Last updated 03/16/2008
News and Updates
©Mason Dixon Trail Inc.
These are placed so that the most recently received is
at the top of the page following a list of what is news:
Trail Problem at Iron Hill Park in Delaware
High Point Article in York Daily Record.
Major Lancaster County Conservancy Update
Bridge out in North East, Maryland - break in trail
Map 3 Correction - Wrightsville to High Point trail description
York Daily Record Article from April 15, 2007
Permission to park at Wago Club.
Trail Relocation Completed at Murphy's Hollow
Trail Relocation at Apollo Park
Trail Improvements near Eastern Terminus
Moving the Trail (a news article)
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See
www.lancasterconservancy.org/news.htm
Bridge Project in
North East, MD causes a break in M-DT M-DT Map 7: East to West
(Alternate route to avoid “BRIDGE OUT” on
Rolling Mill Rd) 0.0 mi Cross MD Rt. 7 in heart of North East. Jog left then right to pick up Mechanics Valley Rd. At first intersection turn left on Jethro Rd. Follow it until it ends on Mauldin Ave (north Main St) . 0.3 mi Turn right on Mauldin Ave. Cross North East Creek. Veer right onto North Main Street 0.4 mi Turn right on Rolling Mill Rd. 0.6 mi Watch for roadway on right (with M-DT blue blazes) leading to old underpass under Amtrak line
West to East These are approximate distances. They have not been measured
14.6 After passing under the bridge
and joining Rt. 624 on Front Street, there is parking on the
left by the river. Follow Rt. 624 across Kreutz Creek and past
the quarry entrance.
14.9 Turn left off of Rt. 624 and
onto Lockwood Rd. for about 100 ft. Turn right into the
woods. Proceed about another 100 ft. and cross a small stream
and begin climbing the hill by switchbacks. At the top there
are excellent winter views of the Susquehanna River. After
crossing the hill the descent is by a long gradual slope. At
the bottom the trail parallels the stream in Murphy’s Hollow.
A yellow blazed side trail leads up to Murphy’s Hollow Road
with parking. (At Rt. 624 the entrance to Murphy’s Hollow
Road states that the area is Private Property – Keep out. We
are welcome to park here.)
15.8 Cross under Rt. 624 through a
large culvert. Water is usually about one inch deep. The
trail leaves the stream bed by several very short switchbacks
and begins climbing by large switchbacks to Waterstreet Rescue
Mission property, please stay on the trail. The trail climbs to
the top and immediately descends to cross a small wet area and
climbs to the entrance Drive for the property. Turn left to
Hilt Road 16.7 Cross Hilt Road and climb by several switchbacks into York County Heritage High Point Park. After leaving the woods the trail makes a very large loop just passing the high point, with excellent views up and down the Susquehanna River, and then descends to the intersection of Hilt Road and Knights View Road.
There is a paved Parking area
about 100 feet downhill from the trail. 17.4 Cross Knights View Road. Etc. There will soon be Parking to the left just before Knights View Road in the new County High Point Park. East to West
0.0 Cross Knights View Road and Hilt
Road intersection entering the new County High Point Heritage
Park with a parking area just beyond the intersection. The
trail climbs to the right to the top of High Point with
excellent views up and down the Susquehanna River. After
reaching the top the trail descends in a large sweeping curve to
a small wooded area, descend to Hilt Road by several
switchbacks. 0.7 Cross onto a paved Private Drive. After passing through the iron gate, the trail soon turns right down to a small wet area before beginning the climb to the top of the hill. This is Waterstreet Rescue Mission Property, please stay on the trail. The trail immediately begins descending by large switchbacks to Murphy’s Hollow Stream.
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2.0 The trail passes under Rt. 624
through a large culvert. Water is usually only about one inch
deep. After about 300 ft. there is a Yellow Blazed side trail
which leads to Murphy's Hollow Road where there is parking.
(The entrance to Murphy’s Hollow Road states that it is private
property, Keep out. We have permission to park here.) The
trail climbs the hill and has excellent winter views of the
river. Descend by several large switchbacks coming out on
Lockwood Road where the trail turns left for about 100 ft. to
Rt. 624.
2.9 Turn right onto Rt. 624 and
immediately pass the entrance to the Quarry on the left and
proceed across Kreutz Creek.
3.2 Pass a large parking area on the
right down at the river.
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Permission to park at the Wago Club. Map 2. Mike Clancy of the Wago Club has given us permission for parking in their lot. The club is located between the two railroad overpasses on Wago Rd, just inland of Gut Rd. See map 2, mile 24. He wants people to park in the back of the lot as far as way from the club house that is practical. 1095 Wago Rd, Mount Wolf, PA 17347.
