Directions
Follow these directions to reach the wilderness greenhouse, located on the campus of the Diakon Wilderness Center, Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.
Traveling South on Interstate 81:
Exit Rt. 81 South at High St. (Rt. 641) in Carlisle. At the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp, turn right. Immediately get into left lane and take the first left onto Fairfield St. Proceed to next stop sign, and make a left turn onto Rt. 74 South (York Rd.) Get in the right lane and look for the large green sign “Boiling Springs” just after you go under the highway overpass. Turn right onto Forge Rd. and proceed to stop sign in Boiling Springs, about 5 miles. Follow ”After you’re in Boiling Springs” directions below.
Traveling North on Interstate 81:
Exit Rt. 81 North at Exit 15, (York St.; Rt. 74). At the yield sign at the end of the ramp turn right. Immediately look for the large green sign “Boiling Springs.” Turn right onto Forge Rd. and proceed to stop sign in Boiling Springs, about 5 miles. Follow “After you’re in Boiling Springs” directions below.
Traveling South on Rt. 15:
At Dillsburg, turn right onto Rt. 74 North, toward Carlisle. Follow directions below, “From Rt. 74 North.”
Traveling North on Rt. 15:
At Dillsburg, turn left onto Rt. 74 North, toward Carlisle. Follow directions below, “From Rt. 74 North.”
Traveling East or West on the Pennsylvania Turnpike:
From East or West, take Exit 226, Carlisle. Then take Rt. 11 North To I-81 South. Follow directions “Traveling South on Interstate 81” above. Or take Exit 236, Gettysburg Pike (Rt. 15). Take the exit for Rt. 15 South. Follow directions “Traveling South on Rt. 15” above.
From Rt. 74 North:
Travel approximately four miles to the intersection of Rt. 174. There is a traffic signal. At Rt. 174, turn left toward Boiling Springs. Proceed on Rt. 174 approximately one mile (look for Allenberry Playhouse on your left). About one-fourth mile past Allenberry, turn left onto Bucher Hill Road. Proceed to stop sign at bottom of hill, about one-fourth mile. Boiling Springs Lake is on your right. Swimming pool is in front of you. Turn left at stop sign and proceed on Mountain Road for approximately 1½ miles. Look for “Bonny Brook Riding Club” on your left. Go approximately one-fourth mile and look for the brown and white sign on the right “Wilderness Center.” Turn left onto the dirt road. Proceed about 1½ miles until you come to a large climbing structure on your left. At this point you can either go straight or turn right. Turn right and travel halfway up the hill. The wilderness greenhouse is on your left. At the top of the hill, where the wilderness center’s administration building is located, is a parking lot.
After you’re in Boiling Springs:
At the stop sign in Boiling Springs, go straight. The Boiling Springs Lake will be on your left. Go straight through the second stop sign until you come to a fork in the road. The swimming pool will be in front of you. Bear left. You will go over a small stone arch bridge and immediately come upon another fork in the road. Bear right. The pool is now on your right, and another larger stone arch bridge is in front of you. You are now on Mountain Rd. Proceed for about 1½ miles and look for the “Bonny Brook Riding Club” on the left. Go approximately one-fourth mile and look for the brown and white sign on the right, “Wilderness Center.” Turn left onto a dirt road. Proceed about 1½ miles until you come to a large climbing structure on your left. At this point you can either go straight or turn right. Turn right and travel halfway up the hill. The wilderness greenhouse is on your left. At the top of the hill, where the wilderness center’s administration building is located, is a parking lot.
A PDF copy of these directions can be downloaded by clicking here. As noted above, the entrance to the Diakon Wilderness Center’s two-mile gravel drive is located off Mountain Road. Please drive slowly. NOTE: GPS is not always accurate in terms of directions to our site. Please use the directions provided on this page.
