Loyalsock State Forest is the heart of Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains Region, and provides thousands of visitors amazing hiking, canoeing and camping experiences.

But now, Governor Corbett is on the verge of allowing gas companies to drill it. This would be the first state forest opened to dangerous gas drilling in over two years, violating the spirit of a moratorium on leasing state forests to drillers and potentially leading to more drilling in our state forests in the next few years.

We can’t let that happen. Tell Governor Corbett’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR): “Keep drilling out of Loyalsock State Forest.
If the governor allows Anadarko, a Houston-based gas company, to drill in Loyalsock, the park’s land would be torn up and vulnerable to pollution. Anadarko has already been cited for over 150 drilling violations in Pennsylvania and is already surveying lands for drilling around some of the best hiking paths—something we can’t stand by and allow.

Instead of defending one of our great state forests, Governor Corbett’s DCNR is standing idly by and letting Anadarko move full steam ahead. No one wants to see the beautiful Loyalsock State Forest and its incredible hiking trails ruined by the pollution and destruction of gas drilling.

Stand with us and tell our environmental officials to defend Loyalsock State Forest.
Sincerely,

David Masur
PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center Director

PS—We need to create enough of an outcry in the next two weeks to ensure Loyalsock is safe from drilling. Can you get 5 more of your friends to take action to help us hit our goal today? Forward this to others who want to protect our state forests!

Jackson Trail Along The Summit Of Tussey Mountain.

Running along the weathered summit of Tussey Mountain the Jackson Trail connects Jo Hayes Vista and Route 26 to the Mid-State Trail.  On the way to Old Pine Vista you encounter numerous scenic views on the northern and southern slopes of the mountain that look out over Nittany Valley, State College and Rothrock State Forest.

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 40° 42′ 59.986″ N     77° 53′ 39.119″ W

Trail Length: 4.5 Miles

Estimated Time To Complete: 2.5 Hours

Elevation Change: 76′

Trailhead Location: The gated road across Route 26 from Jo Hayes Vista.

Trail Type: Out & Back

Trail Map: Rothrock State Forest Map

Difficulty:  Moderate

Recommended Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water,

Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles,

Facilities: None

Nearby Trails:

• Iron Stone Loop Trail
• Mid-State Trail
• Alleghany Front Trail

Nearby Attractions:

• Whipple Dam State Park
• Shaver’s Creek Environmental Education Center
• Black Moshannon State Park

From the parking lot for Jo Hayes Vista carefully cross Route 26 and start down the gated forest road directly across the highway.  Follow the road passing the various communications towers and buildings until you reach the last one, here the trail enters the woods to the left of the building.  After entering the woods the trail becomes moderately rocky before soon entering a boulder field, shortly after which in the middle of the trail you’ll notice a green metal survey from 1938 in the middle of the trail.

Looking South From Tussey Mountain.

A 1935 Survey Marker On Tussey Mountain.

At .7 miles you’ll arrive at a campsite and in less than another 200’ you’ll come to Dave’s Vista which looks out over a rock field on the southern slope of Tussey Mountain.  The view from Dave’s Vista and all of the vistas on this side of the mountain is dominated by Rudy Ridge directly in front of you with Hubler Gap at the end of the ridge, piled up behind the ridge are Greenlee Mountain, Bell Ridge & Gettis Ridge.  The long, high mountain in the background that parallels Tussey Mountain is Stone Mountain where you’ll find the Standing Stone Trail.

Block Field Along The Jackson Trail.

State College From The Jackson Trail.

After Dave’s Vista you come to another small vista overlooking Nittany Valley and State College, across the valley lays Bald Eagle Mountain.  Continuing down the trail you’ll pass multiple vistas, rock formations and block fields.  In many places the trail is moderately to extremely rocky with easier stretches of trail interspersed along the mountain top.

Rocks On The Jackson Trail.

The Summit Of Tussey Mountain.

Tussey Mountain 300 Million years ago was the eastern slope of a mountain that surpassed the Himalayas in height, nearby Bald Eagle Mountain, Brush Mountain and Dunning Mountain are all that remains of the western slope of the mountain.  The rocks you pass mostly consist of Tuscaroran Quartzite, Bald Eagle Sandstone and Juniata Shale and are the oldest of the rocks that once lay deep in the heart of the mountain when two ancient continents that parts of eventually became Africa and North America slammed together.

