Mid State Trail
0.5 mile in the park, 324 miles total | More difficult hiking | Point-to-point trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, backpacking
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms, picnic tables
The 324-mile Mid State Trail bisects the park and provides cross-country hiking in the Ridge and Valley Region of central Pennsylvania.
This trail passes through a diversity of forested areas from newly regenerated forest stands to mature and old growth timber areas. Scenic vistas dot the trail, which passes through Thickhead Wild Area, and Bear Meadows and Detweiler Run natural areas.
Trail registers are at a number of places along the trail and overnight camping is permitted anywhere along the trail except in the natural areas or within 200 feet of any forest road.
Hikers wishing to overnight at Penn-Roosevelt State Park must use the camping area and pay the nightly fee.
Hikers overnighting on the trail who wish to leave their vehicle overnight at the park should register with the Greenwood Furnace State Park office and use the main parking lot next to the CCC camp monument.
The Mid State Trail is a rugged and demanding mountaintop trail, and hikers assume their own liability, realizing the difficulty and possible dangers involved.
A detailed trail guide, including maps, is available for a small fee by writing to:
Keystone Trails Association(opens in a new tab)
101 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Trail Definitions
Difficulty Ratings
Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.
Trail Route Type
Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.