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The Hermitage is a one room frame cabin located in Michaux State Forest in Southern Pennsylvania. It overlooks Tumbling Run, flowing beneath huge hemlocks in the bottom of a forested ravine. Interesting rocky cliffs, sometimes used by technical rock climbers, form a wall just above the cabin. It is maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Club and can be rented by non-members.
The cabin has no electicity or indoor plumbing. Take heart though - there is a nice view of the rocks from the privy above the cabin. The Hermitage is heated by a fireplace insert/wood stove. The cookstove has a very small firebox. If you have a gas stove, I'd recommend bringing it. There is space (and cushions) for 12 people to sleep on a double wide double bunk on the ground floor and on the upstairs loft floor. Water must be dipped from the stream and purified before consumption.
The shortest route to the cabin requires a downhill walk of 0.2 miles, dropping 120 feet from the parking area at an elevation of 1420 feet. The trail is wide and easy to follow, but does have some steep rocky sections. Swift Run Road is not plowed in winter. The cabin can also be reached by following the Appalachian Trail from Old Forge to the Tumbling Run Shelters, then following the blue blazed trail up Tumbling Run. This route is slightly less than a mile long.
Our visit to the Hermitage was during the last weekend in January. The temperature was near zero when we arrived, and it took about 12 hours to get the inside temperature up to 60 degrees. The cement floor around the stove radiated cold for quite some time, but once it was warmed up, it helped keep the place warm with a much smaller fire. We brought wood from home. It would take quite a bit of effort to cut and haul enough wood for a winter's stay. Bring plenty of woolies for that first night in winter. A foot of snow fell onto the foot that was already there during our stay.
On the rocks above the cabin
Natural rock wall
February view with of the cabin with a lot less snow
Tumbling Run Appalachian Trail Shelters
Shivers Home Page & Outdoors America
Last Modified: April 14, 2001
