ABOUT THE PARK: Pinchot State Forest - Pennsylvania DCNR
Hiking the New Re-routes of the Pinchot Trail-South Loop - Endless Mountain Experience
DIRECTIONS: GPS Coordinates 41.175630, -75.611276
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| It was rattling unclear where to common - could non discovery whatever parking where the Pinchot Trail crosses over Phelps Road equally shown on ane of the maps (at to the lowest degree non where my depression clearance automobile could go) but I flora this piffling location close a 10th of a mile from the trail off of Phelps Road. |
TRAIL MAP: Thornhurst Tract Map - Pennsylvania DCNR (outdated map, does non present the reroutes)
Thornhurst Snowmobile Trails - Pennsylvania DCNR (shows named snowmobile trails that are non labeled on the hiking map)
HIKE DISTANCE: 11.7 miles
THE HIKE: Some things to note:
- The entire due south loop would move a duad miles longer but I had to curt cutting it to teach inwards domicile at a reasonable time.
- The Pinchot Trail sometimes follows other named trails (signs at intersections but no names noted on maps, some named trails are on the snowmobile map) but it's the exclusively orangish blazed trail hence fifty-fifty though in that location are no signs that tell it is the Pinchot Trail, it is.
- The Pinchot Trail used to move blazed blueish as well as in that location are withal a few blueish blazes hither as well as there, only ignore them.
- Plan on beingness inwards talocrural articulation deep H2O at times specially if it's been a moisture summertime similar this one.
- Clockwise follows Choke Creek upstream.
- Trail is overgrown at times but it's rattling good blazed as well as slow to follow.
- Two ticks chose to ignore Deep Woods OFF - the exclusively ii this year.
- Very scenic as well as remote feeling hike - opposite to some reviews I receive got read, I genuinely enjoyed it.
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| Facing Phelps Road plough correct as well as caput downhill. |
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| At the Butler Run Trail sign on the correct (this volition move the provide route) ... |
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| ... plough left on the orange-blazed Pinchot Trail. |
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| We presently came upon a camping ground site ... |
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| ... at Butler Run. |
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| The trail follows Butler Run. |
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| Where Butler Run meets Choke Creek, a correct over the exclusively span on this hike. |
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| After the span the trail turns left as well as trail follows scenic Choke Creek for over iii miles. |
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| Choke Creek Falls |
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| There are some curt rocky sections but equally far equally Pennsylvania trails go, it wasn't bad at all. |
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| At ane indicate the trail is flooded because of beaver dams but it's possible to bushwhack around. |
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| The leaf was rattling pretty along the creek. |
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| I would tell hiking on Lord's Day is your best bet during hunting season. I saw several tree stands. |
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| This was embedded inwards the trail as well as I wasn't certain what it was at first. |
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| Turns out it's balloon #49 of the year, breaking terminal year's tape as well as this twelvemonth isn't fifty-fifty over yet. I had genuinely nabbed balloon #48 correct where I parked my car. |
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| The intersection amongst the yellow-blazed Choke Creek Trail which would brand a shorter loop but equally good curt for us hence on nosotros went. |
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| A campsite overlooking Choke Creek. There are lots of campsites throughout this hike. |
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| Time to teach our feet/paws moisture as well as slosh on through. It was an unseasonably warm as well as humid solar daytime hence it genuinely felt pretty good. |
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| Some overgrowth - Brodie is inwards in that location somewhere. |
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| Looking dorsum over Choke Creek ... |
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| ... earlier the trail turns correct leading away from the creek. |
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| At this fourth dimension in that location was a pretty long stretch of overgrowth betwixt miles four as well as five of the hike. |
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| It ends earlier a tunnel ... |
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| ... as well as the trail is clear. |
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| Coming upwards on the side yesteryear side rhododendron tunnel, it's obvious in that location has been some recent trail maintenance amongst lots of cutting branches scattered around. Thanks! |
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| Straight ahead is a xanthous side trail (the onetime route of the Pinchot Trail) that leads to parking but nosotros continued left on some other rerouted department of the Pinchot Trail. |
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| Backpackers upwards ahead. We crossed paths amongst iii pair of backpackers spell on the trail, other than that, nobody else around. |
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| The Pinchot Trail touches briefly on this gravel route earlier going into the woods to the left but later on taking a break... |
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| ... nosotros made this our shortcut as well as continued on the gravel route to the gate ... |
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| ... where nosotros turned correct on Tannery Road briefly ... |
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| ... hence left on Stone Tower Trail (a snowmobile trail). Seems to move parking infinite for a few cars to the left of the sign. |
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| Stone Tower Trail |
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| At the transcend of the hill, a clearing where the Pinchot Trail crosses over straight off ahead. |
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| After a break, correct on the Pinchot Trail. |
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| After going through some other clearing ... |
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| ... dorsum on the Stone Tower Trail for a spell equally the Pinchot Trail uses this route. |
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| The gravel ends as well as it becomes a rattling pleasant grassy woods route for a overnice long stretch. |
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| Left on the Lord's Day Trail dorsum into the woods. |
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| This business office of the trail skirts along the northern side of Spruce Swamp Natural Area as well as it's all flooded out but slow plenty teach through the talocrural articulation deep sections. |
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| The trail crosses Phelps Road diagonally to the left (the ane house the blazes aren't that obvious as well as you lot receive got to hold off closely) as well as continues on the Birch Still Trail. |
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| Sand Spring Creek flowing to the left of the trail. The trail is never that to a greater extent than or less the creek but it's slow plenty to bushwhack over for a look. |
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| The H2O was running pretty deep at this crossing hence nosotros only bushwhacked upstream to the correct a fighting to discovery a ameliorate agency over. |
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| A pic taken spell standing inwards talocrural articulation deep water. What the heck, ane time you lot teach moisture it doesn't affair anymore. |
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| Coming out on Phelps Road ... |
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| ... where nosotros turned left dorsum to the car. |
