Mt. Union at raystown.org

The Mount Union Area is home to a rich natural resource and industrial heritage.

From the Amish and Mennonite farm communities of Big Valley near Allensville, to the historic industrial towns of Mount Union, Mapleton and Shirleysburg, the Mount Union Area provides an eclectic mix of cultures and landscapes.

Aside from scenic drives, the Mount Union Area can can perhaps be best experienced on foot or afloat. The Standing Stone Trail follows the Ridge of Jack's Mountain into the trail town of Mapleton, and then follows a path called The Thousand Steps. The Thousand Steps were built by quarrymen in the 1800s as a way to climb Jack's Mountain from Mount Union and Mapleton to work in the sandstone quarries on top of the ridge.

Floating the Juniata River is another great way to experience the Mount Union Area. Put-in your canoe, kayak, or inner-tube at Mapleton and gently float through Jacks Narrows to Mount Union, or beyond.