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The Tuscarora Trail is a long-distance hiking trail that is under development. It splits off from the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, passes through West Virginia and Maryland, then rejoins the Appalachian Trail near Marysville, Pennsylvania. It is 252 miles (406 km) long, and includes both the 110-mile (180 km) trail section formerly known as the Tuscarora Trail in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the 142-mile (229 km) trail section formerly known as the Big Blue Trail in Virginia and West Virginia.
The Tuscarora Trail (including the Big Blue section) was built as a speculative alternative route for the Appalachian Trail. It was built further west, in a more wild corridor, because it was feared that development would force closure of the AT, before the Federal effort to conserve that trail.
In West Virginia, the trail is not entirely open or fully developed—a situation that hikers should be aware of. Just south of the Potomac River (off River Road), the Tuscarora Trail is posted "no trespassing." Local residents report that in some areas where the trail is on private property, property owners may consider hikers trespassers. A useful brochure and map of the Tuscarora Trail in West Virginia are available from Travel Berkeley Springs, and on their Web site.
Further south, where the trail crosses state Route 9, the trail in West Va. is more accessible. From Spruce Pine Hollow Park on Route 9, a short trail leads to the Tuscarora Trail. At that point the trail consists of painted blue blazes on trees rather than a fully built and cleared trail. South of Route 9, the trail passes through Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area, and should not have issues with landowners.
Much of the trail in Pennsylvania was closed in the 1980s because a gypsy moth onslaught had killed much of the surrounding oak forest. The trail became overgrown with brambles, briars and other vegetation to become impassable. The trail has since been re-opened and is now maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
The Tuscarora Trail is today an official side-trail of the Appalachian Trail and is blazed in blue.
This trail eventually will become a component of the Great Eastern Trail which will extend from Alabama to the Finger Lakes in New York state.
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