It's Time to Take a Hike in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania! Although known predominantly for its Pennsylvania Dutch culture, the Gettysburg battlefield, and the cities of Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York, south-central Pennsylvania is home to many tracts of public lands that offer a diverse array of hiking experiences. From the gentle farm country of Lancaster and York Counties, to the steep-sided ravines along the Susquehanna River, to the rugged ridges north of Harrisburg, and the rolling hills of South Mountain, you'll find hikes to suit about any taste and interest. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Harrisburg, by local outdoorsman Matt Willen, provides the first and most comprehensive hiking guide to the region. Each hike description features key information on length, hiking time, difficulty, configuration, scenery, traffic, trail surface, and accessibility. This guide features information on the history and natural history of the areas the hikes pass through, detailed trail maps and elevation profiles, clear directions to the trailheads and trailhead GPS data, and tips on nearby activities. Matt Willen is a writer, explorer, and photographer. He spends much of his time exploring little-known and remote places around the globe, most recently in areas above 50 degrees north latitude and below 50 degrees south. Matt is also the author of The Best in Tent Camping: Pennsylvania (Menasha Ridge Press). When he isn’t on the road, he can be found messing around with his two sons, Jackson and Ian, or playing music. He lives just outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania. TABLE ROCK AND PETERS MOUNTAIN LENGTH: 2 miles to Table Rock; 3.1 miles to Peters Mountain Shelter; 4.15 miles to Victoria Furnace Trail. Double the distance for return. - CONFIGURATION: Out-and-back - DIFFICULTY: Easy–moderate - SCENERY: View of Clark Creek Valley, Peters Mountain Shelter; very nice ridge walking - EXPOSURE: Mostly shaded - TRAIL TRAFFIC: Moderate–heavy on weekends - TRAIL SURFACE: Dirt - HIKING TIME: 2 hours for Table Rock, 3 hours for Peters Mountain Shelter,4 hours for Victoria Furnace Trail - DRIVING DISTANCE: About 10 miles from the intersection of I-81 and US 22/322 outside of Harrisburg - ACCESS: Open - MAPS: USGS Halifax and Enders; Keystone Trail Association Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, Sections 7 and 8: Susquehanna River to Swatara Gap - FACILITIES: Spring and privy at Peters Mountain Shelter - WHEELCHAIR TRAVERSABLE: No - CONTACT: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 717-258-5771, appalachiantrail.org - SPECIAL COMMENTS: A pleasant hike year-round IN BRIEF This hike heads east out of the parking area along the Appalachian Trail (AT), along the Peters Mountain ridge to Table Rock, a wonderful sunny overlook. From there, you can follow the AT to the Peters Mountain Shelter, and from there to the Victoria Trail near the boundary of the Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area (see page 47). DESCRIPTION The first section of this hike, to Table Rock and back, is deservedly popular. The walking is easy, the distance is not too long, and the view from the rock is spectacular. Beyond Table Rock, the trail can still be busy, as a trip to the Peters Mountain Shelter and back makes for an easy overnight excursion. Beyond the shelter, you’ll see fewer people, mostly folks exploring the AT. This hike offers pretty views along Peters Mountain, one of the significant long, level ridges that form the Valley and Ridge physiographic province of central Pennsylvania. Peters Mountain extends for nearly 30 miles from the Susquehanna River north of Harrisburg northeast to Tower City. Across the Susquehanna, which forms a large water gap in the ridge, it continues as Cove Mountain to the west. The top of Peters Mountain, like many of the other mountains in the Valley and Ridge Province, is composed of extremely hard, erosion-resistant sandstone. All along its crest you’ll find large, blocky outcrops of rock. The ridgeline is surprisingly narrow in places, though not so much on this hike. The top of the mountain varies very little in elevation, and because this hike begins at the top of the ridge, you’ll have very little climbing. It is mostly flat walking on a good trail. From the parking area above PA 225, head east along the AT. You may get slightly confused as you leave the parking area because an inviting dirt road leads directly up the ridge. The AT actually heads over to the south side of the mountain right away to bypass the radio towers to which the road leads. Look for the white blazes and a trail sign for Table Rock (2 miles) and Peters Mountain Shelter (3 miles) pointing the way over some rocks. After passing below the radio towers, the trail climbs back to the ridge, crosses over the top, and joins an old roadbed. The walking here is extremely pleasant. You’ll begin to see some of the outcrops along the ridgetop here and if you are feeling ambitious you might scramble to the top of one or two for a view. Soon, however, the trail passes