I LEFT HOME ON JULY 25TH, 2021 FOR A WEEK OF SOLO OVERLANDING, ADVENTURING, AND BACKPACKING ACROSS MOSHANNON, ELK, TIOGA, AND LOYALSOCK STATE FORESTS. 7 NIGHTS AND 8 DAYS SPENT LIVING OUT OF MY CAR AND BACKPACK. I SPENT TWO OF THOSE NIGHTS IN STATE PARK CAMPGROUNDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A WARM SHOWER - THE OTHER NIGHTS I EITHER CAR CAMPED AT A PRIMITIVE SITE OR BACKPACKED MULTIPLE MILES INTO THE WOODS TO FIND "HOME" FOR THE NIGHT. EVERY SINGLE DAY WAS FULL OF HIKING AND EXPLORING DIFFERENT SCENIC VISTAS, CREEKS, AND WATERFALLS. I COULDN'T HAVE MADE THIS TRIP HAPPEN WITHOUT THE HELP OF MY PURPLE LIZARD MAPS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAN THE NEXT ONE!
QUEHANNA TRAIL - MOSHANNON STATE FOREST
HIKING THE 72.6 MILE QUEHANNA TRAIL ALLOWS FOR A MULTIPLE DAY AND NIGHT ADVENTURE IN SOME OF THE MOST REMOTE AND WILD AREAS ACROSS THE PA WILDS IN MOSHANNON STATE FOREST. THE TRAIL CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 14 DAYS, DEPENDENT ON HOW MANY MILES YOU WANT TO HIKE PER DAY.
I EXPLORED THE AREA OF THE QUEHANNA TRAIL BETWEEN MINERAL SPRINGS AND LOST RUN RD OVER THE COURSE OF A DAY AND A HALF. I WOULD RECOMMEND CAMPING ALONG GIFFORD RUN AND THE LOST RUN VISTAS.
I EXPLORED THE AREA OF THE QUEHANNA TRAIL BETWEEN MINERAL SPRINGS AND LOST RUN RD OVER THE COURSE OF A DAY AND A HALF. I WOULD RECOMMEND CAMPING ALONG GIFFORD RUN AND THE LOST RUN VISTAS.
AFTER EXPLORING THE QUEHANNA TRAIL FOR TWO DAYS, I STARTED HEADING NORTHEAST OUT OF MOSHANNON STATE FOREST ON WYCOFF RUN ROAD, A CLASSIC COUNTRY TWO LANE MEANDERING ALONG THE CREEK FOR WHICH IT IS NAMED. WYCOFF RUN FALLS IS A PRETTY ROADSIDE STOP WITH A SMALL WATERFALL AND SWIMMING HOLE. EVEN IN MID JULY, THE WATER WAS COLD. A FEW MILES FURTHER, YOU'LL SEE THE PARKING AREA AT LAUREL DRAFT, OFFERING A CHANCE TO GET BACK ON THE QUEHANNA TRAIL AND HIKE ALONGSIDE THE CREEK SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAIN LAUREL AND THICKETS OF RHODODENDRON. THE PLACE FEELS STRAIGHT OUT OF A MOUNTAIN FAIRYTALE. FEELING LIKE I WAS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, I CONTINUED NORTH INTO THE TOWN OF SIMMEMEHONING WHERE I TOOK A TURN TOWARDS THE TOWN OF DRIFTWOOD. MASON HILL ROAD TAKES YOU INTO ELK STATE FOREST, BUT IS NOT DESIGNED FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. FOUR WHEEL WASN'T NECESSARY, BUT HIGH CLEARANCE IS RECOMMENDED. THE CLIMB IS STEEP AND STEADY BUT THE VIEWS AT THE TOP ARE OH SO WORTH IT - BUCKTAIL OVERLOOK IS OTHERWISE KNOWN TO LOCALS AS "THE TOP OF THE WORLD" AND I'D HAVE TO AGREE. ITS HARD TO CAPTURE IN A PHOTO JUST HOW FAR YOU CAN SEE AT THIS ELEVATION OF 1,300 FEET. I SPENT NEARLY TWO HOURS ALONE AT THE TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN - POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST REFRESHING EXPERIENCES OF THIS TRIP. I FINALLY HAD TO PACK UP AND FORCE MYSELF TO DRIVE AWAY - THE DAY WAS WASTING AND I WAS EXCITED TO REACH MY NEXT DESTINATION.
