Hike the Devils Race Course Loop-State Game Lands 211

Devils Race Course

Length: About 11 miles

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging. Terrain often rocky. Knauber Trail is steep.

Highlights: Appalachian Trail, Devils Race Course, Stony Mountain Fire tower, isolation.

Parking: Lot at 40.451752, -76.776137

Blazes and trail conditions: Overall, the trails were in good shape and blazed well. Some trail junctures have signs, but not all. The loop was fairly easy to navigate, but you must look out for some trail junctures. The Appalachian Trail (AT) is white, Horseshoe Trail (HST) is yellow, Knauber Trail is red. Other trails are yellow, blue, or red. Two side trails lead to the race course.

Direction of description: Clockwise

Description: This is a great loop featuring the impressive Devils Race Course, possibly the longest boulder field in the east, at nearly a mile long. As you hike this loop, you’ll notice other trails connecting to it, there is an extensive trail network here. This is a remarkably wild and isolated area, considering it is close to Harrisburg.

From the AT parking lot, head north on the trail and cross Clarks Creek. The trail veers left off a forest road and climbs gradually. Pass a juncture with the red Knauber Trail on the right, this will be your return route. Continue on the AT as it gradually climbs the mountain on an old road, passing old collapsed mines. Near the top, notice a yellow trail to the right. I don’t know where it goes, but it might connect to the trails that cross the Devils Race Course, described later.

Reach a juncture with the yellow HST at a monument and turn right onto it. Descend into a valley. Pass a faint red trail to the left. Cross the wooded end of the race course, you can hear water flowing under it. Reach Stagecoach Road or Rattling Run Trail, turn right on it. This is not blazed, but is obvious. Climb and when the road begins to level a little, keep an eye out for a red trail on the right, take it to the race course. Devils Race Course is impressive, it looks like a glacier of rocks. It is long and narrow, with a sizable creek flowing under it. The water is so deep under the rocks, we only saw it once. There are giant boulders. Apparently, the name came from the sound of the water, as if the devil was racing underground. The red trail continues on the other side, I don’t know where it goes. There is also a nice view down the race course.

Be careful hiking the rocks in the race course. While most rocks are stable, some are not. It can also be very slippery when wet.

Return to the road. Continue a little ways and notice a yellow trail to the right, it also leads to the race course. Here it is more narrow with pine trees. A red trail continues on the other side, I don’t know where it goes.

Back on the road, follow it to a red trail on the right, this is the Knauber Trail. Descend into a scenic valley with laurel, pine and hemlock. Pass some old mine pits and then climb along an old road lined with giant rocks. Reach the top of the ridge, the red Knauber Trail goes right, a blue trail is straight or left. You can take the blue trail out to the Stony Mountain fire tower.

Back on the Knauber Trail, descend steeply over rocks. The trail eases and meets the AT. Turn left back to your car.

This map is for general directional purposes and is not a GPS route. Locations are approximate, accuracy not guaranteed. Basemap is from the PA Game Commission. The loop follows the AT to HST to Stagecoach Rd, to Knauber Trail, with side hikes to the race course and fire tower. Black dots are Devils Race Course boulder field.

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