Cove Mountain Preserve is the town of Marysville and very easy to get to.  There is a wide variety of trails that you can loop together to get a short or long hike in.  The upper trails offer excellent views of the Susquehanna River and The Statue of Liberty and The Rockville Bridge. This locations is great for Paw Paw picking in the Fall.

Plenty of room in the parking lot and picnic tables for a potluck.

Trail Information:

General Directions:

NOTE: Parking and a trailhead for Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain is located at the upper gravel parking lot for the Wesley United Methodist Church of Marysville (450 Sylvan St, Marysville, PA 17053).

Traveling from the PA Turnpike I-76:

• Take exit 242 (York – Baltimore, Harrisburg) and merge onto I-83 North.
• Take exit 41B for Lemoyne and turn left onto Lowther Street. Turn left onto South 3rd Street then turn right onto Market Street.
• Turn left onto South Front Street and continue onto US-11 North / US-15 North to Marysville.
• In Marysville, turn left onto Spruce Street then a quick right onto Linden Avenue. Turn Left on Sylvan Street and follow up the hill till you come to the upper gravel parking lot for the Wesley United Methodist Church.

Traveling from the south:

• From Interstate 81 take Exit 65 for US-15 N/US-11 N toward Marysville.
• Turn left onto Spruce St. Turn right onto Linden Ave. Turn left onto Sylvan Street.

Traveling from the north:

• From US-22 E/USS-322 E take exit onto US-11 S/US-15 S toward Camp Hill.
• Turn right onto Spruce St. Turn right onto Linden Ave. Turn left onto Sylvan St.

Victoria Trail is moderately challenging due to the relatively steep climb up Peter’s Mountain.  From 325 in Dauphin you can climb up Peter’s Mountain and connect with the Appalachian Trail.  You can either turn left on the AT and drop down into Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area shortly to the right.  This loop can be as long as you want because there are many trails in the Conservation Area to explore.  A popular route is to follow the Victoria Trail until you reach The Whitetail Trail and turn right onto it.  There you can climb back up the mountain and cross back over the AT and down the other side and eventually reconnect with the Victoria and return to the parking Lot. This loop would be approximately 5 miles.  A shorter option would be to take the Appalachian Trail to the right, turn right onto the Whitetail Trail which will reconnect with the Victoria Trail.  This loop would be approximately 3 miles.

3Bs is right at the corner of 225 and 325 and a good place to have dinner.  There are picnic tables and they serve hot and cold food there in the warmer months.  Confirm they will be open before making plans to eat there after a hike.

The Appalachian Trail North heads towards Whiskey Springs Road and Rocky Ridge which is a nice Rock Maze.  The trail stays fairly flat for approximately 2 miles then climbs around 750 to the top of the mountain. Heading South you will enter into Michaux State Forest towards Pine Grove Furnace.  The trail is fairly flat in this direction with only 200 feet or so elevation gain to Route 34.  There are a few options for dinner afterwards in Mount Holly Springs.  At the top of the mountain, heading North, there is a nice flat spot with a view to have dinner as well.

General Directions:  From Mount Holly Springs on Route 34, stay on 34 South through town.  Just on the other side of town, turn left onto 94 South at the Y.  Follow 94 for 1.3 miles and turn left onto Sheet Iron Roof Road.  The parking area will be .3 miles on your right.

There is a pull-off with room to park approximately 5 vehicles.  You may be able to fit more along the road.