Monroe Furnace, Ironstone Trail, and Shaver's Creek in Stone Valley

This is an easy-to-moderate 2.6-mile hike from the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center parking lot to the Monroe Furnace next to Rte. 26. The route mostly follows picturesque Shaver Creek, after which Penn State’s environmental center in the Stone Valley is named. Shaver Creek is the main tributary or source of water that fills Lake Perez.

While it is a relatively gentle hike with little net ascent, it will be muddy in places due to all the recent rain and it is also certain to be quite buggy for the same reason. Repellent strongly recommended.

The historic Monroe Furnace produced pig iron from 1855 to about 1867 from local sources of iron ore, wood (charcoal), and limestone. It was one of many such furnaces dotting our region at that time, producing so-called pig iron for the nascent steel industry in Pennsylvania. Monroe employed 60-100 immigrant workers of mostly Scotch-Irish heritage who lived right across the road in a village that has now all but disappeared into the grand shredder of time.

Instructions: This is a hike involving a vehicle shuttle, so we don’t have to repeat the walk in reverse. At 10 a.m., Saturday, we will meet and carpool from Jo Hays Vista along Rte. 26 atop Tussey Mountain. We will descend the mountain on 26 and gather again at the parking area at the bottom of Tussey Mtn at the intersection of 26 and Charter Oak Road (1029).

At this parking area we will regroup and pile into a smaller number of vehicles to drive to the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center parking lot about 3 miles (5 minutes) away.

After our little hike, those interested can join us for libations at J.L. Farm & Cidery (814 Cider Works) on Rte. 45, just five minutes from Jo Hays Vista.

Note: Dogs are allowed on this hike, but must be kept on a leash to avoid tripping other hikers.