State College Gap Loop (Musser Shingletown)

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This loop starts and ends at the Hills Plaza parking, but could start from anywhere in downtown State College. This is a great loop that warms you up slowly before you tackle the Musser Gap Trail and are rewarded with sweet singletrack until you get to the Shingletown parking area.

Head up Atherton St on the sidewalk until turning left at the Unimart onto Waupleni Dr. Take Wapuleni Dr out to Whitehall Rd. and head west on Whitehall Rd using the bike lane before crossing Whitehall Rd and dropping doubletrack that becomes a gravel path through the farmland to Rte 45., this is the Musser Gap Greenway.

Once on Musser Gap Trail it becomes increasingly steeper until you make it up the shoulder and intersection with Mountain Mist Trail. Once here you have two choices, keep going straight up Mountain Mist Trail (not shown in the mapping) or keep on Musser Gap Trail by bearing left through the trees and up and out the power line and intersection with Mountain Mist Trail. Turn left here and follow the power line north. After about 3/4 of a mile, you have the option of continuing to follow the power line to Highline Vista that overlooks State College or turning right onto the singletrack of the Lone Pine Trail.

Following the Lone Pine Trail as it rolls across the forest before connecting to the Red White Trail and then continuing on Charcoal Flats Trail then connecting to Shingletown Gap Trail (lower) where you continue the climb until it intersects with Lower Trail at the gate to Laurel Run Rd. From here descend Lower Trail all the way down to the Shingletown Gap Trailhead and then down Mountain Rd.

Drop the entire length of Mountain Rd., turning right onto Rte 45 at the bottom. Follow this before taking the first left onto Woodside Dr., then turn right onto Branch Rd., which takes you back into State College.