swatara state park rt 81

[lou19604]

im going from swatara state park to port clinton looking on A.T interactive map it seems 81 to 72 to 443 would be the right way to go or do i just hop out on 81 and start hiking? are there any markings when the trail crosses roads or am i on gps at those points?

[ki0eh]

Stopping on the curvey and tall I-81 bridge over the Swatara is not recommended. That's a tall jump down to the A.T. from there too. :D So you are correct in exiting onto PA 72 is needed.

Also there is no real parking at the PA 72 crossing. There is a parking lot on the south side of PA 443, just west of the PA 72 intersection but not quite visible from it. There is a little PUD on trail to get back over to cross 72, you will want the 2004 or later edition PA A.T. map to show correctly how the trail gets through this area.

A.T. road crossings of major roads in PA typically have large routed signs.

[couscous]

Swatara Park Map (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/swatara/swatara_mini_pdf.pdf)

[lou19604]

excellent thank you very much

[Strategic]

Some more info on Swatara Gap that you might want to consider.

ki0eh is right about the road layout, but there might be a bit of a problem with parking at the lot on PA 443; until recently, the State Park didn't allow overnight parking there (though they now list this as approved parking for AT hikers.) It's a very small lot and mostly shielded from the road too. Since Swatara SP is (as they put it) "an unimproved park with limited amenities and facilities" you can't depend on the rangers to keep an eye on your car since there really aren't any. You can also legally park in the area along the north shoulder of PA 72 at the AT crossing, where there's a wide pull-out that runs for about 50 yards along the road. I parked there when I did this section and didn't have any problems, either with the LEOs or with the car. It's a very visible spot on a well-traveled road so it's pretty safe.

How are you getting back to your car? There are some good shuttlers in that part of PA, but be aware that the outfitter in Port Clinton has now closed (permanently, unfortunately), so they aren't available for that (or anything else.)

[GoldenBear]

Check these links for photos and descriptions of parking in the area

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/state/state_detail/AT_state_detail.aspx?stateID=1%20&sectionID=7

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_PAsection7/ATPictures.aspx?pageName=Section%201

Note that the parking at Mile 0.0 is just off the highway, and the one at Mile 1.4 is an actual parking lot (but a small one).

[lou19604]

swatara is my drop off point my son and i are gonna ("test the waters" so to speak) on a small hike from swatara to port clinton. my concern is how obvious the trail is to spot and follow especially when it crosses highways

[GoldenBear]

I hope I won't get deleted for "deviation from the subject," but here goes.

If you can follow the AT away from roads, then doing so while at a road will be even easier. Sometimes (like at Swatara Gap) there will be an obvious sign.

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_PAsection7/AT%20Section%207_0021.jpg

Sometimes the footpath will be clear to follow -- when you get to a road, look to the other side and you'll often see an area where thousands of people have walked, and it will be the only clearing in the forest or brush or grass.

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_PAsection7/PA7_0996.JPG

If the AT goes along a road for a while, there will usually be a sign or an arrow.

And sometimes you'll just have to look for a white blaze.

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_PAsection3/AT_Section3_BlueMt_0157.JPG