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Indian Steps, Ironstone Trail and Crownover Trail

By Michael Hermann; Lizard Tracks, Centre Daily Times, November 5, 1998

Indian Steps, Ironstone Trail and Crownover Trail are all used to describe a unique trail on the south side of Tussey Mountain. The uppermost section of this trail is a rock staircase. At the summit you'll find four highback chairs made of rock. You'll also find a great view of Nittany Valley overlooking Fairbrook and the Barrens on the western side of State College. This view is only available when the leaves fall which makes November an ideal month to hike it.

I won't say it's an easy hike but it is a simple one. Just keep walking up the trail...up, and up, and more up. The hike is about a quarter mile but the elevation gain is 500 feet. The last section is a rock staircase about 300 feet long. This trail will test the aerobic capacity of any athlete. If you enjoy using a StairMaster at the health club you may actually enjoy this challenge. The rest of us will curse our tired legs and sore knees yet be amazed at this strange semi-natural staircase.

You have two options in exploring this interesting local artifact. You can drive to the base of the staircase and park, hike up, enjoy the view and hike back. This is the quickest option if time is an issue. The descent is tricky; be careful on the slippery leaves and loose rock.

Another option is to use a car shuttle. This allows you to climb the staircase and continue hiking on the Mid State Trail to Jo Hays Vista and Route 26. This is the most enjoyable way to explore the ridge and get some quality exercise. You'll want to plan on two hours for this hike; total distance is about three miles.

On colder days the staircase approach will warm you up in a hurry and make the rest of the hike seem easy. The Mid-State Trail follows the ridge and stays relatively flat. The trail is rocky so wear sturdy boots.

There must be some creative energy in this place that inspires people to build things. There is a large circle of rocks just below the summit that is a good place to sit with a group. At the summit of Indian Steps there are four highback chairs created from stacked rocks. These structures are much appreciated after huffing to the top.

Who built the staircase? In The Short Hiker, Jean Aron calls it a trail that connects "nowhere" to "nothing". Local lore calls it Indian Steps, but we disagree. Indians were far too smart to build this staircase. I suspect the trail was originally used as a log skid. When the logging ceased the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) may have built the staircase to improve an eroded, washed out trail in the 1930's.

Another theory is the trail was built when the stagecoach followed what is now Rt. 45. Perhaps fur traders and woodsmen used this corridor to carry supplies to the Stone Valley area. I have yet to find any confirmation on the history of this unique trail.

If you take Crownover Trail the other way (downhill from Harry's Valley Road) you will find another staircase after the creek. This one isn't as steep or elaborate as the first but I suspect the same group built it. It reaches the top of Leading Ridge and the Ironstone Trail turns to the right. Eventually it leads to the Stone Valley Recreation Area.

If you like exploring the Crownover Trail, you'll want to visit the Thousand Steps Trail in Huntingdon County at Mount Union. This one climbs 1000 feet and was built as worker access to a quarry. You can hike it for fun today but it used to be all in a days work.

When you go: From State College follow West College Ave (Rt. 26) to Pine Grove Mills and continue over the mountain. Harry's Valley Road is the first dirt road on the right as you descend Rt. 26. Be careful: it's at the first sharp turn and it's a dangerous intersection. Follow Harry's Valley Road for 1.9 miles and look for the wooden signpost on the right that says Crownover Trail. The signpost is an upright 4x4 post: not a large painted sign. It can be easy to miss so watch your odometer. You can park a short distance past it on the left.

Michael Hermann is the founder of Purple Lizard Maps and has been exploring Centre County since 1979.