PINE CREEK GORGE - THE GRAND CANYON OF PENNSYLVANIA
TUCKED INSIDE TIOGA STATE FOREST, PINE CREEK RUNS 47 MILES AND IS THE LONGEST BODY OF WATER NAMED "CREEK" IN THE WORLD.
THERE'S LOTS OF HISTORY TO BE LEARNED BY VISITING THIS AREA AND A HANDFUL OF STATE PARKS DOT THE TOPS OF THE GORGE TO ENJOY SCENIC OVERLOOKS FROM A VARIETY OF VANTAGE POINTS. YOU CAN EXPLORE THE FLOOR OF THE CANYON AND WALK, HIKE, OR BIKEPACK ALONG THE PINE CREEK RAIL TRAIL, WITH VARIOUS ACCESS POINTS ALONG THE 47 MILE STRETCH. THE TURKEY TRAIL IS A DIFFICULT, STEEP DESCENT FROM LEONARD HARRISON STATE PARK STRAIGHT DOWN THE GORGE INTO THE CANYON.
THERE'S LOTS OF HISTORY TO BE LEARNED BY VISITING THIS AREA AND A HANDFUL OF STATE PARKS DOT THE TOPS OF THE GORGE TO ENJOY SCENIC OVERLOOKS FROM A VARIETY OF VANTAGE POINTS. YOU CAN EXPLORE THE FLOOR OF THE CANYON AND WALK, HIKE, OR BIKEPACK ALONG THE PINE CREEK RAIL TRAIL, WITH VARIOUS ACCESS POINTS ALONG THE 47 MILE STRETCH. THE TURKEY TRAIL IS A DIFFICULT, STEEP DESCENT FROM LEONARD HARRISON STATE PARK STRAIGHT DOWN THE GORGE INTO THE CANYON.
LEONARD HARRISON AND COLTON POINT STATE PARKS OFFER THE NORTHERNMOST VIEWS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GORGE WITHIN TIOGA STATE FOREST.
THROUGHOUT MY TWO AND A HALF DAYS EXPLORING PINE CREEK, I TOURED THE VISITOR CENTER AND OVERLOOK STRUCTURE AT LEONARD HARRISON BEFORE DRIVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK TO EXPLORE THE LESS TAMED SIDE OVER AT COLTON POINT. BARBOUR ROCK TRAIL IS A 1.3 MILE LOOP TRAIL WITH REWARDING VIEWS OF THE GORGE. I CAMPED IN A PRIMITIVE SITE AT COLTON POINT'S CAMPGROUND THAT EVENING DUE TO SEVERE PASSING THUNDERSTORMS.
I CONTINUED SOUTH ON WEST RIM ROAD, TAKING OCCASIONAL BREAKS TO HIKE IN TO THE WEST RIM TRAIL FROM THE VARIOUS "INTERCEPT" TRAILS ALONG THIS ROUTE. I HAD LUNCH AT BRADLEY WALES OVERLOOK AND BACKPACKED IN ON THE WEST RIM TRAIL FOR THE EVENING TO SETUP CAMP AND ENJOY THE PEACEFULNESS OF THE GORGE SURROUNDED BY NOTHING BUT WOODS. ON MY WAY TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE, I STOPPED INTO THE TOWN OF BLACKWELL. RATTLESNAKE ROCK IS A NEAT SPOT TO EXPLORE ALONG PINE CREEK. WOLFE'S GENERAL STORE IS A SHORT RIDE SOUTHWEST ON 414. I ALSO CAMPED AT LITTLE PINE STATE PARK NEAR THE TOWN OF WATERVILLE AND RECOMMEND THE NEAT LITTLE SHOPS AND THE TAVERN IN THIS QUAINT CENTRAL PA TOWN.
