SECTION 1: MARYLAND TO PA 326 2nd CROSSING MASON‐DIXON LINE TO RAINSBURG GAP Primitive camping along the trail is possible at a few points BUCHANAN STATE FOREST, PRIVATE LAND, SGL 97 within the State Forest. Camping is prohibited in the Sweet Root Natural Area, and the brief interludes of State Game Web Update, August 2010 http://www.hike‐mst.org Land and private land. Section 1 follows Tussey Mountain through Buchanan State Intermediate access is available from Beans Cove and Forest and small sections of private land and State Game seasonal forestry roads Martin Hill Road and Tower Road. Land 97. A relocation in 2009 moved the trail several Features of section 1 are Martin Hill Wild Area, Sweet Root kilometers west to align with a realignment of Great Eastern Natural Area, and Martin Hill itself, the highest point on the Trail within Maryland’s Green Ridge State Forest. A second, Mid State Trail. smaller relocation moved MST off Martin Hill Road into Martin Hill Wild Area. Future relocations are planned in and Section 1 was opened in 1994 and significantly relocated in near Martin Hill Wild Area so continue to check www.hike‐ 2009. mst.org for updates. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The southern end of the section at the Mason‐ Dixon line can be reached from exit 56 on I‐68, north on Flintstone After a short road walk just north of the M‐D line MST Creek Road to an all way stop then right on Black Valley enters Buchanan State Forest and climbs Tussey Mountain Road, unnumbered in MD, that becomes PA 326 and MST at on Burnt Mills Trail into Martin Hill Wild Area. It then turns the border. north on Dickens Trail and new trails eventually following Tussey Mountain XC Ski Trail to Beans Cove Gap. The northern end of the section, which is partway down the Continuing north it climbs to the top of Martin Hill and then east side of Rainsburg Gap is on PA 326 between Rainsburg traverses Sweet Root Natural Area before reaching PA 326 and Chaneysville and can be reached by driving south on PA between Rainsburg and Chaneysville. 326 from Bedford. Better parking is in the ATV access trail lot at the top of the mountain in Rainsburg Gap, nearly at the south end of Section 2. ‐ 1 ‐ ‐ 2 ‐ MARYLAND TO PA 326 2nd CROSSING (Mason‐Dixon Line NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound TO Rainsburg Gap) Detailed Description, Map 301‐306 km km Parking is available 0.2 km north NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound at the private business Solid km km Wood Products, either by 0.00 NB: Follow PA 326 and cross a permission or on weekends. pipeline and pass fields and SB: Turn right on PA 326/Black scattered homes. Paved road, Valley Rd. 22.68 microscopic shoulder, fortunately 1.49 NB: Turn right on new trail little traffic. alongside field, soon entering Mason‐Dixon Line. Black Valley woods. Rd in both PA and MD, PA 326 on PA side, unnumbered on MD SB: Turn left on gravel Bennett side. Lane (private) 21.90 SB: To continue to Green Ridge 2.13 NB: Climb gently into young oak State Forest Great Eastern Trail, woods on Burnt Mills Trail. Cross continue ahead briefly on Black occasional old skid trails. Valley Road but quickly turn left on State Forest and Martin Hill Gap Road, right on Dry Ridge Road, Wild Area boundary. Seasonal Cross under I‐68 (no exit), left on stream. MD 144 east, right onto trail at SB: Woods then emerge alongside signed junction. Or if you need field. 21.26 supplies and a post office head 3.33 NB: south on Black Valley Rd to the rural crossroads town of Flintstone, Junction with Gap Trail. Gap MD. Check www.hike‐mst.org for Trail to west vanishes into the links to more detailed information laurel, to east/northeast at first as it becomes available. 23.39 barely discernible then becomes 0.71 NB: Turn left on Bennett Lane fairly well traveled closer to (private). Beans Cove Rd. Possible ‐ 3 ‐ ‐ 4 ‐ NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound km km km km seasonal spring 100 m south on SB: Turn right on new trail. 16.48 MST. 7.23 NB: Turn left on Morris Trail. (km th SB: 20.06 14.29 in 11 edition Guide) 4.05 NB: Turn right on meandering Dickens Trail. SB: Turn right on Sawmill Trail. (km th 16.01 in 11 edition Guide) 16.15 SB: Turn left on straighter Burnt 7.43 NB: Turn right on gated Tussey Mills Trail. 19.34 Mountain Trail. 6.40 NB: Cross Carnes Trail, some signs SB: Turn left on Morris Trail. 