Standing Stone Trail and Greenwood Furnace State Park
The park covers 423 acres, including a six-acre lake, and is surrounded by an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest. The park office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday year-round, and daily during the summer season.
A walk through historic Greenwood Furnace evokes images of the community that flourished here from 1834 to 1904. Greenwood Furnace was a busy industrial complex, with all the noise and dirt of a 19th century ironmaking community. The village throbbed with life: the roaring of furnace stacks, the shouts of the workmen, the hissing of the steam engine, the creaking of wagons loaded with charcoal, and the cast house whistle signaling another pour of molten iron. The furnaces were hot (3,000 degrees Fahrenheit) and cast clouds of smoke and cinders into the air, which rained down on grass, people, livestock and buildings, rendering everything sooty and gray. At night, the fire’s red glow lit the sky, probably allowing residents to walk about without lanterns. Greenwood Furnace was a village built around an inferno.
Directions
The entrance to the park is on PA 305; a 10-minute drive west of Belleville or a 35-minute drive southeast of State College.Recreational Opportunities
Camping: modern sites, some with electricityForty-nine (49) tent and trailer campsites and two walk-in sites are open from the second Friday in April until the end of October. Forty-four (44) campsites have either 30 or 50 amp electric hookups. A washhouse has flush toilets, hot showers and dishwashing sinks. Pets are permitted at designated campsites. Pets are permitted on designated sites.
Trailers and motor homes may use a convenient, sanitary dump station at the campground entrance. The maximum stay is 14 days during the summer season and 21 days during the off-season. Campers must vacate the park for 48 hours between stays.
Explore the campground map.
Explore camping for more information.
Make a reservation
Free Camping for Campground Hosts: one host position in the modern campground
The campground host site amenities include 50-amp electric service, with water and sewer hookup. Firewood is provided. Hosts are required to assist park personnel for 40 hours per week with a four (4) week minimum stay. Responsibilities include posting camping permits, performing light maintenance, and overseeing the self-serve firewood/ice concession. Contact the park office for additional information and availability.
Swimming: A 300-foot sand beach is open from May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules. A dressing area, snack bar and restroom are nearby.
Fishing: The six-acre Greenwood Lake is regularly stocked with trout. Ice fishing is permitted. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws and regulations apply.
For complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Hunting and Firearms: About 320 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey and grouse. Special state park hunting regulations and Pennsylvania Game Commission laws apply. Most of the adjacent Rothrock State Forest lands are open to hunting.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park.
For complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.
Picnicking: Picnic tables and eight reservable picnic pavilions are in a spruce and pine grove setting close to the beach. Unreserved pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. A playground, snack bar, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts and a ball field make this area popular for picnics and reunions.
Snack Bar: A food and refreshment concession near the beach serves visitors in the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.
Orienteering: The self-guiding course starts across the road from the Visitor Center/Park Office. Maps of the course are available at the Visitor Center/Park Office.
Hiking: Many trails within the park and surrounding state forest offer hikers scenic views and glimpses of historical ruins from the 1800s ironmaking community. Explore Trails for trail descriptions.
Boating: Non-motorized canoes and kayaks may be used on Greenwood Lake.
Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Winter Activities: Ice skating is popular on the lake. The park serves as a snowmobiling trailhead after the end of deer season in December. Several miles of ungroomed cross-country ski trails are in the park and on adjacent state forest lands. Parking, restrooms and picnic facilities are available at the park. Additional designated parking areas are within the state forest. Trail maps are available at the park office or state forest office. Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.
Environmental and Historical Interpretation
Year-round interpretive programming makes a visit to Greenwood Furnace an interesting educational experience. Archeological work and extensive research has done much to uncover not only the physical plant, but also the social structure of the community. Guided walks, living history and evening programs interpret much of the natural and historic resources of the park.Programs for school and civic groups are offered by appointment. School programs are offered free and are custom-tailored to meet the teacher’s educational needs. PA Act 48-credit teacher workshops are offered. Contact the park office for details.
Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.
Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.
Greenwood Historic Walking Tour: Greenwood Furnace was once a thriving iron-making village. Today, only a handful of its original 127 buildings remain. This walking tour explores a portion of the historic district and includes parts of the town, tramway, historic roads and charcoal hearths. A free guide to the historic district is available at the park office.
Blacksmith Shop: This furnace-era building houses additional displays on the ironworks and serves as a base for many of the park’s educational programs. It is open weekends and holidays in the summer months.
