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Description: This is a 5 mile moderate shuttle hike featuring scenic streams, views and fragments of history. This is just a small segment of the Mason Dixon Trail but perhaps the most beautiful. You’ll hike pass the remains of historic Lock 12 of the Susquehanna Canal and the ruins of an old saw mill before visiting two scenic streams, Mill Run and Oakland Run, with views of Lake Aldred in between.

The hike can be accomplished in either direction but I always prefer to hike upstream. This converts a relatively easy hike with only one climb of note to something providing a little more exertion as you have to make 3 400 foot climbs each over about a 0.5 to 0.6 mile distance.

Google Custom Directions (Posey Rd Car Drop-off)

Google Custom Directions to Lock 12 Trailhead

Directions from I-95 around Aberdeen, MD:

1. From I-95 take MD RT 543 North (Exit 80).

2. Turn right onto MD 165. MD 165 becomes PA RT 74.

3. Pass PA RT 372.

4. Soon turn right onto McCall’s Ferry Road. Immediately come to a fork. Bear left onto Blain Road.

5. At the end of Blain Road turn right onto Posey Rd and immediately turn right onto the first gravel forest road. Park at the pull over to the right but do not block the gate. Leave ½ of your vehicles here and retrace your route to the fork at McCall’s Ferry Road. Make a hard left here onto gravel River Road. Watch for occasional pot holes! River Road will descend to the river and follow it’s bank to PA RT 372. Just before reaching the highway turn left into Historic Lock 12 Parking Lot to begin the hike. After returning with the other vehicles continue through to RT 372 and turn right to get back to PA RT 74.

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Printable/Downloadable Map

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Trail Notes: The Mason-Dixon Trail is blazed blue. From the parking area walk toward the river and cross Lock 12 on a bridge. Turn left and walk upstream, picking up the blue blazes as you reach the footpath. As you walk up stream you might catch glimpses of the old canal wall as you go by. In 0.59 miles reach the ruins of an old saw mill. The trail follows the outer walls up to River Road. Turn right on River Rd., cross the bridge and immediately turn left following Mill Run.

Mill Run will fork. Turn to follow the right fork but quickly turn uphill following the blazes to 2 nice overlooks. From here you can see the Susquehanna, the Norman Wood Memorial Bridge, Holtwood Hydroelectric dam and perhaps one of the resident Bald Eagles.

At 0.66 miles from leaving River Rd. reach the high voltage lines and quickly descend back down to River Rd. Here you will find the remains of a carriage house used by a hotel many generations ago. Behind it lies remnants of other foundations. Across the road is the spillway for the dam.

Turn left up the road. In about 0.25 miles the road will turn to the left and head up hill. Continue straight, following the blazes first along an old road that passes some cottages and then a footpath that follows the banks of Lake Aldred.

At the confluence of Oakland Run (0.76 miles from leaving River Rd) turn left (upstream). Shortly after crossing over a log from which a segment had been cut out look for a break in the Rhododendron along the stream bank. If you find it, use the roots of the rhododendron to climb down to an area I call the chapel. It’s a gravel bar and small falls where the water squeezes through a few holes in the rocks, a cool refreshing break spot!

From here continue upstream and watch carefully as the trail suddenly turns left and quickly climbs past some huge rocks to the top of a hill. For a while the stream will be out of sight although you might be able to here it down below you.

At about 0.75 miles after leaving Lake Aldred, or 0.25 miles after leaving Oakland Run, you will descend, crossing a small tributary, and again pick up the run. Continue upstream. In about 0.34 miles you’ll make the only significant stream crossing of the hike. It is usually a rock hop or log crossing but one should always be prepared for high water. After the crossing the footpath will eventually become an old woods road as it passes through Hemlocks, Rhododendron and Bamboo thickets. The road becomes grassy as the grade increases and the evergreens give way to a hardwood forest. In 1.24 miles from the stream crossing return at the vehicles near Posey Rd.

Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

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