Appalachian Trail: Four State Challenge, PA-VA
Hike 42.9 miles on the AT in 24 hours, in the process traveling across the borders of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
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It’s a rite of passage for many trail-hardened thru-hikers (especially the young guns), but you can get a leg up by tackling the rolling miles in cool weather and low-traffic season, rather than when most northbounders are passing through in spring. Tyler Schultz, a 2011 thru-hiker who returned to knock out the challenge after summiting Katahdin, recommends hiking the trail from north to south, so you can do the cliffy southern bit in daylight. Park a car in Harper’s Ferry at the intersection of Shenandoah Road and US 340. Take a second car to Pen-Mar Park in Waynesboro, PA, and get going before dawn (Schultz started at 3:30 a.m.). Near the end of the hike, you’ll pass your car before you get to the Virginia border. Don’t stop! To finish the challenge, cross the Shenandoah River and knock out 2.4 miles out-and-back on the AT/Loudoun Heights Trail to reach your fourth and final state line (Virginia).
Shelters: Ed Garvey Shelter: sleeps 12; privy. Crampton Gap Shelter: sleeps 6; privy. Rocky Run Shelter: sleeps 4; privy. Pine Knob Shelter: sleeps 5; privy. Ensign Cowall Shelter: sleeps 8; privy. Devils Racecourse Shelter; sleeps 7.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 68.7
Waypoints
FSC001
Location: 39.720978, -77.507004
Pen Mar Road
FSC002
Location: 39.71973, -77.507187
Just south of PA/MD state border; cross rail road
FSC003
Location: 39.717335, -77.508682
View Pen Mar Park
FSC004
Location: 39.693516, -77.523582
Blue blaze trail to High Rocks view; 2 mi. long
FSC005
Location: 39.693748, -77.521977
High Rock Trail
FSC006
Location: 39.673275, -77.528343
Trail to shelter
FSC007
Location: 39.671982, -77.524483
Devils Racecourse Shelter
FSC008
Location: 39.664799, -77.533234
Blue blaze to Raven Rock Cliff view
FSC009
Location: 39.664551, -77.536209
PA 491 and Raven Rock Road
FSC010
Location: 39.656315, -77.538666
Warner Gap Hollow Rd
FSC011
Location: 39.650749, -77.542198
AT turns E
FSC012
Location: 39.648033, -77.539314
Rock stairs
FSC013
Location: 39.6371, -77.541214
MD 77
FSC014
Location: 39.630615, -77.555847
Trail to shelter
FSC015
Location: 39.630882, -77.555931
Ensign Cowall Shelter
FSC016
Location: 39.629749, -77.557549
AT continues straight @ jct. with trail to spring
FSC017
Location: 39.630001, -77.558937
MD 17; parking
FSC018
Location: 39.628017, -77.564903
Rocky ascent
FSC019
Location: 39.627701, -77.565964
Rocky top
FSC020
Location: 39.615658, -77.572563
Spur trail to the E leads to views
FSC021
Location: 39.577282, -77.588753
Blue Blaze Thurston Griggs Trail to spring; 300 ft.
