Cumberland County Biker/Hiker Trail:
Pennsylvania
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Description:
This gently winding trail in Pine Grove Furnace State Park passes along the shores of two lakes and through the woodlands of Michaux State Forest. Pine Grove Furnace began operating in 1764 to take advantage of the small but rich South Mountain iron ore deposits. The furnace closed in 1895 when new technology made the operation of small ironworks unprofitable. The 17,000-acre property of the South Mountain Ironworks was sold to the state of Pennsylvania in 1914 to become part of a new forest reserve system. Remnants of the days of iron production are evident in the park. The iron-master's mansion, furnace ruins and other buildings provide a historical perspective.

The park's two lakes, 25-acre Fuller Lake and 1.7-acre Laurel Lake, are also remnants of the area's iron making heritage. Fuller Lake was an iron ore quarry that filled with groundwater when operations ceased. Laurel Lake provided water power to Laurel Forge, which produced wrought iron. Both lakes now provide opportunities for swimming and fishing. Boating is permitted on Laurel Lake, which has a launch area, mooring slips and boat rental. Only electric motors are permitted.

The trail follows the route of the South Mountain Railroad. Constructed in the late 1860s the railroad brought raw materials to the furnace at Pine Grove and delivered finished iron products to market.

Pine Grove Furnace State Park marks the "unofficial" halfway point along the Appalachian Trail. The historic ironmaster's mansion now serves as a hostel with dormitory style overnight accommodations and cooking and dining facilities.

The trail begins in the park at the Appalachian Trail parking lot near the Furnace Stack Day Use Area. A short paved section of trail leads from the parking area to the Fuller Lake area, which has a beach. Swimming is permitted from late May until mid-September. Beyond the lake, the trail crosses a small bridge and turns left. This section of the trail runs on a gravel service road bordered by a swamp on one side and Mountain Creek on the other. The service road is closed to all traffic except official park vehicles. At a gate, the trail opens onto Old Railroad Bed Road and shares the corridor with occasional automobiles.

Beyond Laurel Lake, Old Railroad Bed Road intersects Pine Grove Road and the trail ends.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Furnace Stack Day Use Area Trailhead—the best access point—from PA Route 233, take Pine Grove Road and turn onto Bendersville Road. Turn onto Quarry Road. Parking is available at the Appalachian Trail parking area.

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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Nicely maintained!
By wjlacey in June, 2011
This trail was well-maintained and signage was good. We enjoyed the ride as a detour off a long trip home on I-81. The recommended trailhead in the PA Rails-Trails book is called Shippensburg Recreation Park, but note this is milepost 1 on the trail.
Cumberland Cty Biker/Pine Grove Furnace
By youker in August, 2010
This small State Park provides wonderful, shaded, level biking on a hot summer day with the option of swimming and kayaking at one of two small lakes. There are 4 different parking areas one at each end of the park and for biking a nice shaded parking spot on the far side of Laurel Lake at Pole Steeple trail on Railroad Bed Road. In addition to the approximately 3 mile Railroad Bed Road and Trail there are two circle Roads to bike, Ice House Road and Murphy/ Quarry Roads. So considering round trips back to your car you could easily get a 10 mile bike trip. For information via the INTERNET go to www.visitPAparks.com. Youker 8/27/2010
Interruption in Trail - More Details
By H Brillinger in October, 2008
The interruption in the trail, which was mentioned in the comments that were made earlier this month, has eliminated The Mountain Creek Campground as the downstream entrance to the trail. As I described in the comments that I made in 2005, there was at that time an informal side trail that allowed a biker to get around the house that blocked the trail by exiting to Pine Grove Road for a short distance, then returning to the trail. A second house has now been built on the trail and there is now no apparent way to get around the two houses and back to the trail.

The realistic downstream entrance to the trail is now the intersection of Pine Grove Road and the macadam road named Railroad Bed Road which serves as one of the entrances to Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
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Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Pine Grove Rd. at Old Forge Rd. to Old Railroad Bed Rd. at Bendersville Rd. in Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Counties: Cumberland
Trail Length: 2.2 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Cinder
Trail Activities: Bike, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6016934

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