Join us as we scale the rugged Stony Mountain to explore the ruins of the abandoned coal town of Yellow Springs and search out the Yellow Springs mystery tower.
Trek to the Ruins of the Yellow Springs Ghost Town
The striated mountains region straddling Lebanon, Schuylkill, and Dauphin counties is a special place, full of history and natural wonders, including the abandoned village of Yellow Springs and the local landmark “The General.” The succession of rugged mountains and narrow valleys give this wilderness a unique feeling of remoteness in southeastern Pennsylvania. As such, it is a place we love to explore and share with you as a retreat in this often busy part of the state.
The plan was to ascend the northern slope of Stony Mountain then explore the area between Stony Mountain and a gap in Sharp Mountain where the abandoned coal town of Yellow Springs is located. We began adventure in the picturesque Clark’s Valley, parking at a roadside pull-off at 40.50263, -76.65378. Shortly after we were out of sight of Clark’s Valley Rd., we crossed Clark’s Creek. As you can see in the photo below, there is a pile of stones that may provide a dry crossing if the water is low. However, during our visit nearly all the rocks were submerged. You can cross by walking through Clark’s Creek, or if you look upstream, there is a fallen tree that with some balance and footwork we were able to manage a dry crossing.
After crossing Clark’s Creek, we followed the pink-blazed trail then turned right (southwest) onto the red-blazed trail at 40.50154, -76.65187. The trail passes several boulder fields. The most significant is shown below. A portent of things to come.
This section of the trail at the foot of Stony Mountain was booming with red efts of the red spotted newt. We encountered dozens in the space of a little over a mile.
Up to this point, the trail was largely a gradual incline along Stony Mountain. However, the trail turns sharply up the mountain and becomes extremely rocky and challenging.
Our first objective was to visit the abandoned Yellow Springs Tower. The tower is a little less than half a mile uphill from the town of Yellow Springs. It is easy to miss through the foliage and is best explored when leaves are not on the trees. From the ridge of Stony Mountain, follow the blue-blazed trail southeast, downhill. The Yellow Springs Tower is a little off the main trail at 40.47478, -76.67523.
The Yellow Springs Tower is something of a mystery. No one is certain of its purpose. Some say it was a ventilation shaft. Others say it was once an observation tower. Yet others believe it was involved in operation of an inclined plane. In any case, the masonry work is impressive. You can still see threaded metal rods where something would have been mounted, and there is a large pit mine just downhill from the tower. Unfortunately, the tower is crumbling and there is less of it each time we visit. So, see it while you still can.
After you explore the tower, continue downhill on the trail where it meets up with the Appalachian Trail at 40.47250, -76.67024. There is a sign and a register here along with several campsites and remains of stone foundations.
Yellow springs was a coal mining village settled in the 1850’s and is located at a gap in Sharp Mountain (a.k.a Third Mountain). The town and the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad (formerly Dauphin & Susquehanna Railroad) appear on Hy. F. Bridgens’ 1860 map of Lebanon County.
The fifty-four-mile Dauphin & Susquehanna Railroad was completed in in 1854. The railroad ran through Stony Valley, connecting the Reading Railroad at Auburn and the Northern Central Railroad at Dauphin. However, the semi-bituminous coal in this region proved to be poor quality. The railroad struggled finically and was reorganized into the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad in 1859. Because the coal mining operations were not economically viable, Yellow Springs village declined to a lumber camp. After the lumber was harvested, Yellow Springs was abandoned.
Today there are numerous ruins and mines scattered throughout the area as silent testimonies to the hopes and efforts of those who once forged lives here. You can find the pit mine shown below at 40.47021, -76.67179.
Stone foundation ruins are located at 40.47010, -76.67218 and 40.46964, -76.67139. This is just a sampling. There are many more ruins hidden the woods, waiting to be explored.