THROUGHOUT MY TWO AND A HALF DAYS EXPLORING PINE CREEK, I TOURED THE VISITOR CENTER AND OVERLOOK STRUCTURE AT LEONARD HARRISON BEFORE DRIVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK TO EXPLORE THE LESS TAMED SIDE OVER AT COLTON POINT. BARBOUR ROCK TRAIL IS A 1.3 MILE LOOP TRAIL WITH REWARDING VIEWS OF THE GORGE. I CAMPED IN A PRIMITIVE SITE AT COLTON POINT'S CAMPGROUND THAT EVENING DUE TO SEVERE PASSING THUNDERSTORMS.
I CONTINUED SOUTH ON WEST RIM ROAD, TAKING OCCASIONAL BREAKS TO HIKE IN TO THE WEST RIM TRAIL FROM THE VARIOUS "INTERCEPT" TRAILS ALONG THIS ROUTE. I HAD LUNCH AT BRADLEY WALES OVERLOOK AND BACKPACKED IN ON THE WEST RIM TRAIL FOR THE EVENING TO SETUP CAMP AND ENJOY THE PEACEFULNESS OF THE GORGE SURROUNDED BY NOTHING BUT WOODS. ON MY WAY TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE, I STOPPED INTO THE TOWN OF BLACKWELL. RATTLESNAKE ROCK IS A NEAT SPOT TO EXPLORE ALONG PINE CREEK. WOLFE'S GENERAL STORE IS A SHORT RIDE SOUTHWEST ON 414. I ALSO CAMPED AT LITTLE PINE STATE PARK NEAR THE TOWN OF WATERVILLE AND RECOMMEND THE NEAT LITTLE SHOPS AND THE TAVERN IN THIS QUAINT CENTRAL PA TOWN.
LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST
EXPLORING MCINTYRE WILD AREA AND WATERFALLS GALORE!
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF CREEKS IN THE 114,000 SOME ACRES THAT MAKE UP LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST. THE AREA OF ROCK RUN ALONE HARBORS NEARLY A DOZEN UNIQUE FALLS. NOT ALL CAN BE FOUND ON MAPS - SOME ARE TUCKED AWAY JUST WAITING FOR AN ADVENTEROUS SOUL TO DISCOVER THEM. I ALWAYS HAVE THAT STOPPED-DEAD-IN-MY-TRACKS-IN-AWE FEEL THE FIRST TIME I SEE A WATERFALL EXPLORING THROUGH THE WOODS.
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF CREEKS IN THE 114,000 SOME ACRES THAT MAKE UP LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST. THE AREA OF ROCK RUN ALONE HARBORS NEARLY A DOZEN UNIQUE FALLS. NOT ALL CAN BE FOUND ON MAPS - SOME ARE TUCKED AWAY JUST WAITING FOR AN ADVENTEROUS SOUL TO DISCOVER THEM. I ALWAYS HAVE THAT STOPPED-DEAD-IN-MY-TRACKS-IN-AWE FEEL THE FIRST TIME I SEE A WATERFALL EXPLORING THROUGH THE WOODS.
