BACKPACKING AND HIKING

My wife, Kathy, and I get out several times a month to enjoy the backcountry on foot.  Central Pennsylvania is blessed with numerous hiking trails throughout the state forest and state game lands. Larger "backpacking trails" include:

Mid State Trail (189.1 mile point to point, Rothrock through Tioga State Forest).
Donut Hole Trail (87.3 mile point to point, Sproul State Forest).
Chuck Kieper Trail (52.8 mile loop, Sproul State Forest).
Loyalsock Trail (59.3 mile point to point, Tiadaghton and Wyoming State Forest).
West Rim Trail (30 mile point to point, Tioga State Forest).
Old Loggers Path (27.1 mile loop, Tiadaghton State Forest).
Black Forest Trail (42.2 mile loop, Tiadaghton State Forest).
Susquehannnock Trail (85 mile loop, Susquehannock State Forest).
Quehanna Trail  (73.7 mile loop, Elk and Moshannon State Forest).
Golden Eagle Trail  (8.9 mile loop, Tiadaghton State Forest).

Many shorter trails and cross trails on the larger loops give many possibilities for day hiking.  Several Guidebooks have been published to plan trips:
"Pennsylvania Hiking Trails" by the Keystone Trails Association.
"50 Hikes in Central Pennsylvania" by Tom Thwaites.
"Guide To The Mid State Trail In Pennsylvania" by the Mid State Trail Assoc.
"Black Forest Trial Guide" by the Tiadaghton Forest Fighters Assoc.
"Loyalsock Trail Guide" by the Alpine Club of Williamsport.
"Guide To The West Rim Trail" by Chuck Dillon.
"State Forest and Trail Maps" PA. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Old Loggers Path.	Loyalsock Trail.
Chuck Keiper Trailhead.	Climbing on the Chuck Keiper Trail.

For more information on Pennsylvania hiking trails, check out the following links:

Keystone Trails Association
Penn State Outing Club
Ridge and Valley Outings Club
Appalachian Outdoors, State College, PA
Alpine Club of Williamsport, Lycoming Trail
Mid State Trail Association
Allegheny Front Trail
Bald Eagle Mountain Megatransect
Kathy's Outdoors Page

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