Visitor Center and Gift Shop: In the park office, the visitor center is open Monday through Friday most of the year, and daily in the summer months. The visitor center has displays on the former ironmaking community. The gift shop sells a variety of items, including T-shirts and sweatshirts, park memorabilia, historical and nature books, children’s nature books and a variety of field guides for the novice and serious wildlife watcher. Proceeds benefit Pennsylvania State Parks.
Access for People with Disabilities
If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.Wildlife
Wildlife is abundant in the area. The alert observer may see white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and many species of small animals. Duck, great blue heron and occasionally osprey visit the lake. At dusk in late May and June, whip-poor-will sing their unique call.Feeding wild animals such as bear, raccoon, duck, goose, and skunk is strongly discouraged. When wildlife loses its fear of people, these animals become pests and dangerous situations can result. Please help in maintaining healthy wildlife populations by not feeding the animals.
Dog Town Trail
| Total Elevation: | 563' |
| Trail Length: | 2.8 miles |
| Hike Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Hike Type: | Loop |
The Greenwood Furnace State Park is located within Rothrock State Forest. Located at this state park are the remnants of the "Age of Iron" with the iron smelting furnace and various other buildings needed to support such an endeavor. Also at the park is a small lake for fishing and swimming and of course a number of hiking trails. On this particular outing I guided a group of teenagers that were part of the Mifflin County Envirothon group, which happened to include my son. I was happy to take him and his friends on a hike into the woods to not only enjoy nature but give them the opportunity to brush up on their floral and fauna identification skills.
The trailhead for this hike is located at the parking area near the park office. The easiest way to get to the trailhead is to come from either Huntingdon or State College. If you are coming from Huntingdon, you'll want to head north on route PA26. If coming from State College, you'll want to head south on route PA26. Coming from either direction, you will want to turn off of route PA26 onto route PA305 once you enter the town of McAlevys Fort. You'll head east on route PA305 towards Greenwood Furnace State Park. Once you travel for approximately 4.7 miles you'll find yourself within the park as the road passes just south of the dam and the Greenwood Furnace lake. Travel another quarter of a mile and turn left, parking in the lot near the park office.
As I mentioned, I lead this hike accompanied by my son and some of his fellow classmates. They were members of the Mifflin County Enirothon team and wanted an opportunity to brush up on their skills in identifying trees and plants in the woods. We had a small picnic at the park and after cleaning up we headed out on this short circuit hike.
Leaving the parking lot at the park office, we headed down a paved path that skirted the right side of the park office. In about a tenth of a mile we crossed the East Branch of the Standing Stone Creek. This is the stream the feeds the small lake located in the park. Shortly after crossing the stream the paved path ended and we followed the paved Broad Mountain Road for another tenth of a mile.
At about a quarter of mile into the hike we beared right off the road and started hiking on the single track Chestnut Spring Trail. The trail had a bit of a climb to it but we only ascended 150 feet over the next two tenths of a mile.
At 0.6 miles the Chestnut Spring Trail crossed Broad Mountain Road. Shortly after the crossing we came upon an intersection, with Chestnut Spring Trail continuing off to our left. The trail to the right, the one we followed, was either Dog Town Trail, Brush Ridge Trail, or just an un-named connecting trail, I am not certain. Regardless, we went right at the intersection, ascending a bit, and then coming upon a gated, dirt road after about 1000 feet of trail.
Looking upstream as we cross the East Branch of Standing Stone Creek.
We turned left on the road and passed the gate on what was now Dog Town Trail. Dog Town Trail is a multi-use trail, usable for hiking, biking, and equestrian, including snow mobiles in the winter months. At 0.7 miles there was another intersection with a clearing straight ahead but with the Dog Town Trail turning to the right. We skirted around the edge of the clearing and then turned left at another intersection at 0.8 miles. Continuing straight was Brush Ridge Trail.
After the left turn we reached the highest part of the hike, positioned above the clearing that we saw earlier. This afforded us a nice view across the valley towards Stone Mountain in the distance. We paused here a bit to enjoy the view before continuing on with our hike.
The trail descended steeply along the edge of the clearing an reentered the woods. At a bit past 0.9 miles the trail turned to the right and leveled out. We now had an easy hike as we walked through the woods on the Dog Town Trail. To our left was a grove of pine trees with the ridge and broad leafed trees on our right. After a half mile the trail made a turn to the left and began a descent towards route PA305.
