Caledonia

Caledonia Caledonia State Park A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Pennsylvania State Parks Mission The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and historical values of parks should be given first consideration. Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current and future generations. CALEDONIA STATE PARK The 1,125-acre Caledonia State Park is in Adams and Franklin counties, midway between Chambersburg and Gettysburg along Lincoln Highway, US 30. The park is nestled within South Mountain, the northern terminus of the well-known Blue Ridge Mountains running from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Within South Mountain are four state parks and 84,000 acres of state forest land waiting to be explored and enjoyed. The soils on either side of South Mountain are ideal for fruit production, proven by the abundance of orchards in the surrounding area. Directions Caledonia is at the intersection of US 30 and PA 233. • From Chambersburg, follow US 30 east 11 miles to the park. • From Gettysburg, follow US 30 west 15 miles to the park. • From Harrisburg, follow I-81 53 miles to Chambersburg, then 7.3 miles east on US 30. Reservations Make online reservations at www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Spend the Day SWIMMING: The park features a large, ADA accessible swimming pool with a small snack bar. The pool is open 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day unless otherwise posted. PICNICKING: Oak and pine trees along Conococheague Creek shade picnic tables and charcoal grills. Two rustic, CCC-era picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. HIKING: see reverse side HUNTING AND FIREARMS: About 740 acres are open to hunting, CATHEDRAL IN THE PINES: Caledonia’s Summer Sunday School dates back to the summer of 1917 when the Manges and Moyer families decided to provide a Sunday school for their children and other families’ children who spent the summer months vacationing at Caledonia. Since 1955, the Franklin County Sunday School Association has kept the tradition alive and offers outdoor, nondenominational Sunday school from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. All are welcome to attend. FISHING: The East Branch Conococheague and Rocky Mountain creeks and Carbaugh Run flow through the park and the surrounding state forest lands. Brown trout, rainbow trout, native brook trout, and some warmwater gamefish can be found in these streams. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulation and laws apply. CALEDONIA PUBLIC GOLF COURSE: An 18-hole, par 68, public golf course is just south of US 30. Constructed in the late 1920s, the course is the oldest and one of the most scenic courses in south central Pennsylvania. Caledonia Golf Enterprises Inc. 9515 Golf Course Road Fayetteville, PA 17222 717-352-7271 https://caledoniagolfclub.com Caledonia State Park offers a wide variety of programs from June through August. Gain a better understanding of the park’s natural, cultural, and historical resources through guided outdoor recreation, hands-on activities, walks, and other programs. The Thaddeus Stevens Blacksmith Shop is open to visitors during the summer season. Occasionally a guest blacksmith will be hammering out iron products. The PA Forest Association operates a small forestry museum directly across from the office. Thaddeus Stevens 1792-1868 Called the Great Commoner, Thaddeus Stevens was an abolitionist, radical republican, and one of the most effective and powerful legislators of the Civil War era. Some historians consider Stevens the de facto leader of the United States during the presidency of Andrew Johnson. Stevens became the third person in American history to be given the privilege of lying in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, following Senator Henry Clay and President Lincoln. Born in Caledonia County in Vermont, Stevens faced many prejudices for having a clubfoot and a poor family. Due to his personal circumstances, he forged a lifelong drive to defend the poor and persecuted. After graduation from Dartmouth in 1815, Stevens moved to York, Pa. to teach. Within a year, he moved to Gettysburg to practice law and dabble in real estate. He entered the iron business with the opening of Maria Furnace in Adams County in 1822. Finding better iron ore in Franklin County, Stevens built a new charcoal iron works, which went into blast in 1837. The Caledonia Iron Works grew to include the charcoal iron furnace, forge, rolling mill, stables, warehouses, blacksmith shop, sawmill, and tenement houses for the workers and their families. Thaddeus Stevens served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly from 1833 to 1841, where he fought for free, public education. In 1842, Stevens moved his law practice to Lancaster, Pa., where he could make a better living as a lawyer and support his iron business interests. Jumping into politics again, Stevens served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1849 to 1853 and again from 1859 to his death in 1868. During his terms in office, Steven championed the passing of three