Murphy's Hollow January 25, 2007. The Trail South of Wrightsville (map 3) is now officially off of Route 624. the Murphy's Hollow relocation is now connected to the Grace Plateau Relocation with a temporary ladder and ramp into the Culvert under Route 624. The trail rejoins the old trail on Hilt road. It will eventually cross Hilt Road and go up the bank onto Highpoint Park.
Click map below to see the Murphy's Hollow Relocation Map.
Updated Trail Info © Mason Dixon Trail Inc.
West to East
14.9 Turn left off of Rt. 624 and onto Lockwood Rd. for about 100 ft. Turn right into the woods. Proceed about another 100 ft. and cross a small stream and begin climbing the hill by switchbacks. At the top there are excellent winter views of the Susquehanna River. After crossing the hill the descent is by a long gradual slope. At the bottom the trail parallels the stream in Murphy’s Hollow. A yellow blazed side trail leads up to Murphy’s Hollow Road with parking. (At Rt. 624 the entrance to Murphy’s Hollow Road states that the area is Private Property – Keep out. We are welcome to park here.)
15.8 Cross under Rt. 624 through a large culvert. Water is usually about one inch deep. The trail leaves the stream bed by several very short switchbacks and begins climbing by large switchbacks to Waterstreet Rescue Mission property, please stay on the trail. The trail climbs to the top and immediately descends to cross a small wet area and climbs the the entrance Drive for the property. Turn left to Hilt Road
16.7 Turn right onto Hilt Road.
17.1 Cross Knights View Road. Etc. There will soon be Parking to the left just before Knights View Road in the new County High Point Park.
East to West0.0 Add – The new County High Point Park will soon have a parking area to the right just beyond the intersection.
0.4 Turn left onto a paved Private Drive. After passing through the iron gate, the trail soon turns right down to a small wet area before beginning the climb to the top of the hill. This is Water street Rescue Mission Property, please stay on the trail. The trail immediately begins descending by large switchbacks to Murphy’s Hollow Stream.
1.3 The trail passes under Rt. 624 through a large culvert. Water is usually only about one inch deep. After about 300 ft. there is a Yellow Blazed side trail which leads to Murphy”s Hollow Road where there is parking. (The entrance to Murphy’s Hollow Road states that it is private property, Keep out. We have permission to park here.) The trail climbs the hill and has excellent winter views of the river. Descend by several large switchbacks coming out on Lockwood Road where the trail turns left for about 100 ft. to Rt. 624.
2.2 Turn right onto Rt. 624 and immediately pass the entrance to the Quarry on the left and proceed across Kreutz Creek.
2.5 Pass a large parking area on the right down at the river.
Add 0.4 to the rest of the mileages. Ron Gray
TRAIL UPDATES AND ALERTS NOTE: Peach Bottom area, (Map 5): The trail around Peach Bottom (permission required to hike this section) is in need of new blazes.
Elk Neck State Forest (Map 8: West to East, Mile 0.8 – 1.4): Beaver activity has resulted in flooding of a section of the M-DT in the Forest. A detour around the flooded area has been flagged with blue ribbons. |
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M-DT Now Re-opened North of Apollo Park It has taken 2½ years and over 1600 hours of hard labor to build a 2-mile relocation of the M-DT high above the Susquehanna River between the rocky promontory south of Cuff’s Run and Apollo County Park (Map 4: West to East – Mile 7.6 to 9.7). The relocation became necessary due to change in land ownership. The trail had to be moved from relatively level land high above the river down onto the rocky slope. It was nearly all side hill work in very rocky terrain.
Access at Peach Bottom: For permission to hike on the Mason-Dixon Trail through Peach Bottom Power Station lands, (Map 5: West to East Mile 24.9 - 26.4; East to West Mile 3.5 - 5.7) hikers must call Peach Bottom Security at 717/456-4212). (This is a new contact phone number. The information regarding phone number and person to contact included in the 2004 edition M-DTS maps is no longer valid). Hikers are reminded that they must stay on the trail.
Trail Improvements Near Eastern Terminus of M-DT M-DT Map 10: West to East Mile 13.8 Watch for left turn off Cossart Rd into wooded area. Angle left,cross bridge over deep, muddy stream then soon cross a second shallow stream on rocks. Cross pond inlet on wooden bridge etc. - - - - - 14.9 Reach floodplain. Cross bridge over muddy ditch. Proceed to the banks of Brandywine Creek and follow it upstream. 15.2 Turn left and head towards elevated walkway (175 ft long) across swampy area. Cross walkway, then veer right and meander along game trails through fields overgrown with vines, shrubs and stinging nettle. Cross another short elevated walkway. Continue through fields towards railroad tracks. 15.3 Climb up to RR tracks etc
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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