A Rocky Hill Beside The Jackson Trail.

At 2.25 miles you come to Old Pine Vista from which you can see out over Rothrock State Forest to the South and State College to the North.  As this is the final vista on the Jackson Trail before it connects to the Mid State Trail turn around here head back to the parking area at Jo Hayes Vista.  Expect to encounter other hikers and timber rattlesnakes on the trail from early spring through the fall.

Bear Meadows Natural Area.

This short hike along the Mid-State Trail takes you to a number of vistas that look out over the Bear Meadows Natural Area, a bog formed in the last ice age located in the heart of Rothrock State Forest.

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 40° 45′ 4.99″ N, 77° 45′ 53.34″ W

Trail Length: 3 Miles

Estimated Time To Complete: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Elevation Change: 165′

Trailhead Location: The gate across Tower Road.

Trail Type: Out & Back

Trail Map: Rothrock State Forest Map

Difficulty:  Easy

Recommended Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water,

Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles,

Facilities: None

Nearby Trails:

• Mid-State Trail
• Bear Meadows Loop
• Greenwood Spur
• Tussey Mountain Trail

Nearby Attractions:

• Bear Meadows Natural Area
• Alan Seeger Natural Area
• Penn Roosvelt State Park

From the small parking area on Tower Road head past the gate and continue up the road for ½ a mile towards the cabin and fire watch tower, along the way you’ll pass Mid-State Trail where it crosses Tower Road.  Behind the tower and the large fire ring you’ll see where the MST heads through the bushes and into the forest on the far side of the clearing, follow the narrow trail into the woods.  Shortly the Laurel Run Trail will intersect the MST from the right, continue down the MST passing the Spruce Gap Trail on your left.  At the intersection of the MST and Kettle Trails you’ll find a monument to Tom Thwaites, a veteran hiker, author and founder of the MST.

Little Flat Fire Tower.

Trail Intersection Along The MST.

Tom Thwaites Monument.

Leaving the monument keep going down the MST or the Tom Thwaites Footpath as this particular section of the MST is called, soon you’ll pass a trail register with a campsite afterwards.  Shortly thereafter you’ll come to the trail to the first of three views along this section of the MST, all three trails that lead to an overlook of Bear Meadows and are marked with a small sign that’s says view and points to the left.

A Bird Along The MST.

Very Tasty Blueberries Along The MST.

Trail To One Of The Overlooks.

All of the overlook trails open to a large boulder field that stretches from Little Flat to Big Flat and the Indian Wells Vista nearly 2 miles away.  From the boulder field you can see across the valley to Little Mountain which ends at the Bear Meadows Natural Area.  Behind the natural area are Thickhead Mountain and Grass Mountain.  Depending where you’re looking from several of  the other mountains in Rothrock State Forest are usually visible on less hazy days.

Rock Carin At The First View.

View From One Of The Overlooks.

The Mid-State Trail.

The Bear Meadows Natural Area, a 890 acre National Natural Landmark, is the remnant of a boreal bog that began as a pond at the end of the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago.  Gradually the pond filled with organic debris from the surrounding mountains becoming a bog which now encompasses 320 acres of the natural area, the rest of the natural area is made up of meadowland and stands of Black Spruce and Balsam Fir trees.  Numerous plant species can be found in the natural area including High Bush Blueberries as well as several species of Orchids, Sundew and Pitcher Plants.

The Sun Peaking Over The Mountains.

Sunrise From The MST.

Trail Intersection Along The MST.

From the third view you can either continue down the MST to Indian Wells Vista which is about 1 1/4 miles or so down the trail or you can head back to the parking area.

Well here we are once again Fall is over Winter has begun and I miserably await the arrival of spring when I plan to wear out the bottom of both of my kayaks, my fishing poles and several pairs of boots.  Until then I thought I’d share some of my favorite pictures from the roughly 1500 photos or so that I took this Fall.

Cayuga Falls 

Falls Trail, Ricketts Glen State Park, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

The 8th named waterfall in Ganoga Glen, Cayuga Falls is about 0.8 miles upstream from Falls Meet and was named after the Cayuga tribe of New York by R. B. Ricketts.

