Hikers "Linus" and "Woodstock" on the Appalachian Trail near Pennsylvania Highway 16, May 11, 2000.

A member of the Philadelphia Hiking Club resting along the Appalachian Trail near Smith Gap, April 19, 1935.

The Rocky Mountain Shelters were built by the North Chapter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in 1989. The construction of these shelters, in the paired style typical of the Trail in southern Pennsylvania, was the result of a relocation of the Trail away from Route 233 during the late 1980s. That relocation meant that the old Raccoon Run Shelters were no longer needed and were thus torn down. The Rocky Run Shelters are also known for being a place where hikers may find a hand carved wooden spoon, left for them by a local provider of trail magic.

The Birch Run lean-tos were built in 1934 by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania. Like other shelters in this stretch of the Trail, these lean-tos were constructed in pairs of smaller shelters, rather than as one larger shelter. The original structures were torn down in the 1980s, and replaced with a single, larger shelter. These shelters were and the new shelter is maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC).

The Racoon Run Shelters in the Michaux State Forest (PA), were built by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934. Smaller than the standard Appalachian Trail lean-tos built at this time, the paired shelters in this stretch of the Trail in Pennsylvania are unique along the Trail. The Raccoon Run Shelters were maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, but they were torn down in the 1980s when the AT was relocated away from its current route. The Raccoon Run Shelters were among those too close to the road, and often frequented by non-hikers.

The map shown here is from the PATC Map No. 4 (1980) and it depicts the location of the shelters on the old route of the AT. This image was provided by Stuart O. Smith, Jr.

The Quarry Gap shelters in Michaux State Forest (now Caledonia State Park) were built in 1934 by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The trail shelters in Michaux State Forest at this time were unique in that they were built as pairs of smaller structures rather than one larger lean-to. At some point in their history, the Quarry Gap shelters were re-roofed with a single, continuous roof, providing shelter for hikers between the two structures. These shelters are maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

The Milesburn Shelter (now Cabin) is located in the Michaux State Forest in southern Pennsylvania and is maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC). Built in 1930 as a park ranger cabin, Milesburn was converted to an Appalachian Trail shelter by the PATC a few years later. It is one of the locked cabins along the AT between Waynesboro, Virginia and Duncannon, Pennsylvania that hikers can reserve in advance for a fee.

The Mackie Run Shelter in the Mont Alto State Forest (now Michaux State Forest) in Pennsylvania, was built in 1936, with the assistance of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Unlike other lean-to style shelters built in the area at this time, the Mackie Run shelter was built as a single structure rather than as a pair of smaller shelters. The Mackie Run shelter no longer exists. It was one of many shelters removed or relocated because it was too close to a road and thus too easily accessible to non-hikers. The Deer Lick Run Shelters, approximately one mile north, replaced the Mackie Run Shelter in this stretch of the Trail.

Volunteer trail crew unloading pieces of what will become the George W. Outerbridge Shelter in Pennsylvania, October 1965.

The Deer Lick Run Shelters in the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania were built after the removal of the Mackie Run Shelter in the early 1980s. Although these are newer structures, they are built in the same paired shelter style of many of the original lean-to shelters in this stretch of the Trail. These shelters are maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC).

The Bake Oven Knob Shelter was built in 1937 and the current shelter is still that original structure. It is typical of the log sided Adirondack lean-to design first recommended by the Appalachian Trail Conference during the original construction of the shelter chain. It is currently maintained by volunteers from the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club.

The Allentown Hiking Club Shelter in Pennsylvania is one of two shelters maintained by the Allentown Hiking Club, part of the Keystone Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The Club, founded in 1931, maintains 10.3 miles of the Trail and two shelters -- this one, and the G.W. Outerbridge Shelter.