BAND ROCK VISTA INSIDE THE MCINTYRE WILD AREA IS A LONG, STEEP DRIVE UP THE SIDE OF MOUNTAIN BORDERING LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST PROPERTY FROM THE EXTRA-PROTECTED MCINTYRE WILD AREA.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A PASSENGER VEHICLE MAKING THE ASCENT TO THIS COVETED VISTA - THE ROAD IS ROUGH WITH DEEP MUD PUDDLES JUST WAITING FOR A SMALL CAR TO GET STUCK. WE SAW STOCK 4WD VEHICLES MAKE THE ROUTE OKAY - HIGH CLEARANCE IS DEFINITELY A NECESSITY OR YOU'RE GONNA BE HIKING A LITTLE WAYS. THE VIEW IS ENTIRELY WORTH IT. I SPENT ALMOST AN HOUR ENJOYING BAND ROCK'S LANDSCAPE, PEERING DOWN INTO THE NEARBY SMALL TOWN OF RALSTON. IT IS TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, SITTING ATOP AND GAZING ACROSS THE VALLEY OF FOREST TO THE NEXT RIDGE, REALIZING THERE'S DOZENS OF WINDMILLS JUST ON THE HORIZON. IT MIGHT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO COUNT THEM ALL FROM THIS DISTANCE.
AFTER GETTING MY FILL OF THIS BEAUTIFUL VISTA ON A PERFECT SUMMER DAY, I DESCENDED BACK TO THE STARTING POINT- NOW IT WAS TIME TO CHASE SOME WATERFALLS. THERE ARE THREE DISTINCT FALLS QUITE PLAINLY MARKED AS YOU DRIVE ALONG ROCK RUN. THE DESCENTS TO THESE FALLS ARE STEEP, BUT THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY OBVIOUS AND MARKED WITH SIGNS AT THE ENTRANCE. THESE FALLS ALL OFFER PLENTY OF ROCKS TO SPEND TIME SUNBATHING ON AND PERFECT LITTLE POOLS FOR TAKING A SWIM. I ALSO SAW SEVERAL ROPE SWINGS AROUND THESE SMALL, BUT DEEP POOLS UNDERNEATH THE WATERFALLS.
IT IS CERTAINLY WORTH GOING OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN SEARCH OF THOSE MORE UNIQUE FALLS IN LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST. THE PURPLE LIZARD MAPS HELP IN IDENTIFYING WHERE SOME FALLS ARE LOCATED, BUT A LOT OF WORK ON THE GROUND HIKING UP FEEDER CREEKS AS THEY ASCEND THE ADJACENT MOUNTAIN IS REQUIRED TO GET THAT PERFECT SLOW-MOTION WATER FLOWING PHOTOGRAPH. I MOST ENJOYED EXPLORING THE AREA OF MINERS FALLS - THREE FALLS TOTALLING ABOUT A 2 MILE OUT AND BACK HIKE WAS PERFECT FOR THIS END-OF-JULY SUMMER AFTERNOON.
I ALSO SPENT SOME TIME BACKPACKING LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST - THE OLD LOGGERS PATH FROM WHERE ROCK RUN MEETS YELLOW DOG RUN UP TO THE VISTA LABELED ROCK RUN ON THE LOYALSOCK PURPLE LIZARD MAP. THIS STRETCH OF TRAIL WAS A TOUGH, STEADY INCLINE, BUT THE VIEWS AND HIKING ADJACENT THE FLOWING CREEKS WAS WORTH IT. THERE WERE PLENTY OF OTHER BACKPACKERS OUT AND ABOUT - I SAW MUTLIPLE GROUPS SETTLING INTO CAMP FOR THE EVENING BEFORE I CHOSE MY SITE NOT FAR FROM WHERE YELLOW DOG RUN MAKES ITS SPLIT AND INTERSECTS THE OLD LOGGERS PATH. I HAMMOCK CAMP, SO THIS SITE WAS PERFECT WITH PLENTY OF TALL, SEASONED TREES TO HANG FROM.
