View Full Version : 501 to DWG
Planning on a week long hike in PA this spring. Wondering about safe places to leave vehicles near the 501 shelter and DWG. Any input greatly appreciated.
Back in '06 I left my car at the PAMoneypit hostel, just west of the trail, and just off of 501. It's not a bad hike from the trail, but kinda hard to find - owners will shuttle. My car stayed in their yard for 2.5 weeks.
I did NJ last year and left a Jeep across the street by the hostle when you come into DWG heading north. Once you get to main St from mountain road, there is a small dirt parking area, kinda caticorner from the hostel. Our Jeep was untouched and I would say safe to park there for a while. I think there is an AT sign there too.
For a second there I though Levis might be adding DWR to one of their blue jean lines for hikers.
Alligator
01-15-2009, 13:25
Back in '06 I left my car at the PAMoneypit hostel, just west of the trail, and just off of 501. It's not a bad hike from the trail, but kinda hard to find - owners will shuttle. My car stayed in their yard for 2.5 weeks.I did that as well. I don't know if they are still operating or not. I then had them shuttle me to the bus station, where I caught a bus to DWG.
There's a local that runs not too far from 501, but I didn't know it and had them shuttle me a little further to where Greyhound picked me up.
What's the PAMoneypit hostel?
One thing you don't want to do is leave it at the road crossing near 501. You may be able to talk to the caretakers about leaving it near the shelter.
PAMoneypit is a hostle near the 501 shelter. It's listed in the '08 Companion. Actually just a couple's home, but they enjoy doing shuttles and will give you a bed, shower, internet access, and light breakfast and shuttle to/from the trail for $25 I think, at least that was the deal in '06. Not 5 star accommodations, but real friendly folks.
BMECC's 501 caretaker's phone number's listed in ALDHA's Online Companion. Check with him for current information on parking at PA 501.
Click on Hike the Trail (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.715465/k.9731/Hike_The_Trail.htm) and in particular Getting to the Trail (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.806835/k.10F4/Getting_to_the_Trail.htm) for more information. ATC's A.T. Shuttle List is linked from the 2nd page.
I've heard of a vehicle being vandalized there at the 501 shelter parking lot back in 2001 when I was hiking thru there. A window was broken and a radio was stolen out of a car in just a few short minutes.
Panzer
Something similiar has happened many places at one time or another.
You can leave a car at DWG's parking lot. You should notify the park ranger office, they will want your tag number. I left a car there a week last spring with no problems.
Thank you for all of this valuable information.