FSC022
Location: 39.57695, -77.588654
Pogo Memorial Campsite
FSC023
Location: 39.572601, -77.596497
Black Rock view
FSC024
Location: 39.559551, -77.595535
Blue blaze trail W to Annapolis Rock
FSC025
Location: 39.540054, -77.600525
Blue blaze E
FSC026
Location: 39.540424, -77.60099
Trail to Pine Knob Shelter
FSC027
Location: 39.540333, -77.602501
Trail to shelter
FSC028
Location: 39.535435, -77.6036
Parking; Greenbrier State Park
FSC029
Location: 39.535049, -77.606186
I-70 footbridge
FSC030
Location: 39.534698, -77.608032
Boonsboro Mtn. Rd
FSC031
Location: 39.530567, -77.610016
Blue blaze trail W to Bartram hill
FSC032
Location: 39.529915, -77.61087
Bartram hill
FSC033
Location: 39.527817, -77.6129
Boonsboro Mtn. Rd
FSC034
Location: 39.501019, -77.622704
AT turns W @ jct. with trail to Washington Monument
FSC035
Location: 39.499985, -77.62365
Washington Monument
FSC036
Location: 39.499283, -77.623367
Mt. Verno picnic pavilion to S
FSC037
Location: 39.497799, -77.619904
Road
FSC038
Location: 39.497833, -77.617386
Monument Rd
FSC039
Location: 39.484852, -77.618736
View to SE
FSC040
Location: 39.484417, -77.619347
Dahlgren Chapel
FSC041
Location: 39.484215, -77.619415
Turners Gap; U.S. Alt. 40
FSC042
Location: 39.464882, -77.624313
At turns E
FSC043
Location: 39.462872, -77.628922
Trail to shelter
FSC044
Location: 39.460968, -77.631119
Rocky Run Shelter
FSC045
Location: 39.457333, -77.626404
Road to towers
FSC046
Location: 39.44445, -77.632835
Blue blaze trail to E; leads to Bear Spring Cabin (may be locked)
FSC047
Location: 39.428566, -77.639183
Rocks to the E
FSC048
Location: 39.410816, -77.64032
Trail to Crampton Gap Shelter
FSC049
Location: 39.4058, -77.63958
Gapland Road
FSC050
Location: 39.36655, -77.658859
Pass blue-blaze trail; view to the northwest
FSC051
Location: 39.360054, -77.662682
Pass spur trail to Ed Garvey Shelter on right.
FSC052
Location: 39.359821, -77.662033
Ed Garvey Shelter
FSC053
Location: 39.333374, -77.67646
Follow blue blazes to the south for views above the Weverton Cliffs.
FSC054
Location: 39.332176, -77.676598
Weverton Cliffs: Savor great views across the Potomac River, then return to Waypoint 53.
FSC055
Location: 39.332821, -77.68203
Weverton Road
FSC056
Location: 39.331486, -77.685165
I-340 underpass
FSC057
Location: 39.329872, -77.682495
Kepp Tryst Road
FSC058
Location: 39.329273, -77.68148
AT turns west; C&O Canal Towpath.
FSC059
Location: 39.325405, -77.701477
Blue-blazed trail leads to hostel.
FSC060
Location: 39.32568, -77.706314
Cross US 340; Sandy Hook Bridge
FSC061
Location: 39.324143, -77.726265
Cross footbridge
FSC062
Location: 39.322834, -77.730164
AT turns northwest on High Street; parking
FSC063
Location: 39.323055, -77.730507
Stone steps
FSC064
Location: 39.322949, -77.73082
Trail to ATC
FSC065
Location: 39.322922, -77.733467
Pass Jefferson Rock on L (massive, tilted shale slab perched on smaller slab); green hills roll down to the confluence of Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers; continue W
FSC066
Location: 39.322929, -77.740334
Turn R @ 3-way; follow blue blazes .2 mi.
FSC067
Location: 39.321819, -77.744469
Turn L @ T onto US 340; cross Shenandoah St., then Shenandoah River on bridge
FSC068
Location: 39.319149, -77.740799
Cross to R side of highway, then climb stairs that lead up cliff and AT tread
FSC069
Location: 39.31488, -77.740631
Walk across Chestnut Hill Rd. and head SW
FSC070
Location: 39.313599, -77.737503
Bear R (S) @ Y with orange-blazed trail; continue ascent of Blue Ridge
FSC071
Location: 39.310749, -77.736977
Turn R @ T with Loudoun Heights Trail; head SW along ridge crest (also the WV?VA state line)
FSC072
Location: 39.304729, -77.740677
Ridgeline views into Harpers Ferry and lush river valley
FSC073
Location: 39.303446, -77.741044
State line! Retrace your steps to your car in Harpers’ Ferry