Jackson Trail

Rothrock State Forest Centre & Huntingdon Counties, Pennsylvania.

This rocky and rugged trail begins at Jo Hayes Vista and takes you along the broken summit of Tussey Mountain passing multiple vistas before connecting to the Mid-State Trail.  In many places you follow the very top of the mountain with its rock strewn sides falling away beside you.

Sunset From Chimney Rocks

White Mountain Natural Area, Bald Eagle State Forest, Union County, Pennsylvania.

At the very end of Union County near the village of Weikert is the White Mountain Natural Area, the 3,581 acres of the wild area have been set aside by DCNR to remain largely undeveloped and are only traversed via the White Mountain Trail.  A short way up the trail from Weikert Run Road lays Chimney Rocks, a cliff face that overlooks Penns Creek below.  It was from this vantage point in early October that I watched as the sun fell find a spur of White Mountain illuminating the clouds overhead.

More Information On Chimney Rocks

Dutchman Falls

Loyalsock Trail, Loyalsock State Forest, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

A hop, skip and a jump off of the Loyalsock trail Dutchman’s Run empties into the Loyalsock Creek just after this 27′ waterfall.  Easily accessed from the LT trailhead on Route 220 Dutchman Falls is one of my favorite places in the state where I could just sit for hours and watch as the stream cascades over the rocks into the small plunge pool.

More Information On Dutchman Falls

Vinegar Run Falls

Loyalsock State Forest, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

Visible from Route 154 Vinegar Run Falls are another of the dozens of waterfalls found in Loyalsock State Forest.  Here Vinegar Run cuts through the rock face beside the highway where you’ll see this  9′ fan waterfall before the stream flows beneath Route 154 on its way to Loyalsock Creek on the other side of the road.

More Information On Vinegar Run Falls

The Knife’s Edge

Appalachian Trail, Blue Mountain, Lehigh & Schuylkill Counties, Pennsylvania.

Found on National Park Service lands on top of Blue Mountain the AT here climbs this vertical upthrust of rock and proceeds along its top for several hundred yards, the rocks steeply fall away to each side of the trail.  Take a break at the vista here and watch as hawks, vultures and other large birds of prey fly through the valley below.

Ricketts Glen Red Squirrel

Falls Trail, Ricketts Glen State Park, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Just past the trailhead by Route 118 the Falls Trail goes through a massive fallen tree where I happened to catch a couple of shots of this little guy enjoying his lunch.

Sunbury at Dawn

Shikellamy State Park Overlook, Union County, Pennsylvania.

The access road to the overlooks at Shikellamy State Park is closed in the winter making it necessary to hike up the road and then up to the overlook for this shot of a snow covered Sunbury in the first light of dawn.

More Information About Shikellamy State Park Overlook here & here.

Sunrise From Flat Rock Vista

Tuscarora Trail, Tuscarora State Forest, Perry County Pennsylvania.

Climbing the Flat Rock Trail from Colonel Denning State Park eventually brings you to Flat Rock Vista.  A small shelf of rock on the side of Blue Mountain from which you can watch the sun rise above the Cumberland Valley and South Mountain towards the end of the year when sunrise is in a more south-easterly direction.

More Information About Flat Rock Vista

Shawnee Falls

Falls Trail, Ricketts Glen State Park, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

 The Falls Trail here descends the stone steps on the right side of the picture from which its nearly impossible to take a photo of this picturesque 30′ waterfall.  I never really understood what photographers meant when they would talk about playing with the object of a photo until I got home and realized that in about 7 minutes I had taken 79 pictures of just this one waterfall.

An Abandoned Rail Road Tunnel At The End Of Tunnel Trail.

This short hike follows a  section of rail bed at the end of which you’ll find the remains of an abandoned tunnel as it enters Conocoheague Mountain.

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 40° 15′ 43.582″ N, 77° 39′ 35.935″ W

Trail Length: 1 Mile

Estimated Time To Complete: 45 Minutes

Elevation Change: ~120′

Trailhead Location: The large parking area on the east side of Hemlock Road at Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area.

