Bucket list items for Eastern seaboard – mid-Atlantic region

Try the NPT. It is an easy trail… NPTtrail.org

I enjoyed the AT in PA, especially the rocks!

The one trail I would like to do is the Long Trail in Vermont, which is within your stated driving range.

You are close to the Buckeye Trail in Ohio. I walked from Lake Erie to Brecksville Station and enjoyed that walk, although the sections through towns was different from what I am used to here out west.

The Allegheny Front Trail, near State College? It’s a loop around Black Moshannon State Park. Not truly epic, but pleasant and close. A realistic weekender.

Truly epic hiking close to Pittsburgh is sort of lacking. I did the two days of the LHHT on the Ohiopyle end and it was also pleasant but not epic. I think you’ve pretty much got the list already.  Maybe add Allegheny National Forest in northern PA.

Truly epic hiking close to Pittsburgh is sort of lacking. I did the two days of the LHHT on the Ohiopyle end and it was also pleasant but not epic. I think you’ve pretty much got the list already.

I agree. Hiking on the East coast is a lot different than what Dean and I have easy access to… the Rockies, the Sierra, and all of the southwest deserts. So as he says, most of the eastern hiking is pleasant, but not epic.

Grayson Highlands is an eastern hike I would definitely do.  It has lots of open balds and … wild ponies.

Getting into Tn/NC, there is the Roan Highlands (high open balds), a Smokies AT run (shelter use required but some nice hiking), Slickrock Wilderness, Pisgah/Shining Rock.

Those are some of my favorites anyway.

Try the NPT. It is an easy trail… NPTtrail.org

Great lead – found a really fun trip report on this:  https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/54245/

I enjoyed the AT in PA, especially the rocks!

Interesting – and everyone poopoos the PA segment as “the worst section of the entire AT”

More replies to come as time permits – I really appreciate the leads.  I’ll be cultivating a document on all of these as I can.

The top half of the LHHT is a bit boring (I’ve been doing short sections on the weekends). The further south I get the nicer it is, but it’s not epic by any means. Check the map here; some of the north-central trails are supposed to be rugged and interesting.

I enjoyed the AT in PA, especially the rocks!

Interesting – and everyone poopoos the PA segment as “the worst section of the entire AT”

I like rocks, boulders, and gigantic pieces of granite. Some people take pictures of trees, plants, lakes, and forests. I take pictures of rocks. One of my favorite movies is the Long, Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Lucy liked rocks too.

I even have a Rocks ‘n Boulder Photo Gallery.

The rocks in PA are overhyped.  I should know, I live smack in the middle of the PA AT section.  With the exception of the area east of Port Clinton, it’s not that different from other areas of the AT.

i will add some local gems.  there is a loop that combines the west rim trail with the rail trail through the Grand Canyon of PA.  It is about 50 miles.  Another loop, the Black Forest Trail is also in the 50 mile range and is as nice as any eastern AT south of NH.  There are several more trails of this lengths such as the Donut hole and Chuck Keiper Trail that are also worth hiking.

If you chose to do Sheandoah then don’t get fixated on the AT.  there are much nice areas off the ridge line such as the Big Run area.

A very nice weekend hike is the AT in Delaware Water Gap (NJ). You either have to do an out and back or get a bit creative.

Good list so far and I’ll add some other PA loops:

• Old Loggers Path – 27 mile loop north of Williamsport
• John P Saylor Trail – 18 mile loop (if you’re looking for a single night trip)
• Mid State Trail through PA (312 mile thru-hike)

Enjoy!

Some Northern SNP suggestions (many can be combined on a multi night trip):

• Old Rag- I would suggest arriving in the evening and camping along the fire road and then hiking to the summit for sunrise to avoid the crowds.
• White Oak Canyon
• Mary’s Rock
• Hawksbill
• Rose River/ Dark Hollow Falls Loop
• Jeremy’s Run (I have yet to do this one but it is on my bucket list)

South of SNP:

• Three Ridges Loop

I am new here after reading for a fewwyears but feel free to reach out for more details on any of these hikes as I live in the area and hike in SNP frequently.

The Adirondacks are great.  If you have lots of time, go to the High Peaks when crowds are smallest.

The Catskills are also nice, perhaps as a stop on  your way to the Adirondacks:  the Blackhead Range, Cornell and Wittenberg are my favorites.

Do try to get to the Presidential Range of the White Mountains.

If you make it down to TN/NC, there are some truly beautiful areas. Probably not epic in the sense of vast open spaces and huge mountains as mentioned above, but very special in their own way. Linville Gorge, much of the Smokies, and Pisgah to name a few.  Grayson Highlands is worth a trip for sure. Tons of off trail winners too, but that’s a whole other ball of wax.

Sorry to hear about your health.

Ryan

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is nice.  The parts of the trail near Ohiopyle, Middle Fork, and Beam Rocks offer the best views.  You can actually bike to Ohiopyle (the southern terminus of the LHHT) from Pittsburgh via the Great Allegheny Passage.  I did this this past May.  I biked into Ohiopyle from Pittsburgh; hiked the entire LHHT south to north; turned around and hiked back to Ohiopyle; and finished by biking from Ohiopyle back to Pittsburgh.  The whole trip took me 6.5 days.  You can get a local outfitter to shuttle you from Ohiopyle to the southern terminus of the LHHT, but it is somewhat expensive.  The Sierra Club’s trail guide for the LHHT is okay, but the maps by PA’s DCNR are free and much better than the ones that are in the Sierra Club’s guide.

Many of the PA state forest hiking trails have been mentioned and many make for good backpacking.  The trails in the northern part of central PA are likely to give you the best views and have a slight “wilderness” feel to them. I have been wanting to do the Quehanna Trail for a while now.

I wouldn’t let the negative comments you’ve heard about the PA portion of the AT discourage you.  The northern portion is definitely the most scenic, with better and more frequent vistas.  However, the southern half of the trail is nice too. (I grew up in south central PA!)  I like the portions that travel through Michaux State Forest and Pine Grove Furnace.  I would avoid the section of the trail between Boiling Springs and the Duncannon, most of this is walking through very boring suburban areas and farm fields.

Allegheny National Forest has a few good options for backpacking.  About 90 miles of the NCT run through it.  Minister Creek is a short but scenic backpacking loop in the ANF that connects to the NCT.

I don’t think anyone has mentioned the Finger Lakes Trail System yet or the Mason-Dixon Trail.