Mason-Dixon Trail, National Recreation Trail in Delaware, United States.
The Mason-Dixon Trail is a 193-mile (310-kilometer) hiking route through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware that connects the Appalachian highlands to the Brandywine Trail near the coast. The path crosses forests, river gorges, and rolling farmland with clearly marked sections throughout.
The route follows the original survey line from the 1760s established by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon to settle colonial boundary disputes. This historical boundary later became a symbol dividing the industrial North from the agricultural South.
The trail passes through communities and landscapes shaped by the border region's heritage, connecting areas where local identity has long been tied to the state line. Walkers experience how this boundary has influenced settlement patterns and land use across the region.
The trail is marked throughout with light blue blazes that make navigation straightforward. Detailed hiking maps are available online, and the best walking season runs from spring through fall when weather is most stable.
The trail passes through the dramatic Susquehanna River Gorge and crosses the Mason-Dixon line twice, giving the route a surprising geographic twist. This double crossing happens because of how the original boundary line was drawn.
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