amendments to the constitution: the 13th, abolition of slavery; the 14th, citizenship and due process; and the15th, the right to vote. Even in death, Stevens illustrated his principles by choosing to be buried in a cemetery that accepted people of all races. The Park While Thaddeus Stevens fought for abolition in Washington D.C., Caledonia Iron Works furnace foreman William Hammett was a conductor for the Underground Railroad. Hammett would meet another conductor near Pond Bank and guide freedom seekers north to Greenwood, just west of the park, to meet the next conductor on the journey to freedom. For this, and Stevens’ tireless fight for equal rights, Caledonia State Park is a Path of Freedom site. During the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War, the confederate cavalry of General J.A. Early raided throughout southern Pennsylvania but followed a policy to destroy no private property or industry. The cavalry burned and pillaged Caledonia. Early explained his actions, “Mr. Stevens is an enemy of the South. He is in favor of confiscating their property and arming the Negroes. His property must be destroyed.” Caledonia State Park 101 Pine Grove Road Fayetteville, PA 17222 717-352-2161 CaledoniaSP@pa.gov An Equal Opportunity Employer Totem Pole Playhouse 9555 Golf Course Road P.O. Box 603, Fayetteville, PA 17222 888-805-7056 www.totempoleplayhouse.org Electric Vehicle Charging Station A 2-plug, electric vehicle charging station is available for public use in the second parking lot in the day use area. Please move to another parking space once your vehicle has been charged. ORGANIZED GROUP TENTING: Caledonia offers five separate 20-person sites for rent to organized adult and youth groups. This area opens in March and closes in late October. There are flush toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Advance reservations are required. Caledonia makes an excellent base for groups touring Gettysburg National Military Park. Confederate soldiers marched through the ruins of Caledonia on their way to the Battle of Gettysburg, then retreated back the same way, followed by Union troops. Furnace manager John Sweeney rebuilt the furnace and forge with money from Stevens and the help of local ironmen, the Ahl brothers. The furnace continued to operate at a reduced capacity until 1870. After a nineteen-year estate battle over the Caledonia property, the Diller brothers of Lancaster County purchased the iron works in 1887 and operated quarries for ganister sand and other minerals. In 1903, the Caledonia Mining and Manufacturing Company sold most of the Caledonia Iron Works lands to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as part of the new Forest Reserve System. The tracts of cutover forestlands were set aside as a future supply of timber and to be “outing grounds for citizens.” The Chambersburg and Gettysburg Electric Railway Company leased the area around the old furnace and blacksmith shop as a trolley park. The company turned the former blacksmith shop into a trolley station, built amusement rides, and erected a dance pavilion. In 1927, the Pa. Alpine Club, a local hiking group, reconstructed the old furnace stack as a reduced scale model monument to the iron works. From 1933 to 1939, young men of camp SP-18-PA of the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the roads throughout Michaux State Forest and recreational facilities at Caledonia State Park, including the Forest Fire Museum, swimming pool, picnic shelters, and other park structures. INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS Make online reservations at www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. CALEDONIA LODGE: Located along US 30, Caledonia Lodge is a two-story frame house available for rent year round. The lodge has a modern kitchen, closed-in porch, bathrooms, dining room, living room, central heat, and three bedrooms that sleep ten people. Guests need to provide bed linens, bathroom essentials, kitchenware, eating utensils, coffee maker, and toaster. Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to organized groups during the summer season. Call the park office to schedule a group program. A variety of professional development workshops are offered for teachers. Contact the park office or explore the online calendar of events, https://events.dcnr.pa.gov, for more information on programs and other learning experiences. HISTORY TOTEM POLE PLAYHOUSE: Since 1952, the Totem Pole Playhouse, a summer stock theater, has offered performances during the summer months. Request a schedule of shows by contacting: Stay the Night CAMPING: full-hookups, warm showers Tent and trailer sites are available in two campgrounds. The camping season opens in March and closes in December. Both campgrounds have drinking water, showers, flush toilets, and a sanitary dump station. Chinquapin Hill Campground is nestled on the side of a mountain among plenty of shade trees and is close to the swimming pool. It offers modern campsites (electric, non-electric, and full-hookup) and two full-hookup ADA accessible campsites. The park amphitheater is in this camping area and is accessible to the public from the day use parking area. Pets are prohibited in this camping area. Hosack Run Campground is one mile from the main day use area. All sites in this camping area are pet friendly. This campground has moderately level, modern campsites (electric, non-electric, and fullhookup) with an ADA accessible campsite and a small playground. 