Shelters
The Appalachian Trail shelters provide through-hikers refuge from the elements. The BMECC maintains 8 shelters listed below from South to North on the AT in Pennsylvania.
Some shelters require serious maintenance at times. The Rausch Gap Shelter was built in 1973 and was scheduled for a roof replacement in 2011. Upon starting the work, it was discovered that too many of the logs had rotted and needed to be replaced. As a result, a major rebuild project was undertaken. The work was done entirely by volunteers at the BMECC Rentschler Arboretum for ease of accessibility and, when completed, the shelter was disassembled, transported to its current location on state game lands, and reassembled and finished.
Rausch Gap Shelter
Built: 2012
On-site spring
Very nice privy, built 2005
Location: Within State Game lands tract #211
Information about the 2011-2012 Rebuild Project
William Penn Shelter
Built: 1993
Moldering privy
Spring (usually fair)
Large loft
Blue Mt camp site nearby
Location: 2 1/4 miles south of Rt. 645
Route 501 Shelter
Built: 1975 - retained by special arrangement with NPS and ATC
Enclosed shelter with sky lights, sleeps 12,
well water, solar shower, porta potty (in season), camp site
caretaker present
Location: 0.1 mile north of PA State Route 501
Eagles Nest Shelter
Built: 1988
Sleeps 8, campsites available
Yeich Spring is nearby
moldering privy
Location: 9.1 miles south of Port Clinton and 6.2 miles north of State Route 183.
Port Clinton Pavilion
This structure is not maintained by the hiking club but is available on the AT. It is sponsored by St. John's Church of Port Clinton, PA.
Location: Follow blue blaze along the "main street" to the north end of town; pavilion is on east side of street
Windsor Furnace Shelter
Built: 1972 - This is the only legal camping in the Hamburg Watershed area.
Sleeps 6, campsites nearby
Moldering privy
Spring
Location: 21.2 miles south of State Route 309 and 5.6 miles north of State Route 61
Eckville Shelter
Built: Early 20th century as a farmhouse outbuilding. Retained by special arrangement with NPS and ATC.
Sleeps 6, campsites nearby
Well water, toilet, shower, caretaker present
Location: Located in Eckville just south of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Built: 1937
Sleeps 6, campsite for 2 or 3 tents,
No privy
3 springs are located downhill. The first two are at 100 and 200 yards on the right (not very reliable), the last one is over .3 miles downhill (usually reliable except during periods of extreme drought).
Location: 1 mile north of Bake Oven Knob road and large PA Game Commission Parking Lot. 7.5 miles south of Lehigh Gap