Tuscarora State Forest Hemlock Road

Hemlock Road cuts through some of the wildest country left in Pennsylvania’s Ridge and Valley province, threading between 2,000-foot ridges where old-growth hemlocks somehow escaped the lumber barons. The route starts near Blain and follows an old logging railroad grade past the ruins of Centre Furnace, where Confederate raiders torched the ironworks in 1863. Mile 8 brings you to the gnarliest climb — a loose shale switchback locals call ‘The Shelf’ that’ll test your traction control and your nerve.

This is solid intermediate territory requiring high clearance and 4WD for the rocky sections, especially after rain when the shale turns to grease. Best tackled May through October when the seasonal gates are open; winter access means snowshoes and a long hike. No permits needed, and primitive camping is allowed throughout the state forest. Bring extra fuel — the nearest gas is 40 miles away in Carlisle. The reward is legitimate wilderness in a state where that’s increasingly rare, plus some of the best fall colors in the Mid-Atlantic.