But there are also several miles of fairly boring road walking to balance that out. Descend to Double Run with cascades; upstream on Double Run Trail is Cottonwood Falls, a worthy side trip. Ill check on the Facebook group too. Resource Management Center I love Kettle Creek, it is the most isolated area of the LT with cascades and some great camping. Got dropped off at west side trailhead and left my car at east end trailhead parking lot where there were plenty of spots midweek. I will always belong out here. Did the trail last weekend. -If you're planning to do just a section I highly recommend mile 23 to mile 44. This is a very hard trail but worth it! They lead to the LT or Red X Trails and points of interest. The LT descends to and crosses Brunnderdale Run and then crosses Brunnerdale Road. Backpacker, photographer, gear junkie, ultimate frisbee player, future Triple Crowner (just putting it out there so I actually do it), NPS volunteer. A blue side trail to the right descends to the bottom of Dutchman Falls. I have to finish. Elevation: 1,932 feet (589 meters) USGS Map Area: Eagles Mere Feature Type: Trail Nearby Trails Loyalsock Trail is listed in the Trails Category for Sullivan County in the state of Pennsylvania. Nine Miles. The Alpine Club invites you to hike the Loyalsock Trail in hopes that you will enjoy, explore, and protect the wild lands and places of natural beauty! Most of the Loyalsock Trail is located within the Loyalsock State Forest, with the remainder on private land. This area of the trail will be impacted by a pipeline and may be rerouted. Gorgeous views of the PA valleys, great stream views, fern forests, open fields, water falls, you name it. We didnt include the first five miles today, as we both had hiked them a few days prior. The Alpine Club of Williamsports Loyalsock Trail Guide is a must-have, and comes in a rustic-looking cover. Western trailhead: PA-87, Williamsport, PA Eastern trailhead: Mead Rd., Dushore, PA So nice to see a familiar face. The loop begins and ends at the Mead Road Comfort St ation along Rt 220, Butternut Trail: 2.5-mile loop, more difficult hiking, orange blazes. Water was plentiful. Remember, trucks and equipment always have the right of way! Started at the butternut grove end of the trail and did just a quick in and out hike to see if we could make it to the first peak. These trails form alternate routes and bypasses, having both their beginning and end on the main LT. I thru-hiked the trail in March; it was still cold (down to 20 degrees), but there was no longer snow on the ground. Did Loyalsock Trail from West to East. The Haystack Trail climbed away from Loyalsock Creek and intersected with the old railroad grade at 3 miles into the hike. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The LT enters private land, camping is not permitted for over six miles and there is about a 5 mile roadwalk. Well blazed throughout. At mile 46, we left the state park through High Rock Vista. Hike along the ridge and then descend. The Loyalsock State Forest comprises 115,000 acres in Bradford, Lycoming and Sull ivan counties. If you hike at a decent pace 1.5-2mph and dont stop constantly for long breaks you can easily bang out 15-20 miles from 9am-6pm leaving plenty of time for enjoying the views and the fun campsite aspects of backpacking. Great write up. Just finished this trail with 2 others - I loved it! Loyalsock Trail is displayed on the "Eagles Mere" USGS topo map quad. Old paint blazes are being replaced with small disks. Ending a 14-mile day, we set up camp and were surprised with a steak and potato dinner. It was the craziest thing I ever witnessed. Hats off to trail markers you did a job making this course easy to follow- wish there was an offical Start here sign !!! The rest of the day was nice but, like I said not my favorite terrain so I kept it moving. So many beautiful things today. Very VERY challenging. 570-946-4049. old rail beds, rock scramble, and dirt roads. I have been camping and hiking as long as I can remember. There are a number of great trails within the park that offer stunning views and waterfalls. Just some chipmunks, frogs, newts, millipedes, and one garter snake. Reach the stunning Haystacks Rapids with several superb campsites. The 55-mile Teton Loop is an alternative to the popular Teton Crest Trail, with fewer logistical hurdles, and an opportunity to experience the full diversity of Grand Teton National Park. I was 18 years old and I had been a troubled youth, as far as law enforcement is concerned. The Trail Loop This trail loop has become a very popular weekend hike. View the map online, or to receive a copy, call or send a request to: Loyalsock State Forest 6735 Route 220 Dushore PA 18614 (570) 946-4049 