2023 LEARN, EXPERIENCE, CONNECT RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES trapping, and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are white-tailed deer, rabbit, squirrel, and turkey. Hunting is permitted in the adjacent Michaux State Forest. 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 or enclosed trailer. Exceptions include: law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park. PAStateParks @CaledoniaSP  Access for People with Disabilities ADA accessible park facilities include picnic areas, campground, cabins, parking, and a fishing pier. Restrooms in these areas are designated with the symbol for accessibility. This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit. Protect and Preserve Our Parks Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family are your responsibility. • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. In an Emergency Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office. NEAREST HOSPITAL WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital 112 North Seventh Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-267-3000 • Please camp only in designated areas and try to minimize your impact on the campsite. • Firewood Advisory: Firewood may contain non-native insects and plant diseases. Bringing firewood into the park from other areas may accidentally spread pest insects and diseases that threaten park resources and the health of our forests. Campers should use local firewood. Do not take wood home and do not leave firewood. Burn it! • Prevent forest fires by having a fire in proper facilities and properly disposing of hot coals. Do not leave a fire unattended. Nearby Attractions Mountain laurel Information on nearby attractions is available from: Franklin County Visitors Bureau. www.explorefranklincountypa.com Destination Gettysburg. https://destinationgettysburg.com The 84,000-acre Michaux State Forest features hunting, fishing, and general outdoor recreation. 717-352-2211 The Gettysburg National Military Park is operated by the National Park Service and preserves and explains the events that occurred on the Gettysburg Battlefield during the Civil War. www.nps.gov/gett HIKING: 11.2 miles Ro 1200 Tr. les bu rk , I 83 BUS ia n A p pa l ac h 233 To Pine Grove Furnace State Park, 11.7 Mi. Creek e u eaq ch co ur E 1400 1440 1400 0 20 13 136 40 12 00 12 Mi pa la Ap 1320 P. 0 128 To McConnellsburg, C owan s1G24a0 p S. 1120 M i 60 11 MARYLAND n Ru 20 Carroll Valley Co k 1440 11 orgia To Y o Tra il L Ga p c sa Ho 1480 ad Bonneauville 15 16 To G e Ro Gettysburg 116 Waynesboro 316 rn bu les Mi Chinquapin Hill 1522 ft. 80 Mont Alto Ru n 16 0 12 34 30 se hou S t i ll 997 148 Park Office & Pool Area ADAMS Mont Alto 914 Biglerville Arendtsville 233 Greencastle 40 rn 234 CALEDONIA FRANKLIN 316 81 Fayetteville e 00 Pine Grove Furnace 234 997 30 astl en c Road 14 14 233 il Tra nch Bra t as no To Th 1120 1160 1360 2 1200 1240 1 0 128 0 Hosack Run 124 0 H T hree 00 1160 0 124 0 120 60 11 Trail Ro ad 11 Trail Fire 20 108 0 i Ch 1040 nq ua ter Wa Hill pin 1000 e nac Fur am D 920 Water Trail Line i l Ram ble Trail ek Cre East B ranch o ch e Conoc e a gu Ramble Forge Tail Race to His l coa har 1280 1240 1200 1120 Park Office & Pool Area 0 Totem Pole Playhouse Car ba ug h Caledonia Lodge 40 10 0 108 0 112 lf Go Cat in t hedr he al Pi n State Park Hunting Playground Multi-use Trail: Hiking, Bicycling 0 960 96 N 10 40 Ro 1040 0 0 108 112 1160 00 1000 AI 40 1200 10 0 CK MI C H AU X S TAT E FOREST ry Corls r Pe Rev. 10/10/23 To PA 233, approx. 3.8 Mi. 1040 1080 0 112 0 116 00 12 ¼ To Mont Alto, 8.1 Mi. 0 100 Rd. Appalachian Trail: Hiking To Gettysburg, 13.5 Mi. & US 15, 15.2 Mi. re Dr CONTOURS ARE ON 40 FT. INTERVALS RO 1080 1040 233 Pipeline Golf Co urs e Hiking Trail 30 108 Rd . Picnic Pavilion Y State Park No Hunting Ru n o ti m Bal Wayside Forestry Office New Picnicking Historic Site 12 80 Parking Unpaved R o c ky Mounta in C Ra reek cco on R un Trail Amphitheater Paved Trail: Hiking 12 Parking Paved Recycling/Trash First Aid (Summer Only) NT 0 M Parking ADA Accessible Food Concession Swimming Pool OU 128 Gate Sanitary Dump Station Organized Group Tenting 0 Caledonia Public Golf Course Road Modern Restrooms Showers House/ Restrooms Unpaved Road Camping Course Emergency Phone 40 12 es 00 12 Paved Road Pro Shop 100 ad 60 11 ive ine Pipel Blue Symbols Mean ADA Accessible Road Mountain R i d ge y e Pin 1080 100 Electric Vehicle Charging Station 80 12 10 40 Park Office 40 12 C 960 To I-81, 7.6 Mi. & Chambersburg, 9.1 Mi. 60 00 12 11 1160 Trail M I C H AU X S TAT E FO R E S T 80 10 il Tra rth Hea Trail Trolley 30 40 10 ri c Ro ad 920 ce e Ra Forg us de ad Th Service s ven Ste 00 10 ADAMS CO UNTY FRANKLIN CO UNTY Tr a Ramble 0 96 13 960 Chambersburg 233 Tra il 1000 Graeffenburg Hill 1520 1522 ft. Trail nd dla Mi urg rsb e mb Cha 960 l ai Tr Header Dam Line 0 104 0 80 20 Valley il Tra 1080 144 14 3 Ch ar co al 1120 h rt ea 1320 1360 140 0 1–4: Charcoal Hearth Sites 4 12 0 104 1080 132 Orebank Hill ad 34 e To Gr p Ga 60 ch n ia e ain n Ru 30 13 To Long Pine Run Reservoir 0.75 Mi. 233 11 20 Caledonia Furnace Monument Thaddeus Stevens Blacksmith Shop urg M To ck 40 12 80 13 Falls Trail arris b 696 Chambersburg H osa 20 11 0 116 00 12 Qu arr y 12 233 Trolley 174 997 Service Road Pine 81 CUMBERLAND n Ser vic t To Ridge Road, approx. 