Eagleton Mine Camp Trail

Eagleton Mine Camp Trail
Length24 mi (39 km)
LocationClinton County, Pennsylvania, US
UseHiking
Elevation changeModerate
DifficultyModerate
SeasonYear-round
HazardsUneven and rocky terrain, rattlesnakes, mosquitoes, ticks, black bears

The Eagelton Mine Camp Trail is an approximately 24-mile (39 km) hiking and biking trail network in north-central Pennsylvania, in Sproul State Forest.[1] The total trail distance includes several different linear trails that can be used to form one-way and loop hikes of various lengths. The trail system is also often used for mountain biking.[1]

History and description

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The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail was developed in 2006 and utilizes several old road and railroad grades associated with a coal mining community that was active from approximately 1845 to 1870.[2] The former Eagleton Coal and Iron Company built several villages for workers, and some parts of the community were funded by the royal family of Spain. The remote community was also known for alcohol bootlegging.[1] Some ruins can be seen along the route,[3] though most of the former structures and transportation routes have been reclaimed by the forest.[2] The trail network is reached from Pennsylvania Route 120, about 15 miles west of Lock Haven, via the unpaved Eagleton Road.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Cramer, Ben, ed. (2008). Pennsylvania Hiking Trails (13th ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 161. ISBN 9780811734776.
  2. ^ a b Zakula, Robert G. (October 2008). "A Vanished History Unearths a New Beginning: Eagleton Mine Camp Trail" (PDF). The Hemlock. Lock Haven University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  3. ^ Bernard, Lou. "Landscapes of the Pennsylvania Wilds". Pennsylvania Wilds. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. ^ Zakula, Robert G. (October 2008). "Hike of the Month: The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail" (PDF). The Hemlock. Lock Haven University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 15 January 2022.