Horse Shoe Trail

Horse Shoe Trail
Length	140 miles (230 km)
Location	Southeastern Pennsylvania, USA
Trailheads	Valley Forge National Historical Park Appalachian Trail
Use	Hiking Horse Riding
Trail difficulty	Moderate to Strenuous
Season	Year-round

The Horse Shoe Trail is a 140-mile (230 km) trail that runs from the western edge of Valley Forge National Historical Park westward toward Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it ends at the Appalachian Trail.

The trail was developed for equestrian and pedestrian use, according to the Horseshoe Trail Club guide (see below), hence the name (horse + shoe).

The Fastest Known Time for covering the entire 142 mile distance of the Horse Shoe Trail is held by Washington, DC ultra-runner Dan Rose who completed the trail from West-to-East in 32 Hours, 43 Minutes, 14 Seconds on November 7–8, 2009.

Trail junctions

The west end of the Horse Shoe Trail terminates at the Appalachian Trail. It goes through Chester, Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Dauphin counties.

The east end of the Horse Shoe Trail is nearly connected to the Schuylkill River Trail, which runs through the north side of Valley Forge Park. Existing park trails almost connect them, but it is not signed, and busy PA Route 23 has to be crossed thrice. West of Valley Forge Park, the original trail has been broken up by suburban development. Some segments of the original trail have been closed off by new housing and lengthy detours are now required to continue on the trail's route. Detours and rerouted portions are sometimes not marked clearly.

Plans call for the Horse Shoe Trail eventually to connect with the Brandywine Trail at Yellow Springs Road. The Brandywine Trail is planned to run approximately 35 miles (56 km) south to Wilmington, Delaware roughly along Brandywine Creek.

Minor connecting trails

• Struble Trail (Downingtown, Pennsylvania)

Points of interest

• Near the start of the trail are the ruins of an old root beer bottling plant. A spring runs through the ruins.
• The trail runs through French Creek State Park.
• The trail runs through Welkinweir, an arboretum and conservation area south of Pottstown.

Horse Shoe Trail Club

The Horse Shoe Trail Club was founded in 1935 and coordinates volunteer and funding efforts to maintain the trail.

The club prints a guide to the trail that is updated occasionally. The guide is available for sale through the club. It is also sold at the visitor's center to Valley Forge Park and other select locations. The most recent guide was published in July 2002. There is also a newsletter, Blaze, that is published and includes updated information to the guide.

External links

• Horse Shoe Trail Club

• http://hstrail.org/Brochure2009 Join the trail club