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EVENT #20: Saturday, October 3, 2026
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 3, for a Trail Work Day!
What to expect:
We will be working on Ridge Trail near campground entrance road. 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
Ridge Trail in Gifford Pinchot State Park is part of the Mason=Dixon 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 Ridge Trail near campground entrance road. 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
Ridge Trail in Gifford Pinchot State Park is part of the Mason=Dixon 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.
Above: anatomy of a trail "burrito".
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--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: Friends of Pinchot will be providing boxed lunches! Please sign up by 5pm Monday, September 28 to be guaranteed a lunch. Bring water/beverage/snacks.
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: Friends of Pinchot will be providing boxed lunches! Please sign up by 5pm Monday, September 28 to be guaranteed a lunch. Bring water/beverage/snacks.
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.
Age Requirements:
Minimum: 14 years old and up (all minors must be accompanied by a guardian) unless otherwise noted. For safety purposes, minors will never be allowed to work alone or with just one other volunteer, unless it is their guardian.
Maximum: no maximum age! If you can hike a couple miles over rough terrain, we can find a task suitable for you!
Questions?:
Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316
Minimum: 14 years old and up (all minors must be accompanied by a guardian) unless otherwise noted. For safety purposes, minors will never be allowed to work alone or with just one other volunteer, unless it is their guardian.
Maximum: no maximum age! If you can hike a couple miles over rough terrain, we can find a task suitable for you!
Questions?:
Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316
SIGN UP FOR 2026 TRAIL CARE #20- Gifford Pinchot State Park, October 3, BELOW!
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through. Try going to the Google Form here, or Contact Jenn directly: [email protected])
**NEW FOR 2026: Please also sign-up for an account with DCNR on the new Conservation Volunteer website here. Once you do that, you are covered under DCNR’s workmen’s compensation umbrella when working on state forest or park land. Also, you can now earn points towards free camping! Check out their FAQs page.
•Once you submit your sign-up on KTA’s Trail Care Event website (here), Jenn will add you to the “Trail Care Team” for that private event in DCNR’s new CV system (and you’ll receive an email from DCNR confirming you’ve been added to the team/event). Then, after the event, Jenn will be inputting all your Trail Care volunteer hours; you won’t have to worry about that. Thanks in advance!
•You don't have to look for/won't be able to find the Trail Care as an "Opportunity" on DCNR's site (they're all set to "private").
•No need to fill out anything for child, etc., clearances. You can add chainsaw and first aid certifications, but not required.
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through. Try going to the Google Form here, or Contact Jenn directly: [email protected])
**NEW FOR 2026: Please also sign-up for an account with DCNR on the new Conservation Volunteer website here. Once you do that, you are covered under DCNR’s workmen’s compensation umbrella when working on state forest or park land. Also, you can now earn points towards free camping! Check out their FAQs page.
•Once you submit your sign-up on KTA’s Trail Care Event website (here), Jenn will add you to the “Trail Care Team” for that private event in DCNR’s new CV system (and you’ll receive an email from DCNR confirming you’ve been added to the team/event). Then, after the event, Jenn will be inputting all your Trail Care volunteer hours; you won’t have to worry about that. Thanks in advance!
•You don't have to look for/won't be able to find the Trail Care as an "Opportunity" on DCNR's site (they're all set to "private").
•No need to fill out anything for child, etc., clearances. You can add chainsaw and first aid certifications, but not required.
