the wild river hills of the lower Susquehanna Gorge. The course follows the Mason Dixon and Conestoga Trails and features spectacular river views including Urey Overlook, House Rock Vista and Pinnacle Overlook, scenic hollows like Oakland Run, Tucquan Glen and Kelly’s Run, and Wind Cave, one of the largest tectonic caves in the eastern U.S. Visit www.kta-hike.org for more information or to register online.
Volunteers are needed for the second Susquehanna Super Hike & Ultra Trail Run scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2010. Many volunteer opportunities are available including registration (Friday evening and Saturday morning), parking, checkpoints, trail sweeps, and more. Approximately 100 volunteers are needed. Please contact Becky at 717.238.7017 or ktaadmin@verizon.net for more information.
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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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.
Mason-Dixon Trail to be recognized as newest National Recreation Trail in Pennsylvania
The National Trails System has grown by 722 miles due to the recent designation of 31 National Recreation Trails in 15 states by Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
In honor of the 18th annual National Trails Day and the 42nd anniversary of the National Trails System, Secretary Salazar has announced the designation of 31 trails across the country as National Recreational Trails (NRTs). The Mason-Dixon Trail, from Wrightsville to the Norman Wood Bridge, was recognized as just one of four National Recreation Trails designated this year in Pennsylvania. The trail joins a statewide network of 65 National Recreation Trails totaling nearly 2100 miles.
"From coast to coast, the National Trails System helps connect American families with the wonders of the outdoors," said Secretary Salazar. "These new National Recreation Trails, built through partnerships with local communities and stakeholders, will create new opportunities for fitness and stewardship, while creating a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren."
National Recreation Trails are components of the National Trails System and recognize existing trails that connect people to important natural, recreational and cultural places and improve their quality of life. The program is jointly administered by the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails. Each of the trails added to the system will receive a certificate of designation and trail markers. They become part of a national network of more than 1,050 trails encompassing more than 12,500 miles.
The Mason-Dixon Trail section receiving NRT recognition is thirty miles long and follows the western slopes of the Susquehanna River Gorge between Wrightsville and Norman Wood Bridge (at PA Rt. 372). The trail provides safe and easy access to the outdoors for citizens from 12 municipalities in three counties.
This hiking trail rolls along river hillsides and drops into deep ravines while crossing a number of tributaries to the Susquehanna River. Revealed along the way are an abundance of wild flowers, ferns, broad leafs and evergreens. Rock formations, stream crossings and scenic overlooks add to the beautiful setting of the mile wide Susquehanna River valley. The area is habitat for many species, including bald eagles, osprey, white tail deer, wild turkey and has long been a stopping place for numerous migratory birds.
Along with natural resources, there are many points of historic interest. The former Susquehanna River Canal and Lock System built along the west shore of the Susquehanna is evidenced by remnants of the structures found along the way. A few locks from the canal system have been preserved. Lock 12, at the southern end of this recognized section of trail, near the Norman Wood Bridge, includes parking and a visitor guide via signage, describing the workings of the canal system. There is a preserved limestone kiln furnace on these grounds; not far away is the Indian Steps Museum which offers artifacts and descriptions of the culture of local Native Peoples from days gone by.
The only double lock of the Susquehanna Canal System can be found at the northern end of this section of trail, in Wrightsville. This is a transition point along the river where boats crossed between Columbia and Wrightsville. Wrightsville Borough is a location with much history, including limestone kiln furnaces. Key Civil War events played out in this community, including the famous “Burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge” in June 1863 by the state militia during the Gettysburg Campaign. There are two museums in town featuring much of this local history.
Another point of interest on this section of trail is the Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Center housed in a restored 18th century building in the riverside community of Long Level. Here, is a collection of Native American artifacts along with information and history of buildings and places in the area.
Thanks must be given to the many landowners that support the trail. Hikers travel through land owned by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Game Commission, Safe Harbor Power Company, and Pennsylvania Power and Light. In addition, the trail crosses three York County Parks, County Line Quarry, the Water Street Rescue Mission and number of private residential land owners.
This section of trail designated as a National Recreation Trail is part of the larger Mason-Dixon Trail (MDT) system, a 192-mile long hiking trail. The MDT starts at the Brandywine River in Chester County Pennsylvania, passes through Delaware and Maryland to cross the Susquehanna River at Havre de Grace, and then loops back into Pennsylvania. Traversing York County, Pa, the trail then continues on to connect with the Appalachian Trail at Whisky Springs in Cumberland County.
Built and maintained by volunteers, the Mason-Dixon Trail System was originally connected together in 1985. Relocations and upgrades have continued to improve the trail since that time. Further information on the trail is available at www.masondixontrail.org.
The designation as a National Recreation Trail will be recognized at a ceremony on National Trails Day, June 5th at 1:30 pm at Urey Overlook, near Otter Creek, along the Susquehanna River. The press and public are invited to the ceremony,
Invited speakers include David Lange, of the National Park Service Northeast Region Rivers and Trails Program and Lori Kieffer Yeich of the PA DCNR. For more information, please contact Jim Hooper, Mason-Dixon Trail System at (717) 252-3784 or email j.e.hooper@ieee.org.
