TIL about a hidden section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania

I was hiking the Appalachian Trail last October near Duncannon, Pennsylvania, and I stumbled onto this side path that wasn't on my main map. A local guy told me it was an old alternate route used by hikers back in the 70s to avoid a tough rocky stretch... it cuts through this beautiful little valley with a stream and a waterfall I'd never seen before. The trail was kind of overgrown but still marked with faded blazes on the trees. I followed it for about 3 miles and it looped back to the main AT just past a shelter. It made me wonder how many other forgotten spurs are out there that nobody talks about anymore. Has anyone else found an old alternate route like this on a well-known trail?

3 comments

3 Comments

dianawilson16d ago

Oh wow, I found something kind of like that on the Long Trail in Vermont a few years back. I was coming down from Camel's Hump and saw this super faint trail marker pointing off to the left. It led to this tiny shelter that wasn't in any of my guidebooks, with old graffiti inside from the 80s and a guest log that hadn't been touched in like 10 years. I love finding those little secrets that feel like they're just for you, even if they're only a mile off the main path. It's wild how much history is out there just waiting for someone to notice.

ray_burns16d ago

Yeah but some stuff is off limits for a reason. People ruin those places.

nancyramirez16d ago

I found something similar on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia once, a little side trail to an old fire tower that wasn't on any map. The stairs were so rotten I almost went through them, but the view from the top was insane.