15.95 read “Karns” Trail. Old MST 8.86 NB: downhill to east. Pass x‐c ski trail mile 3 sign. SB: Continue on meandering SB: 14.52 Dickens Trail. 16.99 9.68 NB: 6.85 NB: Junction with Johnson Trail. Pass Big Pond to east. Old Alder Spring is alleged by the MST/Sawmill Trail on opposite sign posted here to be side of pond. somewhere to the west but SB: 16.54 efforts to find it have failed. 6.91 NB: Turn left on Sawmill Trail. Little Pond is downhill to the Junction of 2009 relocation to east then south of trail. Future south with 1994 trail to north. relocation planned here, check Future relocation planned here, www.hike‐mst.org for updates. check www.hike‐mst.org for SB: 13.70 updates. 10.40 NB: ‐ 5 ‐ ‐ 6 ‐ NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound km km km km Pass x‐c ski trail mile 2 sign. SR 3005. Large parking area SB: 12.98 with kiosk on north side of road. 11.49 NB: Both Beans Cove Road and the Junction with Fetters Trail. To parking area are plowed, but west, reaches Beans Cove Rd Martin Hill Road which diverges near forest boundary in 1.2 km. north here is NOT plowed. To east, 1.1 km to Gap Trail. Perennial Tussey Spring inside Relocation possible here, check signed enclosure is about 150 m www.hike‐mst.org for updates. to west just off south side of Beans Cove Road. Gap Access SB: 11.89 Trail diverges to east just south 11.96 NB: of gate, allows circuit hike to Pass x‐c ski trail mile 1 sign. Gap Trail without walking on SB: 11.42 the hard road. Relocation 12.20 NB: possible here, check www.hike‐ Junction with overgrown mst.org for updates. indiscernible old ridgetop trail SB: Pass steel gate and large routed to west. sign to always‐gated but double SB: 11.18 track Tussey Mountain XC Ski Trail. 9.87 13.51 NB: Climb gently off road other side 15.17 NB: of parking lot on Carl Cessna Trail Headwaters of Wildcat Run, into pine plantation, soon entering spring 10 m down ravine west laurel thicket and leveling off. of trail. Cleared campsite 100 m Evidence of mid‐1960’s burn in this south of ravine bottom, east of “Pennsylvania chaparral.” trail, on east rim of hollow. Cross paved Beans Cove Road Large lunch rock on west side of ‐ 7 ‐ ‐ 8 ‐ NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound km km km km trail just south of campsite. SB: Pass steel gate and then a large SB: 8.22 microwave tower. 6.94 16.55 NB: Turn right on Basin Trail leaving 15.48 NB: Turn left on powerline. Trail climbs steeply. Martin Hill Wild Area and descend VERY steeply. SB: Turn right on new trail in sparse, burned woods. 7.91 SB: Turn left on Evitts Mountain ATV Trail, Martin Hill Wild Area is 16.11 NB: Turn left on Tower Road. (km th south of ATV trail. 6.83 23.03 in 11 edition Guide) 17.02 NB: Enter Sweet Root Natural Area View of I‐68 cut through (NO CAMPING) and continue on Sideling Hill in Maryland. new trail. SB: Turn right on powerline and Cross Martin Hill Road, not descend. 7.27 plowed in winter. No parking. 16.30 NB: Proceed ahead briefly following SB: Leave Sweet Root Natural Area Evitts Mountain ATV Trail, passing and continue on Basin Trail. Climb large microwave tower. VERY steeply. 6.36 Pass the former location of 17.63 NB: Turn left on Verbal Trail and Martin Hill Fire Tower, no views. cross stream. Then pass a large At 829 m this is the highest spring on the left. point on Mid State Trail. SB: Proceed ahead on Tower Road. 7.08 SB: Pass a large spring to the right, 16.44 NB: Pass steel gate on Evitts then cross a stream and turn right Mountain ATV Trail. on new trail. 5.76 Limited parking next to 18.16 NB: Turn right on trail. microwave tower, do not block Hog Pen Trail to west, 200 m to access. Not plowed in winter. Martin Hill Road. ‐ 9 ‐ ‐ 10 ‐ NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound NorthBound Features/Directions SouthBound km km km km SB: Turn left on Verbal Trail. 5.23 21.23 NB: 18.66 NB: Two more culvert crossings of Junction spring trail to west. Sweet Root Run. Pass Wasson Hiker use of spring at leased Trail. camp allowed per Bureau of SB: 2.16 Forestry. 21.68 NB: Bear right on Garlic Trail SB: 4.73 leaving Sweet Root Natural Area, 19.02 NB: Cross another stream and turn and descend. right on Tar Kiln Trail. SB: Bear left on Sweet Root Trail, SB: After two more stream entering Sweet Root Natural Area, crossings, turn left on new trail and descend gently.