Fall AdventurEs for Leaf Peepers Franklin County, PA

Caledonia Canopy with Waterfall & Winery

Fall Adventure #1

Adventure Begins in Mont Alto

This leaf peepers adventure begins in Mont Alto, PA. Travel on Route 997 to the intersection of fRoute 233 and explore the beauty of the small community, Mont Alto State Park, the Mont Alto Arboretum, and more.

The small town of Mont Alto is situated about ten miles north of Maryland on Route 997 and rests at the base of South Mountain.  With the surrounding view, it is easy to understand the meaning of  Pennsylvania’s name–Penn’s Wood Land. The plentiful trees and the Little Antietam Creek are beautiful, even pastoral. These attributes helped draw the Hughes family–father Daniel and sons Samuel and Daniel–to establish the Mont Alto Charcoal Iron Furnace, later the Mont Alto Ironworks. Iron ore prodcution started in 1807 and continued until closing in 1893.

Over more than 85 years of manufacturing iron ore, the mountainside lost its first generation forests.  It took one acre of forest to operate a charcoal-burning furnace for one day. With so much loss of timber, Joseph Rothrock, a botanist and conservationist, looked to regrowing the acres of trees taken for the iron ore industry. He had a vision for prioritizing conservation in Pennsylvania.

When the Mont Alto Ironworks closed, the Commonwealth purchased the land. Joseph Rothrock’s vision was to create a place to teach reforestation and conservation. In 1903, the Pennsylvania Forestry Academy at Mont Alto began, and Pennsylvania’s conservation movement launched. The land is imporant as Pennsylvania’s Cradle of Froestry Conservation.

Mont Alto State Park

Oldest State Park in PA & Former Site of Mont Alto Ironworks

When the Mont Alto Ironworks was at top production, it was an extremely busy place. At peak, it employed 500 workers. To transport product, employees of the Ironworks constructed the Mont Alto Rail Line to connect to the Cumberland Valley Railroad in Chambersburg. The train also carried residents of Franklin County and visitors from Martinsburg and Harrisburg to Mont Alto Park. The park opened in 1875. Visitors enjoyed picnics, dancing in the pavillion, swimming, hiking, a carousel, music and special events.

The Mont Alto State Park and the current PSU Mont Alto Campus are the former site of the Ironworks.

More Places to See

• Emmanuel Chapel where John Brown Attended and taught “Sunday School” is situated along Route 233 about 1 mile form the center of Mont Alto.
• Capture site of John Cook–a raider of John Brown and his effort to capture the arsenal at Harpers Ferry; marked by a Pennsylvania historical marker.
• Historic Arboretum at Mont Alto, which was planted and cared for as part of the Forestry SchooA great resource to learn more about this improtant area is the South Mountain Guide to Adventure.

Caledonia State Park – Along the Lincoln Highway

Route 233 climbs to the top of South Mountain, where it intersects with the Appalachian Trail, and comes down the mountain to meet Route 30. It is a seven-mile gorgeous drive where yellow, orange and rust compliment the conifer trees. Immediately, across Route 30, the beauty of Michaux State Forest continues at Caledonia State Park, the second oldest park in the PA. The Appalachian Trail, also, bisects a part of Caledonia State Park.

Caledonia State Park was Caledonia Ironworks, which was owned and operated by Thaddeus Stevens. The Ironworks was burned by Confederate General Jubal Early on his way to Gettysburg in 1863. The business never returned to full capacity. Stevens sold the land, which was used for quarrying sand and minerals.  In 1902, Pennsylvania purchased the land and in 1903, it opened as a pleasure park. The Chambersburg & Gettysburg Electric Street Railway–the trolley- shuttled leisure travelers to the park from 1905 until the trolley closed in the mid-1920s.

During this time, travelers began using another mode of transportation–the car. In 1902, Americans owned less than 25,000 cars. By 1926, over 19 million Americans owned a car. The era of the trolley faded, but Caledonia continued into the 21st century as an outdoor leisure and recreation site. Today, about 350,000 visitors enjoy the park. 

Discover the vestiges of Thaddeis Steven’s iron ore industry on a walk/hike of the Historic Thaddeus Stevens Trail. 

Waterfall at Caledonia State Park 

rJust past the parking area  that fronts Route 30, where the Lincoln Highway interpretive panel is situated and the bricked furnace stack rests, is a waterfall.

The lovely water feature is a soothing cascade of water flowing from higher terrain over rocks. The waterfall is at the intersection of the Charcoal Hearth Trail and the Historic Thaddeus Stevens Trail. The Charcoal Hearth Trail climbs steeply for about 10-15 minutes where it reaches Graeffenburg Mountain, levels off, and then returns to a gradual and beautiful descent that ends at a quiet stream near the Furnance Dam and pond.

Lovely Fall Canopy Spans the Drive from Caledonia  to Pine Grove Furnace

The drive on Route 233 from Caldeonia to Pine Grove is just over 12 miles. The road bends and twists through natural areas and areas that show the culture of Appalachia. Enjoy the ride, surrounded by the beautifully colored leaves. Make plans to bring a bike and be sure to pack plenty of carbohydrate treats to keep your energy up for the ride.

The beautiful landscape on both sides of Route 233 is second-generation trees. With timbering to produce charcoal for three iron ore furnaces–Mont Alto, Caledonia, and Pine Grove–you can see for yourself the benefits of reforestation.

On the drive to Pine Grove Furnace, be on the lookout for turkeys, deer, and even a mother bear and her cubs. Pine Grove is the mid-point of the Appalachian Trail and home to the AT Museum as well as the Pine Grove General Store where AT hikers can try to meet the half-gallon ice cream challenge. Eat it all in one sitting!

Another feature of Pine Grove is the CCC/Michaux POW/Church Camp. Click here to discover more on this lesser-known site.

Adams County Winery

Adams County Winery, 251 Peach Tree Road in Ortanna, started wine-making for the public in 1975. It is the 5th oldest winery in PA and had won numerous recognitons in wine-making. The farm winery sits on the hillside among vines and orchards; it is a relaxing respite to cap off a day of adventure.

Step into an 1860 barn and enjoy Civil War-named wines like Rebel Red, Tears of Gettysburg, Traveler, or Turning Point, plus a variety of fruit wines–dry, semi, and sweet. Or, try a refreshing wine slushie.  The farm winery is set on 70-acres and is especially lovely in autumn.

For seasonal wines, entertainment, and events. look here.