Raystown Lake Military Road Traverse
Historic military road around Pennsylvania's largest lake
The old Military Road cuts a 18-mile arc around Raystown Lake’s eastern shore, following the route Pennsylvania militia used to haul supplies to frontier forts in the 1750s. Today it’s a maintained gravel road that threads between the lake and Rothrock State Forest’s 96,000 acres, passing stone foundations of long-abandoned homesteads and the ruins of Greenwood Furnace, a charcoal iron operation that fed the Civil War effort. The road crosses Seven Points Creek on a concrete low-water bridge that floods out during spring runoff, and climbs through mountain laurel thickets to overlooks where you can see the entire 30-mile lake spread below.
Easy run for any stock vehicle with decent ground clearance, though the limestone surface gets slippery when wet and washboards badly after heavy traffic. Spring through fall are ideal, with May offering mountain laurel blooms and October delivering spectacular hardwood colors. No permits required and dispersed camping is allowed in designated forest areas off the main road. Fuel up in Huntingdon — it’s a long way between gas stations once you commit to the full traverse. This is Pennsylvania backcountry at its most accessible, where history and scenery merge into something genuinely memorable.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1800 ft |
| Best season | April-November |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania |
| Land manager | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | nab.usace.army.mil |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail without any mods?
Yes. Minimum requirement is stock high-clearance, and most factory trucks with decent ground clearance will have no issues on this gravel route. Lifted rigs are overkill here.
When does the trail close, and can you run it in early spring?
Best season is April through November. Early spring can bring soft shoulders and muddy low spots after snowmelt, so wait until the ground firms up if you're running a heavier rig.
Do you need a permit to drive or camp here, and is there a fee?
The route runs through U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land at Raystown Lake — no permit is required to drive it, but check current Corps regulations for dispersed camping rules as they can change seasonally.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
It's rated easy, so there's no technical rock crawling or shelf roads to worry about. The water crossings are the main variable — depth depends on recent rainfall, so scout before you drive through rather than assuming they're always shallow.
How's cell service out there, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
Cell service is spotty throughout the route, so download offline maps before you leave. Huntingdon is the closest town for fuel — top off there, as 18 miles of gravel with detours can burn more than you expect.
Trail track
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