This Pennsylvania trail is famous for its 1,000 steps. But do you know its history?
What was once a path for quarry miners is now one of Pennsylvania’s most well-known hiking trails, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
The infamously steep Thousand Steps trail lies near the border of Huntingdon and Mifflin counties, with a daunting 1,037 sandstone steps over the half-mile long hike. What the trail lacks in length it makes up for in elevation, with an 850-foot gain.
The hike is part of the Standing Stone Trail, which connects the Tuscarora Trail to the Mid State Trail. Out of the 85-mile stretch, the Thousand Steps is considered one of the most challenging parts, despite its relatively short distance.
In an essay for the Keystone Fund, George Conrad, president of the Standing Stone Trail Club, detailed the history of how the hiking path came to be.
“While the Thousand Steps offer access to the beauty of Huntingdon County, they also serve as a reminder of a bygone era,” Conrad wrote.
The steps were constructed in 1936 by Harbison-Walker workers to carry materials down from the ledge quarry at the top of the steps. The workers would carry ganister, a fine-grained sandstone used in the production of silica bricks, down the path where they could be processed. The ganister would be used to line steel furnaces. Following World War II, steel furnace production fell and the quarry was closed.
In the 1990s, the Standing Stone Trail was formed, connecting Cowans Gap State Park in Franklin County to parts of Rothrock State Forest near State College. The trail is now part of the expansive Great Eastern Trail network running from Florida to New York.
The entry point for the trail is off Route 22 between Mount Union and Mapleton with a gravel lot on the side of the road for hikers to park.
What to know: The limestone steps vary in height and depth. As with any hike, bring appropriate shoes, water and check weather conditions before starting.
How to get there: From State College, take Whitehall Road to Spruce Creek and then turn onto U.S. Route 22 to get there in about an hour.
What to do: Lincoln Caverns, Greenwood Furnace State Park
