The Horse-Shoe Trail is a 140-mile hiking and equestrian trail that runs from Valley Forge to the Appalachian Trail in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Trail runs through the following counties in PA:
| | Chester | 32.4 miles | Map of Chester County portion |
| | Berks | 29.1 miles | Map of Berks County portion |
| | Lancaster | 24.2 miles | Map of Lancaster County portion |
| | Lebanon | 19.4 miles | Map of Lebanon County portion |
| | Dauphin | 35.2 miles | Map of Dauphin County portion |
Click a section of Trail on the following map to see a blow-up of that portion of the HST:
The Trail runs roughly parallel to the I-76, Pennsylvania Turnpike, between Harrisburg East exit 247 (formerly 19) and Valley Forge exit 326 (formerly 24).
The Horse-Shoe Trail begins at Routes 23 and 252 in Valley Forge National Historical Park. The park includes several nice hiking trails, which connects with the multi-use Schuylkill River Trail that runs to Philadelphia.
In Chester County, the Trail runs by the Wharton Esherick Museum, in Paoli, PA. It later runs through Warwick County Park after crossing French Creek on a cable bridge -- what fun!
Where the Trail crosses from Chester County into Berks County, it goes very close to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, and French Creek State Park.
Near the mid-point of the trail, it crosses through the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.
For those of you who like chocolate and amusement park rides, the trail runs close to Hershey Park, in Hershey, PA.
The Trail goes by the relatively new Swatara State Park, which is situated across the Lebanon-Schuylkill County line.
The Horse-Shoe Trail ends at the Appalachian Trail on Stony Mountain.
Since 1935, the Horse-Shoe Trail Club has created and maintained the Horse-Shoe Trail with help of many volunteers. Member dues and contributions support the preservation and maintenance of the Trail. Members receive the club's newsletter, the BLAZE, which includes hiking schedules and other timely Trail information. Members are also invited to attend the annual meeting.
If you would like to join, you may send your Name, Address, Phone and $10.00 membership fee to:
Horse-Shoe Trail Club
P.O. Box 182
Birchrunville, PA 19421-0182
Family, Organization, and Life memberships are also available, for $15, $35 and $200, respectively. HST patches are $2 w/ a self-addressed stamped envelope. Contribtions are also gladly accepted.
A standard pocket-sized guide book is available, containing detailed trail information and maps. Historical information, points of interest, trail directions and other useful information may be found in the Guide to the Horse-Shoe Trail The guide book is published every three years by the Horse-Shoe Trail Club, and is currently in its 22nd Edition -- updated July, 2002.
You may purchase copies of the Guide to the Horse-Shoe Trail at:
This web page was written by a member of the Horse-Shoe Trail Club who likes to hike on the Trail whenever time permits, and who also volunteers to maintain a section.
If you have any comments about this site, please send email to
MikeHSTrail.org