Another remarkable feature of the Yellow Springs ruins is the inclined plane. It was built in 1908 by James Russell Glass to haul timber to the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad in Stony Valley. Exploring the inclined plane requires some back-tracking, but it is worth it. Back up on the Stony Mountain ridge, before the Yellow Springs Tower, you can turn northwest on the blue-blazed trail. This will lead you to the top of the inclined plane with ruins where the engine was located. Or you can travel up the inclined plane from the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and Yellow Springs Trail at 40.47057, -76.67285. See the maps near the bottom of this post for details.
After exploring the inclined plane, we picked up the Yellow Springs Trail amid ruins back at 40.47056, -76.67284. We descended the mountain to Stony Valley passing by some large mines and mine dumps. The trail deteriorates as it follows a stream down the mountain, making it easy to lose. On the way down we encountered this brightly colored stream, still polluted from the mining operations.
The “trail” becomes a treacherously difficult boulder scramble. We lost the trail multiple times and ended up just following the stream downhill. As we understand it, the trail used run along the inclined plane which was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. There are intermittent blue blazes on the trees, but not enough to reliably follow the trail through the boulder-strewn disaster area.
With patience and care, by God’s grace, we successfully navigated the rugged terrain to the Stony Valley Rail Trail, formerly the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad. Compared with the Yellow Springs Trail, we felt as if we could effortlessly fly down this manicured gravel highway.
One of the things we love about the Stony Valley region is the abundance of historical artifacts. The find below is not an eccentric tombstone. It is a spare railroad rail holder, occurring in pars (its partner not pictured). Because of the remoteness of the area from the rolling mills where the rails were manufactured, it could take considerable time to obtain replacements for damaged rails. So, spares were kept on hand periodically along the tracks.
After traveling 2.3 miles on the Stony Valley Rail Trail, we headed back up Sharp Mountain (a.k.a Third Mountain) via the Cold Springs trail. Near the top of the mountain, we encountered this rocky overhang, improved to an overnight shelter.
Journey to “The General”
The General, as it is called, is something of a local landmark and a beloved monument to the region’s heritage. To find The General, we headed left (southwest) on the Appalachian trail from the Cold Springs trail on the ridge of Sharp Mountain (a.k.a. Third Mountain). After approximately 0.2 miles we turned right (northwest) onto the Sand Springs Trail across the valley between Sharp and Stony Mountain. The trail passes through Rausch Creek via a wet crossing, but there is a dry crossing over rocks just upstream at 40.48770, -76.63816. Continue on the Sand Springs trail, then follow the sign for the side trail to The General at 40.48905, -76.63884. At the end of the trail (40.48830, -76.64259) you will find The General in its secluded resting place at the base of the partially excavated mountainside.
The General is often referred to as a “stem shovel”, but as is clear from the engine, it was gasoline powered.
The General gets its name from the plate on the rear, referring to the manufacturer of the abandoned shovel.
You can climb inside and still see the controls and gears that used to operate the excavator.
What is The General doing here? Some speculate that The General broke down and that the owners ran out of money to repair it. Other say that after the unprofitable mining operations tanked, it was not worth the cost to transport it of the secluded valley. In any case, this rusted monument is a fitting emblem of the ghost town region in which it rests.
Overall, the route we took was 10 miles.
Parking is at 40.50263, -76.65378.
Yellow Springs Tower is at 40.47478, -76.67523.
The abandoned village of Yellow Springs is at approximately 40.47207, -76.67186; however, there are ruins throughout the vicinity.
The General is at 40.48830, -76.64259.
We took the loop counter-clockwise. The sections marked in green highlight are difficult terrain.
We love this area for the abundant ghost town ruins, fascinating history, and the seclusion of the striated mountains and valleys. And we’ve only seen a small portion of what the Stony Valley region has to offer. Unfortunately, the mysterious Yellow Springs Tower is slowly crumbling, so see it while you still can. Be aware that the hike up Stony Mountain is steep difficult terrain, literally a boulder field. Although not as steep, the section along the ruined incline plane between the Yellow Springs village ruins and Stony Valley is even more difficult on account of the chaotically strewn boulders, and you are almost guaranteed to lose the trail. If you love history, ruins, and a challenging hike, this adventure is for you.
Be sure to check out our other adventures.