Trail Type: Out & Back

Trail Map: Fowlers Hollow State Park and the surrounding Tuscarora State Forest Trails & Forest Roads Map – I found this at the Tuscarora State Forest Office on Route 274.  Partial map also available at the Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area webpage on DCNR’s website.

Difficulty:  Easy

Recommended Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water,

Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles

Facilities: None

Nearby Trails:

• Tuscarora Trail
• Iron Horse Trail
• Big Round Top Trail

Nearby Attractions:

• Hickory Ridge Vista
• Fowlers Hollow State Park
• Big Spring State Park
• Colonel Denning State Park

In the late 1800′s the Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad planned to link several of the local railroads in the nearby area with a new railroad that would include a 2,600′ tunnel through the heart of Conococheaque Mountain.  By 1894 only the rail bed leading to the tunnel and about 100′ at each end of the tunnel had been excavated when the tunnel failed and was soon thereafter abandoned.  Today the Tunnel trail follows the original rail bed to the mouth of the tunnel.

Cross Hemlock Road and head into the woods at the trail sign, after making a left turn the trail and heading slightly uphill the trail parallels the road as it follows the old rail bed.  As you follow the blue blazed trail you’ll shortly come to a set of stairs leading where this section of rail bed ends.  Near the bottom of the stairs a tree is marked with a double blaze where the trail turns right and heads uphill through some rocks at the top of which you rejoin the rail bed.

The trail ends near the mouth of the old railroad tunnel at a wooden fence where a sign warns you not to near the cave much less enter the mouth.  A quick glance around the entrance to the tunnel is enough to see the large amounts of jagged rock that over the years have fallen from around the mouth of the cave.  So much has fallen that the tunnel mouth is nearly buried by the rock probably loosened over the years by the water you can be oozing from the rocks.  When you’re ready follow the trail back to Hemlock Road.

A Section Of Tunnel Trail.

A Section Of Tunnel Trail

An Abandoned Rail Road Tunnel At The End Of Tunnel Trail.

Doubling Gap Vista

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 40° 17′ 11.698″ N, 77° 28′ 12.837″ W

Facilities: State forest campsite behind the vista.

Elevation: ~2020

Restrictions: Not Applicable

Nearby Trails:

• Tuscarora Trail
• Flat Rock Trail
• Rattlesnake Trail

Nearby Attractions:

• Colonel Denning State Park
• Chimney Rocks
• Hickory Ridge Vista
• Little Buffalo State Park

High atop Bowers Mountain you’ll find Doubling Gap Vista which looks out over this section of Blue Mountain.  Unfortunately the vista hasn’t been maintained for sometime and brush is rapidly overgrowing the vista obviously limiting the view.  Behind the view you’ll find  a Tuscarora State Forest campsite while large birds of prey such as vultures and hawks come right up to the overlook as they ride the thermals rising from the valley below.

Visible landmarks include Blue Mountain directly across from you including the middle of the “S” shaped curve at Doubling Gap, beyond Blue Mountain lay the Cumberland Valley and South Mountain in the far distance.   Sunrise should be visible from mid-fall to the beginning of spring however your view may be hampered by the gradually encroaching forest.

The campsite behind the view.

Vinegar Run Falls (~9')

Driving Directions

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 41° 27′ 33.707″ N, 76° 32′ 46.269″ W

Sometimes incorrectly referred to as Cold Run Falls, Cold Run crosses Route 154 another 1/2 mile up the road, this easy to miss waterfall is formed where Vinegar Run flows down under Route 154 to  join the Loyalsock Creek.  Typical of many of the spring fed streams in Loyalsock State Forest the stream virtually dries up during drier months so the best time to stop at the falls is either in the spring or fall when it’s been raining.

Stopping to view the falls should be done with extreme care as Route 154 is a highway, you should only park on the shoulder of the road where your vehicle is completely off of the road with your 4-way flashers on.  The best place to view the waterfall is from either side of the bridge or on the stream side of the guardrail above the creek, you want to avoid standing on the road as there isn’t enough of a shoulder on the bridge for you to be out of the way of traffic.

Across the road from the falls is Loyalsock Creek where you can see extensive damage to the creek from flooding in September 2011.

Vinegar Run Falls (~9')

Vinegar Run Falls (~9')

Large Rock Above The Falls.

Looking out over the flood damged Loyalsock Creek.