1.8 Mi. & Pine Grove Furnace State Park, approx. 13.7 Mi. Forest Heritage Discovery Center 11 696 Mount Holly Springs Shippe nsb urg 533 Ru e ad Ro To Carlisle T o I-76 ,H Qua r il Tra Discover the lowland forests of Caledonia State Park on this short loop trail that begins along the park road between the two bridges after passing the park office. CALEDONIA STATE PARK ry Oak d an dl Whispering Pine Nature Trail 0.3 mile | Easiest hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: benches Brochures are available at the park office for this self-guiding trail. Step back in time to imagine the bustling community of the Caledonia Iron Works. Investigate the blacksmith shop, millrace, falls, header dam, and furnace dam. Start at the trailhead kiosk or at the blacksmith shop. Return to the park by way of the Midland Trail which passes by the park office. This dirt road serves as a fire break for the Chinquapin Campground and an access road for park vehicles. us oc Although short, this path is suitable for bicycles. Caution - For your safety, do not bicycle on US 30. This trail was once an old trolley grade that brought visitors from Chambersburg to the Caledonia Amusement Park. The old blacksmith shop once served as the trolley station. Thaddeus Stevens Historic Trail 0.8 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking Fire Road Trail 0.7 mile | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking a il ine Tr P g n ri ispe Wh Trolley Trail 0.7 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Red blazes Recreations permitted: hiking, biking This wide walking trail begins at the trailhead kiosk, passes through the scenic lowlands of the park, and then returns to the pool area. In its circular route, the trail follows the millrace of an old rolling mill and passes Rolling Mill Falls. The trail also passes through one of the oldest white pine plantations in Pennsylvania. This is a quiet place to see woodland birds. 1160 The famous Appalachian Trail (AT) passes through the park on its way north to Mt. Katahdin in Maine and south to Springer Mountain in Georgia. This section of the AT gives hikers a taste of the terrain of the entire trail. Many scout groups use this part of the AT as a practice trip before setting out on longer excursions. Hikers can stay overnight on the AT on their way from Caledonia to Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains this section of the trail. Beginning along Ramble Trail, Three Valley Trail crosses over the Chambersburg Water Line and ascends 400 feet up Ore Bank Hill to the Appalachian Trail (AT). This trail is maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club as a side trail to the AT. It is blazed in blue, but white blazes appear when the trail merges with the AT at the top of the incline. Ramble Trail 1.8 miles | Easiest hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables, benches This is the longest and most rugged trail in the park. With its trailhead at the waterfall on Thaddeus Stevens Historic Trail, Charcoal Hearth Trail climbs steeply for 10-15 minutes to Graeffenburg Hill before leveling off, then descends gradually to a quiet stream near the Furnace Dam and pond. On the descent, watch for four historic charcoal hearths (noted on the map) and an old wagon road. Keep a watchful eye out for squirrels, chipmunks, white-tailed deer, and birds. Appalachian Trail (AT) 1.5 miles in the park, about 2,190 miles total | Most difficult hiking | Point-to-point trail | White blazes Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables, benches Starting at the trailhead kiosk, this trail passes through the park near the swimming pool, past the park office, and ends in the organized group tenting area. This uniquely beautiful walk is pleasant and level under a heavy canopy of white pine. D Charcoal Hearth Trail 2.8 miles | Most difficult hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables Three Valley Trail 0.7 mile | Most difficult hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes Recreations permitted: hiking on tM This park “right-of-way” is perfect for the entire family. Level and grassy, the waterline cuts across the entire park and offers glimpses into the dark and beautiful forest. Midland Trail 0.6 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking m Chambersburg Water Line 1.3 miles | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Yellow blazes Recreations permitted: hiking, biking Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables ¼ 0 0 ¼ ½ ¼ ¾ KILOMETER ½ MILE