The Horse-Shoe Trail begins in Valley Forge National Historic Park and continues west for over 140 miles to its junction with the Appalachian Trail, northeast of Harrisburg.
Highlands Trail Route
The Highlands Trail is follows the Horse-Shoe Trail for 63 miles between French Creek State Park and the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail in Lebanon County. The Horse-Shoe Trail runs through privately owned land, state game lands and parks. The trail is open to the public for hiking and equestrian use. Mountain biking is allowed “at the discretion of landowners only.” The Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy produces an excellent Trail Guide that is available for order (hstrail.org).
Trail Access Points
The Horse-Shoe Trail can be accessed from:
- French Creek State Park from several trails
- Birdsboro Preserve
- Several trailheads in the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (100 Museum Rd, Stevens, PA 17578)
- Spring Lake Park, Furnace Hills Pike, Newsmantown, PA
Trail Facts
The Horse-Shoe Trail is a hiking and equestrian trail. Biking opportunities are very limited and are at the discretion of individual landowners.
The trail is a natural surface trail, so wear hiking boots.
Destinations Along the Trail
- French Creek State Park
- Birdsboro Preserve
- Middle Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