Looking out over the flood damged Loyalsock Creek.

The main section of Dutchman Falls (~27′)

This less than 1/2 mile hike takes you down the beginning of the Loyalsock Trail to Dutchman Falls, a 27′ cascadejust off of the trail that is formed where Dutchman Run emptys into Loyalsock Creek.

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 41° 26′ 50.871″ N, 76° 27′ 12.791″ W

Trail Length: .45 Miles

Estimated Time To Complete: 30 Minutes

Elevation Change: ~150′

Trailhead Location: The Loyalsock Trail trailhead at the lower parking area on Mead Road.

Trail Type: Out & Back

Trail Map: None

Difficulty:  Moderate

Recommended Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water,

Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles, Camera,

Facilities: Pit Toilets At The Loyalsock Trail Parking Area

Nearby Trails:

• Loyalsock Trail
• Link Trail
• Haystacks Trail

Nearby Attractions:

• World’s End State Park
• Rickett’s Glen State Park
• Canyon Vista & Rock Garden

This trail begins at the Northern terminus of the famed Loyalsock Trail (LT) just off of Route 220, at the parking lot on Mead Road find a parking spot and head over to where the Loyalsock Trail enters into the woods at the edge of the lower parking area directly behind the pit toilets.  Follow the LT blazes into the woods where almost immediately you’ll cross over a small spring fed seasonal stream, the trail here is just a bit rocky but it’s not all that bad.  Soon you’ll come to a forest road which is really an old rail bed, the LT turns to the left here and proceeds to the Haystacks, we want to head straight across the road past the sign pointing the directions to the Haystacks and Route 220.

After passing the sign make your way downhill beside Dutchman Run until you reach the base of the falls.  Dutchman Falls is a multi-tiered cascade style waterfall consisting of the main 27’ falls, an upper falls of about 3.5’ – 5’ and a small shallow plunge pool filled with blocks of rock broken off of the face of the falls, additional blocks of rock litter the stream bed between the plunge pool and Loyalsock Creek.  When you’re ready to go make your way back uphill to the rail bed and follow the LT back uphill to the parking area.

Adam's Creek Falls

This short walk through the woods follows an old forest road to Adam’s Falls, a series of small waterfalls around an early 20^th century waterwheel once used to generate electricity.

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 41° 15′ 45.233″ N, 74° 52′ 14.118″ W

Trail Length: 2.25 Miles

Estimated Time To Complete: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Elevation Change: ~250′

Trailhead Location: The gated forest road.

Trail Type: Out & Back

Trail Map: None

Difficulty:  Easy

Recommended Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water,

Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles, Camera,

Facilities: None

Nearby Trails:

• Cliff Trail
• Hacker’s Falls Trail
• McDade Recreational Trail
• Conashaugh Trail

Nearby Attractions:

• George W. Childs Recreational Area
• Pocono Environmental Education Center
• Cliff Trail Overlooks
• Dingman’s Falls

The trail to Adam’s Falls begins on the left side of Long Meadow Road, go around the gate and head down the forest lane which is a section of the Conashaugh Trail, which is primarily used for horse back riding.  Shortly you’ll come to a split in the trail where you want to continue straight down the right side trail, leaving the Conashaugh Trail which turns to the left towards Route 209, from the trail you’ll be able to see a large pond to your left.

You’ll find the trail to be broad and easy to follow with low stone walls bordering at most times one if not both sides of the trail.  At the time of my hike here as you start heading uphill much of the trail becomes a shallow running stream with some places having nearly 5 inches of water running under the fallen leaves. Soon another path will join yours from the right, at the junction here head left down the trail your on, as you start down the ravine you’ll be able to see Adam’s Creek through the numerous Hemlock trees.

The ravine soon levels out and on your right is the original wheel house built by Gov. William Cameron Sproul to provide electricity to his home.  Upstream of the wheel house are a small falls and another where the remains of a stone dam can be seen on either side of the creek.  Looking into the wheel house you’ll notice the original century old, abandoned waterwheel, below the wheelhouse are the main falls while above the wheelhouse you’ll notice on each bank of the stream the foundations of a bridge which used to span the creek.  When you’re ready head back to the trail and return up the hill and proceed back the way you came.