Mid State Trail Guide and Maps

Part of Great Eastern Trail in Pennsylvania

Order the latest 2008 11th Edition of the Mid State Trail Guide!

This compact book is your essential companion to hiking Pennsylvania’s longest and wildest footpath, with information about distances in both directions, parking, water, camping, and a few tidbits about the nature and culture the trail passes. New in this edition, the descriptions give distances both ways using the same text, to save weight and bulk. Also for the first time, the 11^th Edition describes crossing the entire waist of the Keystone State, from Maryland to New York. Please scroll down for several significant updates to the 11th edition and the maps in the printed set.

Since 1973, MST guidebooks have exclusively used the metric system, leading the way in breaking America free from outdated colonial units of measure. Distances in the guidebook and on the official color maps are given in kilometers, and elevations in meters above sea level. If you think in other units you will need to adjust the given units accordingly.

Official Mid State Trail maps are vital to help point the way along our often surprisingly remote footpath. For many years, MSTA has published clear, accurate, waterproof black-and-white maps. Our volunteers are gradually transitioning to fewer, computer generated, full color maps, keyed to the current statewide extent of the trail, and fully metricated down to the contours and the UTM grid.

It will take us a few years to complete the switch, so until then you will need to read closely the section-by-section map list below, to ensure you have the correct map for your intended destination on MST. The new map numbers track the new section numbers.

The maps for the very southernmost tip (Section 1) and the north end (Sections 17 through 20) are NOT included in the guide and map set as they are not yet printed. You will need to scroll down to the section by section listing below to get the latest maps!

Questions, comments, assistance, and suggestions for the volunteers who work on the maps are welcome! E-mail gis@hike-mst.org

Buying the guide and maps here on this web site contributes valuable financial support to keeping the MST open for all hikers. If you are looking to buy individual maps or just the guide, this is probably the only place you’ll get it!

Many outfitters in PA and nearby also offer the MST guide and map set on their virtual sites or their real stores. Here are a few we know about (contact MSTA if you want to be added to this list):

• Appalachian Ski & Outdoors, downtown State College, PA
• Wildware Backcountry, suburban Harrisburg, PA
• Lyon Camping & Supply, downtown Montoursville, PA
• Pine Creek Outfitters, outside Wellsboro, PA
• Wild Asaph Outfitters, Wellsboro, PA
• Eastern Mountain Sports, select PA locations
• REI, online shipping from MST country in Bedford, PA
• The Hiking Spot, online shipping from MST country in Spring Mills, PA
• Campmor, coming to you from wonderful New Jersey

Our volunteers are continuing to improve the footpath, so be sure to check this web page before you hike to be sure you have the most up-to-date official information. As soon as there is a temporary or permanent change in the MST route, look here for your best guidance.

The online updates assume you already have the most current printed information – so if you don’t, check the list below against your collection to see what pieces you need, and order today!

Order the 11th Edition Guide/Map SET (2008) Online | Order the 11th Edition Guide By Itself Online

Printable Order Form to Send through US Mail

Mail Drop & Food Stores Table for Long Distance Backpackers
(NOT READY YET - until it is complete check out this post on the WhiteBlaze.net forum for info)