We reached route PA305 1.5 miles into the hike. Crossing the road we continued our descent towards the East Branch of Standing Stone Creek. At 1.6 miles we crossed the creek on a very sturdy foot bridge. Another 0.1 miles had us entering the back side of the camping area at Greenwood Furnace State Park.
We walked along the paved road through the camping area and turned left on Turkey Hill Road at 2.1 miles into the hike. We continued on Turkey Hill Road as it headed towards route PA305. Prior to reach that intersection we took a moment to explore the old cemetery here. Many of the graves here date back to the mid to late 1800s. After paying our respects, we crossed route PA305, two and quarter miles into the hike.
We followed the pave walkways through the park along the east side of lake. We crossed a small bridge at 2.4 miles and then continued on across the picnic area until we reached Broad Mountain Road. Turning right here we followed the previously hiked paved path back towards the park office and our waiting cars.
This short circuit hike is a great way to explore the forest near Greenwood Furnace State Park. If you have are having a picnic at the park or camping here, consider this hike as a way to enjoy the woods and see what all Greenwood Furnace State Park has to offer.
Standing Stone Trail
The Standing Stone Trail (SST) traverses through some of Pennsylvania’s most scenic terrain, and now holds the distinction of being part of the rapidly evolving Great Eastern Trail, which will soon connect Florida to New York. The Standing Stone Trail (SST) follows scenic, heavily wooded ridgelines in Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Fulton counties. Its features include the historic and popular Thousand Steps day hike, the spectacular vistas of Stone Mountain, and the jumbled sandstone pillars and sinkholes comprising Rocky Ridge Natural Area. At its southern terminus, the SST intersects the rugged Tuscarora Trail at the rustic and bucolic 1085-acre Cowans Gap State Park in Fulton County. Heading northward from the Cowans Gap 42-acre lake and beach area, the hiker up for challenges will trek along the SST through nearly 80 miles of gorgeous, mountainous terrain to the 423-acre Greenwood Furnace State Park with its six-acre lake. At this northern terminus, the trail connects with the Greenwood Spur of the Mid State Trail, which leads the adventuresome hiker to the Mid State Trail and the famous virgin white pines and hemlocks of Alan Seeger Natural Area.
For more details, check out www.hike-sst.org.
The northern terminus of the Standing Stone Trail is located in Greenwood Furnace State Park. A short distance from the park, the trail comes across the Stone Valley Vista. A loop hike can be made to see this vista and then return to the park via the Turkey Trail.
The Standing Stone Trail (SST) follows scenic ridgelines in Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Fulton counties: the south middle region of Pennsylvania's Tiltrock Country. Formerly known as "Link Trail" named for connecting Mid State Trail with Tuscarora Trail, Standing Stone Trail is a destination in its own right, offering Pennsylvania hikers and backpackers a link to dramatic scenery, wild plant and animal life, and compelling history.
The orange-blazed Standing Stone Trail is a 72-mile long main trail network with side trails. The northern terminus of the trail is at Greenwood Furnace State Park near McAlevys Fort, Pennsylvania. The southern end is a junction with Tuscarora Trail in Buchanan State Forest near Cowans Gap State Park. The SST uses both public (state park, state forest, state game land) and private lands.
Go to the link below for hikes along the Standing Stone Trail:
http://www.pahikes.com/trails/standing-stone-trail
Formerly known as “Link Trail” named for connecting Mid State Trail with Tuscarora Trail, Standing Stone Trail is a destination in its own right, offering Pennsylvania hikers and backpackers a link to dramatic scenery, wild plant and animal life, and compelling history. Standing Stone Trail links Greenwood Furnace State Park to Cowans Gap State Park through Rothrock State Forest, Rocky Ridge Natural Area, Martin Gap Natural Area, State Game Lands No. 112, No. 71, No. 99, and No. 81, and Buchanan State Forest.
The TRAIL was first laid out between 1978 & 1982. The original route was 68.1 miles in length. Over time the forest encroached on the original clearing. Extensive work has been done since the mid-1990’s to rehabilitate the trail and continues as SST takes its place in the Great Eastern Trail footpath network from Alabama to New York. The TRAIL runs through Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Fulton Counties in Central Pennsylvania. The trail can be reached within four hours or so from anywhere in Pennsylvania, and the Washington D.C. area. It is a north-south trail with its northern terminus at Greenwood Furnace State Park.
