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SEVEN GAME LANDS | FIVE INTERCONNECTED TRAILS | TWO STATES | ONE COMPLETE LOOP

A new long-distance backpacking experience connecting some of Pennsylvania and Maryland's most rugged trails, remote ridgelines, and historic landscapes.

Explore the Tiltrock Loop

A 300-MILE TRAIL HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

The Tiltrock Loop is a newly connected route made up of the Mid State Trail, Standing Stone Trail, Tuscarora Trail, Great Eastern Trail, and C&O Canal Towpath into one extraordinary circuit through Pennsylvania and Maryland.

This loop is so new that no one has completed it yet. That’s right, if you’re reading this, you could be the first hiker to make your mark and be the first to complete the Tiltrock Loop.

How did it come about? For years, the infrastructure was already there. The Great Eastern Trail featured a natural bifurcation, and these historic pathways wove through the same rugged ridge-and-valley topography. It took the vision of the Bedford County Outdoor Recreation Alliance, regional trail authorities, and local trailblazers to recognize that these separate pieces could be unified.

Today, they form a continuous 300-mile loop, completely eliminating the hurdles of vehicle shuttles and point-to-point planning.

Tiltrock Stats

EXPERIENCE

Long-distance backpacking, thru-hiking, day hiking, section hiking

MAJOR TRAILS

Mid State, Standing Stone, Tuscarora, Great Eastern, and C&O Canal Towpath

PUBLIC LANDS

Includes seven State Game Lands

WATER AVAILABILITY

Hikers should plan to carry three liters of water daily and camp near water sources. Water reliability fluctuates heavily based on seasonal conditions; always assess current conditions rather than relying solely on map waypoints

CAMPING OPTIONS

A diverse mix of lodging and backcountry sites, ranging from Tenley Park and the Union Hotel in the gateway trail town of Everett to shelters and primitive sites spanning Rothrock State Forest, Cowans Gap State Park, Green Ridge State Forest, and the Martin Hill Wild Area.

RESUPPLY STRATEGY

Plan to carry 3–5 days of food. Full grocery access is available in the trail town of Everett, PA, or in Hancock, MD, with smaller-scale markets, gas stations, and diners accessible in trail-adjacent towns like Williamsburg, Mapleton, and McConnellsburg.

ATTEMPT THE FKT

Trail Sections

40 Miles / 4,890 FT Elevation Gain Section 1 | Everett to Williamsburg

AMENITIES | Everett: Parking at the Union, Camping, Bathrooms, full grocery store, coin laundry, post office, restaurants | Williamsburg: Parking, Bathrooms Dollar General on trail, Pizza and Gas Stations

51 Miles / 4,800 ft Elevation Gain Section 2 | Williamsburg to Greenwood Furnace SP.

AMENITIES | Williamsburg: Parking, Bathrooms Dollar General on trail, Pizza and Gas Stations | Greenwood Furnace SP: Parking, Camping, Bathrooms Water

75 Miles / 11,800 ft Elevation Gain Section 3 | Greenwood Furnace SP to Cowans Gap SP.

AMENITIES | Greenwood Furnace SP: Parking, Camping, Bathrooms Water | Cowans Gap SP: Parking, Camping, Bathrooms

40 Miles / 2,700 ft Elevation Gain Section 4 | Cowans Gap SP to Hancock, MD.

AMENITIES | Cowans Gap SP: Parking, Camping, Bathrooms | Hancock MD: Parking, Bathrooms, Full Grocery Store, Bed and Breakfast, coin laundry

32 Miles / 200 ft Elevation Gain Section 5 | Hancock to Paw Paw

AMENITIES | Hancock MD: Parking, Bathrooms, Full Grocery Store, Bed and Breakfast, coin laundry | Paw Paw: Parking, B&B, Tavern, Gas Station, Dollar General

61 Miles / 7,200 ft Elevation Gain Section 6 | Paw Paw to Everett.

AMENITIES | Paw Paw: Parking, B&B, Tavern, Gas Station, Dollar General | Everett: Parking at the Union, Camping, Bathrooms, full grocery store, coin laundry, post office, restaurants

TILTROCK, YOUR WAY

NOT READY FOR 300 MILES? NO PROBLEM

If you’re only in town for a weekend or just want to experience a taste of the full Tiltrock Loop, we have you covered. Tiltrock isn’t just for experienced thruhikers, and can be enjoyed by families, novices, and anyone who has an interest in hiking these scenic trails. Consider these pared-down hikes:

THE EVERETT RIDGE SECTION (8–12 MILES)

Hike scenic elevated stretches of the Mid State Trail before descending directly into the heart of Everett.

TENLEY PARK LOOP (3-5 MILES)

Perfect for families and casual walkers, offering peaceful wooded trails, picnic pavilions, and geocaching right on the town edge

STANDING STONE OVERLOOKS (6-10 MILES)

Challenging climbs rewarding hikers with sweeping, multi-county vistas along PA's famous ridge-and-valley topography.

MAKE YOUR OWN

Starting at the trail town of Everett, PA, create your own Tiltrock Loop experience and simply turn around and head back when you’re done. Comfy beds, cold drinks, and great food await to celebrate hiking, your way.

WILD BY NATURE

RIDGES. RIVERS. ROCK. HISTORY. SOLITUDE.

Black bear. White-tailed deer. Mountain laurel. Hemlock forests. Migrating birds. Wildflowers. And miles where you may not see another person.

WALK THROUGH CENTURIES OF HISTORY

Thousands of beautiful trails exist, but few let you hike directly through layers of American history. As you navigate the Tiltrock Loop, you are walking alongside the remnants of previous generations

THE FORBES ROAD

Cross paths with the historic 18th-century military trail that shaped the frontier.

EARLY IRON PRODUCTION

Explore the ruins and geographical scars of the booming 19th-century iron furnaces scattered around Everett.

REVOLUTIONARY-ERA REMNANTS

Discover the hidden sites of early saltpeter mining used for black powder production.

ABANDONED INFRASTRUCTURE

Walk past the towering 1880s stone aqueducts and forgotten pathways of the never-completed South Pennsylvania Railroad.

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EVERETT, PA

YOUR TRAIL TOWN

Everett, Pennsylvania, sits at the heart of Tiltrock Country—a place to fuel up, spend the night, grab a meal, and prepare for what's ahead. Because it sits directly at the center point of the loop, it is the ultimate hiker oasis.

EAT | SLEEP | RESUPPLY | EXPLORE