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EVENT #18: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Gifford Pinchot State Park / Mason-Dixon Trail System
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Join KTA, Friends of Gifford Pinchot S.P., and the Mason-Dixon Trail on Saturday, October 4, for a Trail Work Day!
***UPDATED 9/25/25:***What to expect:
We will be working on several sections of the trail starting at the entrance off the campground entrance road. This area of the park does have an abundance of poison ivy in a few sections so plan for appropriate protection. We will be conducting the following activities:
Start: We will meet in the overflow parking area, for a welcome, introductions, and overview prior to moving to Ridge Trail. We will have tools available but please feel free to bring your favorite trail tools. We will have water and some light snacks available. We will break for lunch between 11:30 - 12:00. Restrooms are available in the park at the A loop. If you can’t stay for the entire time don’t worry any assistance will go a long way in refurbishing this trail! We'll probably work until around 3 PM.
About the Trail
From MDTS's website: "The Mason-Dixon Trail connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail. This 200 mile long trail starts at Whiskey Springs on the Appalachian Trail, in Cumberland County, PA and heads east towards the Susquehanna River, passing through Gifford Pinchot State Park en route.
We will be working on several sections of the trail starting at the entrance off the campground entrance road. This area of the park does have an abundance of poison ivy in a few sections so plan for appropriate protection. We will be conducting the following activities:
- Reshaping the trail edges to crown the trail and to establish dips.
- Establishing or maintaining trail crossover channels.
- Trimming overgrowth and cutting invasives (Asian bittersweet vines, autumn olive and Japanese barberry in particular).
- Spreading and compacting gravel on the trail.
- Demonstrating the construction methods while installing several sections of French drainage mattress (AKA burritos).
Start: We will meet in the overflow parking area, for a welcome, introductions, and overview prior to moving to Ridge Trail. We will have tools available but please feel free to bring your favorite trail tools. We will have water and some light snacks available. We will break for lunch between 11:30 - 12:00. Restrooms are available in the park at the A loop. If you can’t stay for the entire time don’t worry any assistance will go a long way in refurbishing this trail! We'll probably work until around 3 PM.
About the Trail
From MDTS's website: "The Mason-Dixon Trail connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail. This 200 mile long trail starts at Whiskey Springs on the Appalachian Trail, in Cumberland County, PA and heads east towards the Susquehanna River, passing through Gifford Pinchot State Park en route.
--LOGISTICS--
MEETING LOCATION:
>Meet us at 9 AM at:
Gifford Pinchot State Park- Campground Entrance, Overflow parking (circled in purple in map below)
>Map/directions to parking:
coordinates: 40.05907, -76.90233
goo.gl/maps/eoAvztfZFe2PRYWm8
Important notes:
Lunch: Bring your own, along with fluids. Check back for updates/ we'll email participants the week of the event with more details.
Cell phone service: Good in area.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here. You're welcome to bring your own hand tools and PPE, but KTA can provide these.
Lunch: Bring your own, along with fluids. Check back for updates/ we'll email participants the week of the event with more details.
Cell phone service: Good in area.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here. You're welcome to bring your own hand tools and PPE, but KTA can provide these.
Questions?:
Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316
Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316
SIGN UP FOR GPSP/MDTS Code Orange Trail Care Day, Oct. 4, HERE!
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through -- please go directly to the form through this link.)
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through -- please go directly to the form through this link.)
