Crampton Gap to Turners Gap

Brief Description of Section
This is a relatively easy section with generally excellent footing. The ascent of Lambs Knoll is steeper from the north.

Maps

Map 1 (same as Sect 3-4)	Map 2	Map 3	Map 4	Map 5

Points of Interest
At Turners Gap, the Old South Mountain Inn and Dahlgren Chapel are of historical interest. Part of the Battle of South Mountain was fought in the vicinity of Turners Gap, but heavier fighting centered around Fox Gap, where a monument to Major General Reno may be seen (0.2 mi. east on Reno Monument Rd, at 1.0/6.2 mi.). The small quartzite cliff known as White Rocks at (3.7/3.5 mi.) offers a southward view that is poor in summer, but excellent in winter. At Crampton Gap, scene of another Civil War battle, a memorial to Civil War correspondents and the ruins of Gathland may be seen.

Parking
Mikey is only staying on the trail through Sunday, May 23, and I think he wants to get off the trail relatively early.  Assuming that we hike 5 or 6 miles on Friday, we should make it to the end of this section by early in the afternoon on Sunday. 

To reach Turners Gap: From the east, on I-70, take US Alt-40 west. The A.T., going south, enters woods at edge of the parking lot for Old South Mountain Inn. There is no dependable parking in the vicinity, but the owners of Old South Mountain Inn (0.1 mi. west of A.T.) often allow day hikers to park for free, behind the inn, if permission is asked. (On weekends, park extra cars in Park, using one car space at the inn for shuttle.) Distance is 57 miles from Washington, D.C.

From the west, US Alt-40 diverges from US 40 just outside of Hagerstown, but has no junction with I-70. US Alt-40 may also be reached, from I-81, via MD 68; or from Shepherdstown via MD 34. Then see above. Distance is 2 miles from Boonsboro.
From US 340, take MD 67 north and turn right onto US Alt-40. Then see above.
Reno Monument Rd: There is no parking at this A.T. crossing.

Shelters and Campsites

Dahlgren Back Pack Campground (at 0.2/7.0 mi.), established and maintained by the Maryland Park Service, has numerous excellent sites, rest rooms, water, and showers. Use is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rocky Run Shelter (0.2 mi. by side trail, at 1.9/5.3 mi.), first built by the CCC in 1940-41, accommodates five persons. Seasonal spring.
Crampton Gap Shelter (0.3 mi. by side trail, at 6.8/0.4 mi.), first built by the CCC in 1941, accommodates eight persons. Water at Park.

Bear Spring Cabin (0.5 mi. by side trail, at 4.2/3.0 mi.) is a locked cabin owned by the PATC. 

Camping is permitted at above camping areas only, not that ever stopped us before.

Water is available at Dahlgren Back Pack Campground (at 0.2/7.0 mi.), from Bear Spring (0.3 mi. by side trail, at 4.2/3.0 mi.), and at Gathland State Park (hand pump beside closed rest room) in season.

Trail Description, South to North

0.0 From Gapland Rd (MD 572) in Gathland State Park, at Crampton Gap (originally “Crampton’s Gap”), pass through opening in stone wall on north side of MD 572. Cross field with picnic pavilion on left and parking lot on right. (The park facilities were closed in 1993. Water pump to left of rest room structure is seasonal. To right are historical markers and stone memorial to Civil War newspaper correspondents, erected by George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War journalist who used the pen-name “Gath.” On hill to south is Gath Hall, of the Townsend estate, which was restored as a museum in 1958.) Pass through gap in stone fence and cross field. Heavy fighting occurred here during the Battle of Crampton’s Gap, Sept. 14, 1862. (The Federals, under Franklin, eventually overwhelmed the greatly outnumbered Confederates, under McLaws.)

0.1 Pass ruins of large stone barn (circa 1887) and enter woods.

0.4 Blue-blazed trail leads right 0.25 mi. to Crampton Gap Shelter and intermittent spring.

3.0 As A.T. bears left, blue-blazed Bear Spring Cabin Trail to right descends 360 ft over 0.5 mi. to Bear Spring and another 160 ft drop and 0.2 mi. to PATC locked Bear Spring Cabin. See chapter on “Side Trails.”

3.5 Turn right as trace of closed trail continues straight. In another 90 yd, where A.T. bears left, White Rocks quartzite cliff on right offers fair summer view, but an excellent winter view. (Blue-blazed White Rocks Trail descends from left side of rocks (310 ft over 0.23 mi.) to intersect Bear Spring Cabin Trail midway between A.T. and spring. This side trail is rough, steep and not recommended for children. The Bear Spring Cabin Trail descends another 250 ft over 0.21 mi. to Bear Spring Cabin.

3.7 Local high point near summit of Lambs Knoll. (Unblazed, unmaintained trail to left leads 50 yd to fenced, communication tower on summit of hill.)

4.8 Cross paved road, bearing slightly to right. Do NOT take more obvious forest road slightly to left in crossing. (Road, normally gated, is maintenance access to complex of Lambs Knoll communications and FAA towers, to left, from Reno Monument Rd, to right.)

5.3 Blue-blazed trail descends 110 ft over 0.22 mi. to Rocky Run Shelter. Ahead A.T. ascends for next 0.3 mi.

5.6 Turn left onto intersecting old road and descend.

5.8 Cross high-tension powerline clearing. Excellent westward view.

6.2 Cross paved Reno Monument Road, west of Fox Gap (originally “Fox’s Gap”), which was the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862. (The Federal left flank, under Reno, enveloped the Confederate right flank, under Garland, and later under Hood, with the gap as the attack’s focal point. Major General Jesse L. Reno and Brigadier General Samuel Garland were killed in the battle, and Rutherford B. Hayes, a future President, was wounded. Reno Monument, erected by the veterans of the 9th U.S. Army Corps on Sept 14, 1889, is a steep 0.2 mi. to right.) Rocky footing ahead through forest that is almost entirely chestnut oaks.

6.5 Cross old trail.

6.6 Bear left onto old road and descend through profuse dogwood.

7.0 Pass Dahlgren Back Pack Campground (operated by South Mountain State Park) on left. Water (April-Oct), rest rooms, and showers.

7.2 Reach US Alt 40 at edge of parking lot for Old South Mountain Inn. (To left is Old South Mountain Inn, used by several Presidents. At least 200 years old, it is one of the oldest public houses along AT. Opposite the inn is a Gothic stone chapel, open Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 1-5 p.m., built by the widow of Admiral Dahlgren, inventor of the Dahlgren cannon.) To continue on Trail, cross US Alt-40 and ascend to left and rear of the chapel.