Main Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm Great trail! Cross Worlds End Road and continue a climb near a spruce forest. Following is info via the Races' Facebook link. But overall, I wouldnt change a thing. Bring a walking stick. Begin the descent of High Rock Run with small cascades. Reach Alpine Vista with a dry campsite, a steep descent brings you to the equally beautiful Lower Alpine Vista. Follow an old forest road and then a dirt road with many fields and meadows. The plan that afternoon was to camp at Alpine Falls. Luckily had someone elses steps we could walk in! Reach another view of Worlds End and turn left onto Pioneer Road, a historic road and the first built through the Loyalsock Canyon. The overstory is of stately old oaks, pines, spruce, hemlock, maple, and sycamore. All people hiking the LT do so at their own risk. Region: Mid-Atlantic (Loyalsock State Forest, Pennsylvania)Distance: 59.2 miles, 4-6 days, Elevation (average): ~1,500 feetTotal Elevation Gain: 12,000 feet. The climb up to Alpine seemed never-ending, I even said out loud, I just want to be done! This was the second time I questioned myself and my capabilities. I'm looking for a trail guide with maps for thru-hiking France to Spain, eastern end of Pyrenees (E of Andorra). However, the Western trailhead only has parking for a few cars, so get there early if you want a spot. 7 min read. ), but we easily could have spent a bit more time at many of the vistas or just wandering along the trail. The state forest from between miles 4 and 14 is truly special. Descend to the Loyalsock Creek for some beautiful hiking. Preferably showing huts. The Loyalsock Trail joins the Loyalsock Canyon Vista Trail and both trails continue north for 1.33 miles to Loyalsock Canyon Vista. Saturday 8am - 6pm 23.5 miles Or Send the info by email to the Loyalsock State Forest office. Day 1: Hiking to Angel Falls & Kettle Creek Vista. Narrow paths wind through a dense understory of mountain laurels, rhododendrons, huckleberries, azaleas, mulberries, young sassafrass trees, and ferns, ferns, ferns. It's very detailed, featuring maps, historical information, mileages, and campsite suggestions. . This is also the road walk section. Once on the old grade we hiked it east for another 0.8 miles before the trail turned right and climbed up the hill. Turns were marked with a yellow directional arrow. Map 4- Brunnerdale Road to Western Terminus (PA 87) (22 miles). The hike is constantly climbing steeply and then descending into valleys just as quickly, so do not expect winding switchbacks like youd find out West. I went the opposite. There is no camping on this section for over six miles, and there can be almost nine miles between water sources, depending on conditions. From then on youll only get a couple of short climbs so pat yourself on the back. It was a great trail! When he reached the bottom he had skin hanging from his fingers and palms. Once back on state forest land after mile 47, the miles pass more quickly on old railroad grades and flat, muddy trail through the woods. Started Saturday around 12:30 at the park, and finished Monday at about 4:30 at Rt. It is an amazing trail. The largest water crossing is Kettle Creek, which was tame in early summer but potentially trickier in rainy spring months. Pass a campsite and cross Dry Run Road. Permits: None for parking or backpack camping if staying at a site for only a night. (LogOut/ The LT is blazed with yellow disks having red LT letters in the center. The name Loyalsock Creek is taken from the Indian phrase "Lawi-Saquick," meaning middle creek, and flows between Muncy Creek and Lycoming Creek. On the descent to my site I bumped into another thru-hiker named Aaron who was camping in this little cliffside alcove and we chatted for a minute. backpacking loop Sones Pond is incredible and if youre looking for a sweet spot to camp has multiple sites right there on the shore. (LogOut/ Today would include an eight mile walk through Kettle Creek Natural Area, a windy lunch at High Knob Vista, Rode Falls, and the sketchy backwards climb down the ladder into Ketchum Run. Map 2- Worlds End State Park Office to Ketchum Run (13 miles). Neither one of us slept well because of the wind and a damn crow woke us both up at 5:00 a.m.. On the trail by 7:30 a.m., we headed into Worlds End State Park. With an easier day of 14 miles, we planned a very long lunch break at the park. Also, if you would like to camp within Worlds End State Park (mile 42.77 until just after mile 47), you must reserve a designated site in advance. Planning to head to grad school for industrial design so I can start designing my own gear, but in the meantime I like MacGyvering things to suit my needs. ByKatie Anspach, hiker, single mom, adventurer, Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more . Descend gradually along Little Painter Run and then climb up to another LT highlight, Smiths Knob. Beautiful fields with an abandoned hotel/casino. I am capable of so much. Be prepared for blisters!! and the Trail Runs intersect with some segments of the Loyalsock Trail between Mile 22.08 (Brunnerdale Road) and Mile 53.32 (the Iron Bridge), additionally including the entire Red-X Link Trail. Day 2: High Knob Overlook to Ketchum Run. Water was scarce but still no major issues. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. We did it. Lots of tent spots and the view is great, no water source though. I decided in that moment to put all my trust into mother nature. I hiked the trail the conventional eastbound way and had my car parked in the Dutchman Falls/Haystacks lot, clocking 22.5 miles the first day, 19 the second and finished out with an easy 17 on Sunday. In my last few steps on the trail, I told myself to let it go. Farther on, the historic buildings near mile 20 offer a look into the past, and Alpine View (mile 36) and Worlds End State Park (mile 46) offer scenicvalley views. Sawyer Mini vs Sawyer Squeeze: Which Filter Is Best for Thru-Hiking. Best marked and maintained trail weve seen this year. I walked extremely slow. The trail levels with hemlocks and small streams. Highly recommend. Loyalsock Trail and Link Trail Loop Hard 4.6 (252) Worlds End State Park Photos (1,869) Directions Print/PDF map Length 16.5 miElevation gain 2,693 ftRoute type Loop Check out this 16.5-mile loop trail near Forksville, Pennsylvania. Ecommerce Software by Shopify, Katie Anspach, hiker, single mom, adventurer. Rolling terrain through scenic forests of hemlocks and northern hardwoods follow. Get to know this 56.4-mile point-to-point trail near Dushore, Pennsylvania. Since the Loyalsock is a forest I know so well, we spent a little less time appreciating the stunning landscape than someone new to the forest might. off the trail. To purchase full Guide with directions, maps and additional info, go to: Loyalsock Trail Guides . Turns were marked with a yellow directional arrow. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The two best seasons are probably Springwhen the trails numerous streams and waterfalls would really come aliveand Fall, whichwould be a great timeto visit for the foliage. The LT follows the grade, then makes a somewhat discreet right turn off of it. Maybe I really wasnt cut out for this. The largest stream crossing is Kettle Creek, about 20-30 feet across. These areas are all spelled out in the Alpine Clubs trail guide. Please e-mail David Dahl or Matthew Gutberlet with any questions. If you have two cars and want to set up a shuttle of your own, its certainly possible. Small water crossings like this are typical of the LT. Fires are not permitted here. The toughest climbs are clustered in the western half, and the trail grows easier and more beautiful as you head northeast. Trail guide and maps: available for sale from the Alpine Club of Williamsport. Pass Sock Rock and a final view. In summer, it will likely be dry except after a good rain. The fastest known finish time appears to be an absurd 13 hours and 32 minutes, though most of us arent in that kind of shape. If youre not fit or you load your pack like an eager teenager then, yeah, your gonna have a tough time. As I settled back into my reality, I kept saying to myself, Thats it? Its over already? 60 Miles in three and a half days, I just finished my first multi-day backpacking trip thru-hiking theLoyalsockTrail. Day 2 was a lovely hike through Kettle Creek, up to High Knob, along Ketchum Run, up to the Alpine Views and on to the border of WESP. Change). Very fun though! I find it hilarious when people on these apps take away stars because the trail was muddy or rocky or anything else that just naturally exists in the forest and is inherently an aspect of the activity that they signed up for! A local told me that the Lower Alpine view is known for having many, many rattlesnakes so dont recommend camping there. Dushore PA 18614, Main Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm. She loves the green tunnel of Pennsylvania trails and will never stop being enchanted by the lush ferns. Friday 9am - 6pm 23.5 miles The Alpine Clubs guide has great information about distances between both. Cross a forest road and reach beautiful Sones Pond with excellent camping. Trail did not disappoint. Total Distance: 59.2 miles and let me tell you this was absolutely true. Cross the bridge and follow the road. Unfortunately the All Trails app didnt work reliably and kept saying Opps something went wrong so I didnt use it. The LT was amazing. The trail leaves the road to the right, climbs, then