Last Updated: 01/30/10

Welcome to a web site full of information on hiking in the Mid-Atlantic Region (PA, MD, VA and WV) ... topo maps, 3-D maps, elevation profiles, GPS data, directions, trail notes, photos.... everything you need to prepare for an excursion into the wilderness. Information for 206 hikes and over 2618 trail miles are now available. Venues such as, but not limited to, Shenandoah National Park/VA, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, VA and WV, the Monongahela National Forest in WV, state forests throughout PA, Green Ridge State Forest in MD and regional, state, county and federal parks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region are represented.

Please read the Terms of Use before using this website then click on the desired state on the map to the left to continue.

"Yet in the walks I take through nature in quest of truth and demonstration, I recognize a poetry in earth and sea and sky, ruled in their cycles of harmonious actions, deeper and more sublime than ever muse un- taught in science could inspire." William B. Rogers: First State Geologist of VA, First president of M.I.T. and namesake of Mt. Rogers, Va.

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Latest Published Hikes

Cedarville State Forest-Blue and White Loops, MD

Pulpit Rock - Pinnacle Loop, PA

Cedarville State Forest-Orange Loop, MD

Frosty Gap-Cowpasture Backpack, WV

AT-Bluff Mountain Trail Loop, VA (revised)

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Bulletin Board

2010 Car Camping and Backpacking schedule has arrived: See it here!

Flora and Fauna Link Updated: Last year at this time the site had photos and info for over 500 species. As of today it has over 700. Check it out.

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M. R. Hyker's Latest Adventure(s)

1/23/2010, Pulpit Rock-Pinnacle Loop: Precious and I set out for the 2.5 hour drive to Hamburg at 8:00. We arrived at 10:30 to find a crowded parking lot at the water treatment plant. Today definitely was not going to be one of those solitude days. We geared up quickly and began hiking up the watershed road to join the AT. The E.G. for the first 1.5 miles was barely perceptible and mostly on old haul roads. Then we climbed about 500 feet over the next 0.8 miles through some of the rockiest terrain in PA. The view from Pulpit Rock was well worth it. There were already several hikers there and I could hear more coming up through the rocks. We took a nice series of photos to make a panorama out of, slugged down some water and continued on. Although most of the climbing was behind us the rocks didn’t stop. We hiked along a miniature “Devil’s Racecourse” for the next 1+ miles. I was afraid to let go of Precious for fear that she would either hurt herself or tear up her paws on the sharp rocks. We took our time and made it through OK. On our way to the Pinnacle we passed the largest cairn I’ve ever seen … so large that some folks started building a retaining wall to buttress it.

.The Pinnacle was as advertised. It was crowded but everybody was spread out. We took a short break and ate some snacks and watered up before moving on. The next 1.8 miles were a nearly effortless stroll on a flat woods road. This was the only place we encountered ice. We turned off of the AT at the Helicopter Landing Pad and descended through Hemlocks and Rhododendron as Furnace Creek gurgled far below us. Precious and I took this easy return leg to work on our commands “off lead” and I and everyone who saw us were impressed. We passed the reservoir and soon found ourselves back at the truck a full hour ahead of schedule. We would make it home just as the sun set.

Read More Adventures Here!

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