A Challenging 250 Mile Route Through
The Heart of the Ridge and Valley Appalachians
Welcome to the Tuscarora Trail
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Established in the 1960's as an alternate route for the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Tuscarora Trail is a 250-mile long trail through the Ridge and Valley Appalachians of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. More recently, sections of the Tuscarora from Mill Mountain in West Virginia to Cove Mountain in Pennsylvania, have been included in the long-distance Great Eastern Trail. A hiking destination in its own right, the Tuscarora Trail leaves the AT near Mathews Arm Campground in Shenandoah National Park making its way west and north to rejoin the AT atop Blue Mountain, 10 miles south of Duncannon, Pa. Coupling the experience of remote wilderness, green pastures, small towns, rugged tread-way and country back roads, the Tuscarora offers a truly unique hiking adventure.
The Tuscarora Trail 60th Anniversary Challenge
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Tuscarora Trail, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is hosting the TT60Challenge. There are three ways to complete the challenge: hiking, doing volunteer trail maintenance with the PATC, or completing a combination of both hiking and trail maintenance that adds up to 60. For more information, visit the PATC TT60 Challenge page.
Virginia Trail Detour Alert!
The Tuscarora Trail section just west of Massanutten Mountain is closed due to loss of landowner permission. Please respect the landowner's decision. This is the Doll Ridge section from Three Top Mountain to Riverview Drive. To detour this section, please consult the updates page for current detour information. We are working on a shorter reroute. the Tuscarora Trail Committee Chair at tuscaroratrail@patc.net with any questions.
Tuscarora Trail Signs Project
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) has provided PATC with a generous grant to raise awareness of the 250-mile Tuscarora Trail. One of the challenges of maintaining the Tuscarora Trail has been its incomplete, inconsistent, and inadequate signage. In addition to funding this website, part of the REI grant has been used by PATC volunteers to design and purchase hundreds of new full-color directional signs that will guide hikers through the entire 250 miles. These signs are now fully installed. Thanks to all the volunteers for their hard work getting them in and up on the trail.
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To see more signs and volunteers installing them, check out the photos [opens new window].
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, along with other hiking organizations maintains the Tuscarora Trail, and in partnership with REI is promoting the trail as long distance hiking resource in the Midatlantic. The PATC is dedicated to providing a challenging and rewarding hiking experience along the Tuscarora Trail, which is more remote and rugged than the AT.
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CAUTION: Not all sections of the Tuscarora Trail are appropriate for young or inexperienced hikers.
The PATC