enters a glen with a small stream. The day after got home I was ready to start planning to get out in the woods again for another multi-day adventure. The Loyalsock Lizard Map includes all of Worlds End State Park, as well as an inset map of the dense trail system. I started yelling and the bear just left. Blue dots are waterfalls or cascades. The initial climb from PA Route 87 is a fairly brutal .70 mile climb, so be prepared. Reading the Blazes. Loyalsock Trail, one of the best point-to-point remote backpacking trails in the state, and the complete Old Loggers Path, a 27 mi. When we finally reached the spot that we were going to set up camp for the 1st night the trails treacherous +/- in elevation and the rugged terrain caused my legs to tremble for the whole last mile of that first 5 mile hike. They took us to the LT and I remember talking about it with the staff that was taking us on this expedition. Known as one of the most beautiful long distance hiking trails in the Mid-Atlantic region, the LT is between 3-4 hours of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, NYC, Baltimore and Washington DC. BE prepared for rocky terrain and lots of mud. The trail is rolling to Mineral Spring Falls. One time that is explicitly NOT recommended is during bear and deer hunting season, which stretches from the Monday before Thanksgiving to mid-December. The Alpine Club has placed new LT markers on both sides of the trail to aid hikers continuing on the Trail. Wear proper shoes and clothing, be prepared for changing weather conditions, and carry adequate food. DO NOT camp on private land. Most LT thru-hikersstart at the Western trailhead. The last sections near Worlds End State Park are exceptional;y breathtaking. PGE gas is currently in the process of creating space for a gas pipeline and road on the Bryan Hay Trail (Road) which shares space with the Loyalsock Trail on mile 3.38 - 3.60. I reminded myself that she has always taken care of me. The Loyalsock Trail (LT) is a 59.2 mi (95.3 km) linear hiking trail in Lycoming and Sullivan counties in north-central Pennsylvania. It is a beautiful stream with many falls, slides, cascades, and a unique mini-gorge of fractured rock. Loyal Sock, Double Run Nature, Link Trail and Canyon Vista Loop, Loyalsock Link Trail and Haystacks and Dutchman Falls, Double Run, East Branch, Loyalsock and Canyon Vista Trails Loop. A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch). 154, at its current crossing location. Eastbound. The state park section takes you down a rocky canyon, eventually passing a visitors center (theres a snack shop nearby) and ending with a steep scramble up to High Rock Vista. Parked by rt 220 and got shuttled to mile marker 1. Dont miss the blue side trail to Angel Falls, the tallest on the LT at about 70 feet tall. Day 3 was incredible. All Rights Reserved. Depending on your connection speed, this document may take several minutes to open. Make sure you are in great shape because I would rate this closer to difficult versus moderate. This Summer will feature 3 Trail Runs on the Loyalsock Trail and one on the Old Logger's Path(OLP). We got behind on day one (only 8 miles) and had to catch up 15 miles on day 2. Most of the Loyalsock Trail is located within the Loyalsock State Forest, with the remainder on private land. My wife and i thoruoghly enjoyed this trail! I think Ill need to figure some transit to and from town. 15 miles camping right around mile 28. -I saw a huge black bear about 40 ft in front of me just waddling along. Many of the flat sections are either muddy or overgrown with vegetation, but that will largely be determined by the time of year you go. Pennsylvania DCNR Loyalsock State Forest. Loyalsock State Forest & Worlds End State Park Snowmobile Trails, Loyalsock State Forest Cross Country Ski Trails, Susquehanna River Water Trail - West Branch. An emotional moment I wont forget. The campground opens the second Friday in April and closes at the end of regular deer season in early December. Would recommend 5-6 days if not in top shape. From Hessler Branch, the LT climbs and descends between drainages. This is a Half Marathon Race which explores various Trails within the Worlds End State Park and it intersects segments of the LT between Mile 42.77 and Mile 47.24, including parts of the Red-X Link Trail. Great trail, a little bit of everything!! It is rocky and muddy and while the elevation is not that challenging the footing will certainly test any level hiker. Learn how to purchase full Loyalsock Trail Guides with directions, maps, and additional info. I couldnt believe how much that first day I pushed my body. In Worlds End State Park, camping is permitted only at designated campsites.
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