ONE COULD SPENT WEEKS TRYING TO EXPLORE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF LOYALSOCK AND STILL NOT EVEN TOUCH ON ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS. I HAVE PLANS TO COMPLETE THE FULL 27 MILE LOOP OF THE OLD LOGGERS PATH - ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT LOOPS FOUND IN PENNSYLVANIA.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A PASSENGER VEHICLE MAKING THE ASCENT TO THIS COVETED VISTA - THE ROAD IS ROUGH WITH DEEP MUD PUDDLES JUST WAITING FOR A SMALL CAR TO GET STUCK. WE SAW STOCK 4WD VEHICLES MAKE THE ROUTE OKAY - HIGH CLEARANCE IS DEFINITELY A NECESSITY OR YOU'RE GONNA BE HIKING A LITTLE WAYS. THE VIEW IS ENTIRELY WORTH IT. I SPENT ALMOST AN HOUR ENJOYING BAND ROCK'S LANDSCAPE, PEERING DOWN INTO THE NEARBY SMALL TOWN OF RALSTON. IT IS TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, SITTING ATOP AND GAZING ACROSS THE VALLEY OF FOREST TO THE NEXT RIDGE, REALIZING THERE'S DOZENS OF WINDMILLS JUST ON THE HORIZON. IT MIGHT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO COUNT THEM ALL FROM THIS DISTANCE.
AFTER GETTING MY FILL OF THIS BEAUTIFUL VISTA ON A PERFECT SUMMER DAY, I DESCENDED BACK TO THE STARTING POINT- NOW IT WAS TIME TO CHASE SOME WATERFALLS. THERE ARE THREE DISTINCT FALLS QUITE PLAINLY MARKED AS YOU DRIVE ALONG ROCK RUN. THE DESCENTS TO THESE FALLS ARE STEEP, BUT THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY OBVIOUS AND MARKED WITH SIGNS AT THE ENTRANCE. THESE FALLS ALL OFFER PLENTY OF ROCKS TO SPEND TIME SUNBATHING ON AND PERFECT LITTLE POOLS FOR TAKING A SWIM. I ALSO SAW SEVERAL ROPE SWINGS AROUND THESE SMALL, BUT DEEP POOLS UNDERNEATH THE WATERFALLS.
IT IS CERTAINLY WORTH GOING OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN SEARCH OF THOSE MORE UNIQUE FALLS IN LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST. THE PURPLE LIZARD MAPS HELP IN IDENTIFYING WHERE SOME FALLS ARE LOCATED, BUT A LOT OF WORK ON THE GROUND HIKING UP FEEDER CREEKS AS THEY ASCEND THE ADJACENT MOUNTAIN IS REQUIRED TO GET THAT PERFECT SLOW-MOTION WATER FLOWING PHOTOGRAPH. I MOST ENJOYED EXPLORING THE AREA OF MINERS FALLS - THREE FALLS TOTALLING ABOUT A 2 MILE OUT AND BACK HIKE WAS PERFECT FOR THIS END-OF-JULY SUMMER AFTERNOON.
I ALSO SPENT SOME TIME BACKPACKING LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST - THE OLD LOGGERS PATH FROM WHERE ROCK RUN MEETS YELLOW DOG RUN UP TO THE VISTA LABELED ROCK RUN ON THE LOYALSOCK PURPLE LIZARD MAP. THIS STRETCH OF TRAIL WAS A TOUGH, STEADY INCLINE, BUT THE VIEWS AND HIKING ADJACENT THE FLOWING CREEKS WAS WORTH IT. THERE WERE PLENTY OF OTHER BACKPACKERS OUT AND ABOUT - I SAW MUTLIPLE GROUPS SETTLING INTO CAMP FOR THE EVENING BEFORE I CHOSE MY SITE NOT FAR FROM WHERE YELLOW DOG RUN MAKES ITS SPLIT AND INTERSECTS THE OLD LOGGERS PATH. I HAMMOCK CAMP, SO THIS SITE WAS PERFECT WITH PLENTY OF TALL, SEASONED TREES TO HANG FROM.
ONE COULD SPENT WEEKS TRYING TO EXPLORE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF LOYALSOCK AND STILL NOT EVEN TOUCH ON ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS. I HAVE PLANS TO COMPLETE THE FULL 27 MILE LOOP OF THE OLD LOGGERS PATH - ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT LOOPS FOUND IN PENNSYLVANIA.
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