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State Park Overview |
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Trails |
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The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a continuous, marked footpath extending along the crest of the Appalachian Mountain range for more than 2,100 miles from Mt. Katahdin in central Maine, south to Springer Mountain in Georgia, traversing 14 states along the way.
The Trail stretches diagonally across eastern Pennsylvania covering a distance of 228.8 miles. Forty-five of these miles are located on state forest lands. About 39 miles are on the Michaux State Forest located just north of the Maryland state line. The remaining six miles are divided between the Weiser and Delaware State Forests. The Trail is marked by either two different signs. One is a white rectangular paint blazes two inches wide by six inches high, usually on trees. The second is a diamond-shaped metal marker with the Trail Monogram on it.
On state forest lands the Appalachian Trail is contained within a buffer zone where timber harvesting is restricted to the removal of hazardous trees that pose as a risk to public safety. Outside the buffer zone, various types of cutting practices are used to provide a continuous supply of wood products and to enhance the quality of various wildlife habitats. The hiker who ventures off the main trail may have the opportunity to see various states of forest progression and encounter a wider diversity of both plants and animals. |
History of the Area |
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The Michaux State Forest is located in Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties. It is named in honor of Andre Michaux, a French botanist, dispatched by the King and Queen of France in 1785 to gather plants for the Royal Gardens. He and his son Francois Andre Michaux are noted for discovering and identifying a host of flowers, shrubs and trees.
From the mid-eighteenth century to the early twentieth century, the lands that are now the Michaux State Forest were owned by large iron companies. Iron furnaces processed iron ore, dug from open pits, into "pig iron", which was forged into iron tools, stoves, kettles, and a variety of other implements. The largest iron furnaces were located at Caledonia, Mont Alto and Pine Grove Furnace. Cannon balls made from these furnaces were used during the Revolutionary War. The iron companies needed large land holdings from which to cut wood that was converted to charcoal and used to fuel the iron furnaces. The iron industry disappeared in this area when it could no longer compete with new technology and richer ore deposits found to the west.
The Michaux State Forest can boast many firsts in forestry in Pennsylvania. The first forest tree nursery was established in Mont Alto in 1902, the first wooden fire tower in established in 1905 and the first steel fire tower in 1914. In 1903, the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy was established at Mont Alto. It was the first of its kind in the state and only the second in the nation to train professional foresters. Prior to this, foresters went to Europe for training.
Today, the Michaux State Forest, comprising more than 85,000 acres, is managed for a variety of uses that benefit not only the citizens of Pennsylvania, but also the nation and the world. A variety of wood products are produced from the timber resources providing for the needs of millions of people as well as aiding the local economy.
Potable water may be the Michauxs most valuable resource. Numerous local communities depend on its pure water for their municipal water supplies. |
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Area Accommodations |
| B&Bs / Inns | |
Gracious accommodations and in-town convenience are the perfect combination for your stay in Gettysbug. 1898 brick Victorian in historic district. Walk to battlefield, restaurants, shops. | |
Reasonably priced B&B midway between Hershey and Gettysburg, short drive to Pennsylvania Amish. Four trout fishing streams in the area. | |
Enjoy casual, country elegance in this 200 year old brick farmhouse situated on 10 acres. We are located near the Appalachain Trail, world-class fyl fishing and Carlisle collector car events. |
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More Info | |
ATV Trails of the Michaux State Forest. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is providing this trail system for all-terrain vehicles. An all-terrain vehicle is defined as a... | |
Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [at-l] Fire in Michaux State Forest, PA. Subject [at-l] Fire in Michaux State Forest, PA. From landis@epix.net (Steve... | |
Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [at-l] Fire in Michaux State Forest, PABelated Update. Subject [at-l] Fire in Michaux State Forest, PABelated... | |
Under the PA Forest Lands Beautification Program, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has teamed up with nonprofit PA CleanWays to remove illegally dumped... | |
Where are The South Mountain Turkeys. Wild turkey populations across most of Pennsylvania are at all-time high levels. Pennsylvanians are seeing turkeys in places that would not have been... | |
Under the PA Forest Lands Beautification Program, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has teamed up with nonprofit PA CleanWays to remove illegally dumped... |
Area Campgrounds | | Camp Saginaw
740 Saginaw Rd
Oxford, PA
(610) 932-8467
| Harrisburg South Campground
125 Walmar MNR
Dillsburg, PA
(717) 432-4523
| Walmar Manor
125 Walmar MNR
Dillsburg, PA
(717) 432-4523
| KOA Campgrounds
20 Knox Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 642-5713
| Granite Hill Campground
3340 Fairfield Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 642-8749
| Drummer Boy Camping Resort
1300 Hanover Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 334-3277
| Round Top Campground LLP
180 Knight Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 334-9565
| Artillery Ridge Camping Resort
610 Taneytown Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 334-1288
| Gettysburg Battlefield Resort
1960 Emmitsburg Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 337-3363
| Conewago Campground
1507 Narrows Rd
Biglerville, PA
(717) 677-8958
| Twin Bridge Meadow Campground
1345 Twin Bridge Rd
Chambersburg, PA
(717) 369-2216
| Dogwood Acres Campgrounds
4500 Enola Rd
Newville, PA
(717) 776-5203
| Tagg Run Camp Ground & Rstrnt
200 Pine Grove Rd
Gardners, PA
(717) 486-8000
| Western Village RV Park
200 Greenview Dr
Carlisle, PA
(717) 243-1179
| Deer Run Campground
111 Sheet Iron Roof Rd
Gardners, PA
(717) 486-8168
| Gettysburg Campground
2030 Fairfield Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 334-3304
| Mountain Creek Camp Ground
349 Pine Grove Rd
Gardners, PA
(717) 486-7681
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Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Clevy & Sons Bait & Tackle
54 S 3rd St
Oxford, PA
(610) 932-7886
| Cold Spring Anglers
419 E High St # A
Carlisle, PA
(717) 245-2646
| Chambersburg Rod & Gun Club Inc
3725 Warm Spring Rd
Chambersburg, PA
(717) 369-3966
| Dillsburg Fish & Game
224 Coffeetown Rd
Dillsburg, PA
(717) 432-3648
| Addicted Angler
258 Red Tank Rd
Boiling Springs, PA
(717) 258-6669
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Area Resorts and Lodging | | S & M Hunting Lodge Inc
3243 York Rd
Gettysburg, PA
(717) 624-8328
| Old Town Run Mountain Lodge
699 Baltimore Pike
Gardners, PA
(717) 486-5672
| Allenberry Resort Inn & Playhouse
1559 Boiling Springs Rd
Boiling Springs, PA
(717) 258-3211
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