Planned Relocations On KTA’s Section of ​The Appalachian Trail

A group of volunteers from KTA has been maintaining a section of America’s most popular long distance trail, the A.T., since 2016. Some improvements and relocations of the A.T. have been in the works even before KTA took over the section. Hikers on the A.T. and adjoining trails may see marker flags along the footpath. These are NOT to be followed by hikers at present. They simply mark the planned route of the trail. HERE is a link to four maps that show the planned relocations.

This shows a portion of the relocation near Lehigh Furnace Gap that is not open yet

Here is a brief description of the planned relocation and improvements. The description follows the A.T. northbound, from Lehigh Furnace Gap. Shortly after the trail crosses Ashfield Road at LFG, it will turn left off its current route toward the Lehigh Gorge overlook. It will follow the overlook for about a mile, then go back closer to the present A.T. for about a mile. After passing over the tunnel through which the PA Turnpike northeast extension passes, the new trail will continue slightly north of the present route, until it connects with the North Trail. For the most part, the present path of the North Trail will become the new A.T., continuing again along the ridge of the Lehigh Gorge. Then the new A.T. will follow a different path down the ridge, with a new side trail to the Outerbridge A.T. shelter, and continue on a mostly rerouted path down to Lehigh Gap. These relocations will provide several excellent vistas of the Gorge and an improved route down to Lehigh Gap. We plan to keep the former route of the A.T. as a side trail. Our tentative name for this trail is the Old Trail.

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Speaking of relocations, PennDOT is planning to either replace or make substantial improvements to the bridge that carries PA Route 873 and the A.T. over the Lehigh River. We’ve participated in meetings including PennDOT, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and other interested parties. We don’t have complete details of the new bridge yet. We do know that PennDOT has begun a study of the bridge, which will take a few years to complete. We also know that it is extremely likely that the A.T. will follow a new sidewalk on the north side of the bridge, rather than the current path on the southern side. We’ll provide more details to the hiking community as we receive them.

Going over to the east side of the Lehigh River, the trail will be unchanged from the bridge to the large Lehigh Gap East parking lot. It will begin the ascent up the mountain closer to the parking lot, via a series of switchbacks. The famous rock scramble will remain almost unchanged. From there to Little Gap there will be significant changes.
If you hiked this section more than five years ago, you’ll recall traveling over bare almost treeless terrain that resembled a moonscape. The trail was temporarily rerouted to allow for a remediation project. The moonscape appearance was caused by damage from fumes coming from a now defunct zinc processing plan down the mountain in Palmerton. It was actually a federal Superfund site. Over the past several years contractors have removed the tainted soil and trees and grasses. Over the next few years the trail will be moved back to the top of the mountain. The moonscape is gone and replaced by a meadow of trees and grasses. Closer to Little Gap you’ll find a section of trail that has been rerouted by the Mid-Atlantic trail crew. Lastly, the most recent relocation that you can walk on now was done on the Winter Trail. The crew did a great job of rock work there, including creating a couple of new views of the Lehigh Gorge.

Check back frequently for news on the progress of these reroutes and renovations. We hope to complete a portion of the reroute on the western side of the Lehigh in 2021.