On its journey south the trail makes use of vast tracts of State owned land. You will travel through four State Game Lands, two State Forests and one Natural Area. Its southern terminus is Cowans Gap State Park. The route links the Mid State Trail to the Tuscarora Trail. Hence the original name LINK TRAIL.
The SST makes use of many of the old logging trails, log slides and railroad grades that were used to take the logs to the colliers’ camps where it was turned into charcoal and then carted to the furnaces and used as fuel to melt the iron ore. The trail will take you by more than 70 charcoal flats, and the remains of at least one logging camp.
Greenwood Furnace was one of these iron furnaces, Established in the mid 1800’s, it was also one of the last to shut down. As a result the old furnace along with many of its support buildings still stand. The trail head is near the old furnace. The hiker may get a better understanding of the whole process of making iron by a visit to the Park. I recommend the short hike known as the Collier’s Trail, located in the Greenwood Furnace State Park.
Another major point of interest and perhaps the highlight of the trail is the Thousand Steps ( actually there are almost 1100).
The next to last historical point on the trail, is a small stretch of railroad grade known as Vanderbilt’s Folly. During the late 1890’s William Vanderbilt decided to set up a competitive railroad with the powerful Pennsylvania Railroad. He proceeded to dig several tunnels through the mountains and smooth out a grade and install culverts and bridges. However the project failed and was never completed. Years later most of the right of ways and the tunnels were paved to form the Pennsylvania. Turnpike.
Finally the last quarter mile of the trail uses a small portion of Forbes Road. During the French and Indian War, British troops, under the command of General John Forbes, used this road in their campaign to capture Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh) from the French.
So you see a hike on the Standing Stone Trail is a hike that will take you back in time from the 1700’s, the 1930’s, and to today. This historical trip is done by using a most interesting route traversing rugged mountains with many vistas, to gentle sloping benches covered with blueberry bushes. Elevations run from a low 660 feet to a 2283 foot high point at Raven’s View on Jack’s Mountain. Yet, the trail is not considered an up – down trail. Once the hiker is on top of a mountain he will stay up for several miles before dropping back down into a valley crossing.
Nearby State Parks and Forests
Whipple Dam State Park: This day use park has swimming, boating, picnicking, fishing, boat rentals in the summer and the 22-acre Whipple Lake. The upper end of the lake is wetlands that are best accessed by canoe. A variety of waterfowl and wildlife can be seen in the park.
Penn-Roosevelt State Park: Located in the heart of the western section of the Seven Mountains and surrounded by a large block of Rothrock State Forest, Penn Roosevelt is for people who like to get away from civilization and back to nature. The small lake is built in a natural depression known as Stone Creek Kettle. Ruins of the former African-American Civilian Conservation Corps camp can be found in the park.
For more information on Whipple Dam and Penn-Roosevelt state parks, contact the Greenwood Furnace State Park office.
Rothrock State Forest: All three state parks serve as a base for an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest. The forest is accessible from public highways at more than 27 points and contains over 200 miles of roads. The forest is crisscrossed with numerous hiking trails. The state forest offers; hiking, backpack overnight camping, birding, wildlife photography, hunting and fishing (in season), horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, auto touring, and other activities. 814-643 2340
Nearby Attractions
For information on nearby attractions, contact these agencies: Huntingdon County Visitor’s Bureau, 888-RAYSTOWN, www.raystown.orgJuniata River Valley Visitors Bureau, 877-568-9739, www.juniatarivervalley.org
The Alleghenies www.thealleghenies.com.
Belleville and Big Valley: Five miles over the mountain is the beautiful Big Valley and the village of Belleville, home to several Amish and Mennonite communities. Most tend small farms in this fertile, limestone valley and travel using horse and buggy. One of the best times to visit the valley is on Wednesdays, when the valley turns into a seven-mile long flea market and livestock auction.
In an Emergency
Contact a park employee or dial 911.For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office.
Nearest Hospital
Lewistown Hospital, Lewistown, Pa. (14 miles) Located 0.25 mile off the Electric Avenue Exit of US 322 (east); follow hospital signs.
717-248-5411
For More Information Contact
Greenwood Furnace State Park15795 Greenwood Road
Huntingdon, PA 16652-5831
814-667-1800
Manager: Don Coine
E-mail: greenwoodfurnacesp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer
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