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Trails & Mountain Biking · Dauphin, PA
Rattling Creek Trail System is a 27-mile network of mountain-biking and hiking singletrack in the Haldeman Tract of Weiser State Forest, north of Dauphin in upper Dauphin County. An IMBA Epic-designated trail system stewarded by volunteers, it's classic, rocky, technical Pennsylvania ridge riding — about 35-40 minutes north of Hershey and a real draw for riders willing to make the drive.
Our take If you're basing a trip around Hershey but want real mountain biking, Rattling Creek is the spot — just treat it like the backcountry it is. We'd head up early, ride with a buddy, and make sure the vehicle's solid before tackling 35-40 minutes of rural roads with bikes on the back.
Rattling Creek isn't a polished tourist attraction with a gate and a gift shop — it's a serious backcountry trail system on state forest land, and that's exactly why people drive to it. The original loop ran about 22 miles and has grown to roughly 27, with more on the way. It earned IMBA Epic status back in 2011 and was re-designated in 2022, which puts it in rare company on the East Coast. For us, when someone staying near Hershey asks where the actual mountain bikers ride, this is the answer — not a paved rail-trail, but rugged, rocky, ridge-and-valley singletrack with real climbs and real rock gardens.
What you'll find up here is classic east-coast riding: chunky rock, technical descents, and woods roads that connect it all. The newer sections ride a touch flowier but still throw rock at you. There's a smaller introductory loop so you can gauge whether you and your bike are ready for the full network before you commit to it. It's open to hikers too — Weiser State Forest lists dozens of miles of shared-use trail in this part of Dauphin County — but be honest with yourself about the terrain. This is advanced country, and it rewards people who showed up prepared.
We're an auto repair shop down in Grantville, so we think about the drive as much as the ride. Rattling Creek sits well north of the Hershey-Harrisburg core, up near Lykens and Halifax, and the last stretch is rural state forest road. That's part of the appeal and part of what to plan for: there's very little cell coverage once you're in the trees, hunting happens here, and you're a fair way from the nearest help. If you're rolling up from out of town with bikes on the back, it's worth making sure your vehicle is squared away before you head into the hills — but the riding is genuinely worth the trip.
Roughly 27 miles of rugged, technical singletrack plus connecting woods roads, designated an IMBA Epic system. Expect rocky east-coast terrain, real climbs, and rock gardens — geared toward advanced riders, with a shorter intro loop to test the waters.
Trail and forest info →This part of Weiser State Forest offers dozens of miles of shared-use trail open to hiking, plus forest roads. The terrain is rugged, so it suits prepared hikers more than casual strollers.
As state forest land, the broader Weiser tract supports hunting, snowmobiling on designated routes, and quiet sightseeing. Always check current regulations and seasons with DCNR and the PA Game Commission.
The trail network itself has no posted daily gate hours; ride or hike during daylight unless you're equipped for night riding. Office hours are for the Weiser State Forest district office, not the trailheads. Confirm current access and any closures on the forest's site before visiting.
Haldeman Tract, Weiser State Forest, near Lykens, PA 17048 (GPS: 2800 White Oak Road, Halifax, PA 17032 reaches the East End forest entrance)
Weiser State Forest District Office: 570-875-6450
Rattling Creek Trail System is in Dauphin, PA. The map shows both pins — Rattling Creek Trail System and our shop in Grantville — so you can see exactly where it sits relative to us.
There are several access points. The East End Parking Lot off Powells Valley Road (Halifax) is a common starting point for the Epic loop, and the Minnich Hit Picnic Area and the Snowmobile Parking Lot, both off White Oak Road, give you other ways in. If you're navigating by GPS, the address 2800 White Oak Road, Halifax, PA gets you to the DCNR buildings at the forest's east entrance. There's also a downtown Lykens visitor center area at 535 Market Street. Confirm current access on the forest's or the local trail association's site before you go, since trailheads can change.
It leans firmly advanced. Rattling Creek is known for rocky, technical, rugged terrain — it carries an IMBA Epic designation for a reason. There's a smaller introductory loop you can ride first to test yourself and your bike, which we'd strongly recommend before committing to the full 27-mile network. If you're newer to mountain biking or want a smooth, family-friendly path, a paved rail-trail closer to Hershey is a better fit.
Plan on roughly 35-40 minutes north from the Hershey area, heading up toward Lykens and Halifax in upper Dauphin County. The final approach is rural state forest road. It's a straightforward drive in good weather, but it's genuinely remote once you're in the forest, so fuel up, and don't count on grabbing supplies at the trailhead.
Expect very little. Cell reception inside the trail system is poor to nonexistent. We'd tell anyone heading up to ride with at least one other person, let someone know your route and expected return time, carry a basic repair kit and plenty of water, and not rely on your phone for navigation or an emergency call once you're in the trees.
Yes. This is active state forest land where hunting takes place, and Pennsylvania now allows it seven days a week in many seasons. Wear blaze (fluorescent) orange when you're out there during hunting periods, stay on marked trails, and check current Pennsylvania Game Commission dates before you plan a fall or late-season visit.
Late spring through fall is the sweet spot, with autumn being especially popular for the ridge scenery — just mind hunting season then. Conditions are real: rock gets greasy when wet, and the terrain is unforgiving after rain or in shoulder-season ice and mud. There are no posted daily hours to speak of for the trail network, but ride during daylight unless you're equipped and experienced for night riding (carry at least two lights and never ride alone after dark). Always check current trail conditions and any closures before heading up.
If you're building a day around the ride or planning a backcountry trip from out of town, these pair well:
More rugged ridge-and-valley hiking nearby if you want to stay on foot in the same kind of country.
A family-friendly stop in the same upper-Dauphin direction, good for pairing with a ride.
Heading into remote state forest with bikes on the back? Get the vehicle squared away first — here's how we can help travelers.
Verified via: DCNR — Weiser State Forest (official) · DCNR — Hiking in Weiser State Forest · SAMBA — Rattling Creek Trail System (IMBA Epic) · Visit Hershey & Harrisburg — Rattling Creek Trail System
Rattling Creek Trail System is an independent public trail network (in Pennsylvania's Weiser State Forest) we're featuring in our guide — we're not affiliated. Details are from the forest agency and public sources and were accurate at the time of writing; please confirm current access, conditions, and hunting dates before visiting.