Walk into the Furnace at Pine Grove Furnace, Pennsylvania
Pine Grove Furnace State Park has so many things going for it. The Furnace, the Appalachian Trail Museum, the Appalachian Trail Ice Cream Challenge, the Appalachian Trail halfway mark, two swimming areas, free showers, camping, cabins, boat rentals, hiking, a dam, a rail trail, and so much more!!!
The State Park is just one surprise are another. The park itself is not very big but is surrounded by Michaux State Forest which has even more trails to keep you busy.
Start your day at the furnace which has a nice little park area with the Appalachian Trail Museum just up the way plus a little market. Down to the right about a mile or two down the way are the two beaches with camping areas just down the way from the furnace and cabins close by.
The Furnace
The furnace is just so large.
I am about 5 feet 4 inches and I can walk right up to this and around it. But if you are much taller you will have to duck a bit.
This is the back of the furnace that I walked through. It is a totally cool place to be but not really some where that I would spend more then a lunch at.
Brief History
In 1764, three gentlemen started Pine Grove Iron Works which manufactured wagon wheels, kettles, stoves and other iron item. In 1782, another gentleman bought the factory and built it up more plus other supporting facilities around the area. Those facilities supported a small community which included a school house, church, the Ironmaster’s Mansion (built in 1829, which has been turned into a hotel and is available for weddings.), a little store (used still today), and so much more.
The company would change owners a few more times through the years. But in 1873, Jay Cooke was the owner. He was called the “Financier of the Civil War” as he raised $1.2 billion in the sale of Federal Treasury Notes and he was the wealthiest man in America by the end of the war. But after the war, his railroad failed and a depression that covered the country sent him into bankruptcy. But he was able to find a way to save the Pine Grove areas ironwork.
In 1874, the charcoal fired furnace was deactivated and went renovations for then next several years under John Birkinbine guidance as the head engineer for the Ironworks. Mr. Birkinbine was highly concerned about the reductions of forest in the area and helped lead to new technologies for the Ironworks including using coke and coal rather then charcoal, i.e. he was a environmentalist before that was a word.
Mr. Birkinbine would be come a founding member of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. By 1879, Connellsville was sending it’s coke to be used as fuel. Production at the factory ended in 1895. In 1913, the area was a part of the South Mountain Forest. In 1931, the area became the Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
Appalachian Trail Museum Plus Other Trail Items
Across from the furnace is the historical Appalachian Trail. This is the half way point in a trail that goes from Georgia to Maine and is over 2,100 miles long.
To the left of the sign above and up a little hill is the Appalachian Trail Museum.
To the left and a cross the street from the museum, is the half of a gallon ice cream challenge for AP through hikers. The record is 1.5 quarters of ice cream in 25 minutes.
Don’t forget to register if you are hiking the AP trail. This is just outside the store.
Brief History
The Appalachian Trail is currently about 2,190 miles long but changes a bit on and then due to changes in traffic, slides, and other factors. It goes from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is the longest hiking only trail in the world.
The average thru hiker takes between 5 to 7 months. Only about 25% of hikers that start actually complete the trail. Most hikers start the trail in Georgia in late March to mid April which is called the North Bound hikers. South bound hikers start at Mount Katahdin in late May to mid June. Mount Katahdin is the highest mount in Maine. Due to that, Mount Katahdin closes on October 15th due to weather conditions.
The trail travels through 14 state along the Appalachian Mountains and was the brain child of Benton Mackaye. In 1921, Benton started talking about it openly. In 1922, his idea was publicized in the New York Evening Post. A year later, the first section of the trail was opened. In 1937, was finally completed with the help of Myron Avery who took up the case early on. Avery would become the first to hike the trail from end to end.
For more information, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a great place to start. But even better, read Bill Bryson’s book A Walk in the Wood. It is a great book. If you are going to hike the trail, then get the Appalachian Trail: Thru Hikers’ Companion for the year that you are going. It updates the hotels, mileage, and other items that you need to know to have a successful trip.
Fuller Lake
If you take a right as you leave the Appalachian Trail Museum, the road will take you down to Fuller Lake.
As you arrive, the first thing that meet you is the snack bar and bathrooms. The bathrooms include free showers for the end of the day which is great right after a dip in the lake.
The lake is the diverted water from the Pine Grove Furnace Company.
The beach is nice with fishing and boating available as well as the beach for swimming.
Around the lake is a few great little hiking trails, a stream, a field to play soccer in, picnic areas, and they are still using the structures that are from the frontier days.
These butterflies are all over the area.
Laurel Lake
As you leave Fuller Lake, go to the right and a little bit down the road is Laurel Lake.
This is Laurel Lake from the top of Pole Steeple Trail. The surrounding forest area is Michaux State Forest.
The beach is across from the start of the Pole Steeple Trail. But it is a large beach with lots of room for social distancing. But a great place to cool off after a nice hike or to relax at for the day.
The lake is pretty big for those that want to do some boating and/or fishing (no motors allowed).
The park has different boats for rent if you don’t have one yourself at the little shop above next to the beach. They have free showers for those needing one before you leave the beach area.
But watch out not to go over the dam. It is a bit of a drop.
Pole Steeple Trail
Take a right as you leave Laurel Lake to get the great view of the Dam pictured above. Then take the first right to get to the other side of the Dam and you will run into Pole Steeple Trail.
The Pole Steeple Trail is straight up hill but it is under a mile long. You have two chooses a switch back and going straight up towards the top of the hill. Take the slower one up then the faster one down.
At the top you can look down on the beach area, Michaux State Forest, and make you fill like you are on top of the world.
Other Things Around
Check out Michaux State Forest which goes all around this park, Caledonis State Park which is about 30 minutes away, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center just down the way (which has beautiful trails and the Cameron-Masland Mansion), Mont Alto State Park which is the oldest State Park in the state of Pennsylvania.
In addition, Gettysburg is only about 16.5 mile or just under 30 minutes away. A perfect place for children and adults to learn all about the Battle of Gettysburg and so much more.
I have or will have all these places posted by the end of September.