03/05/10

Trip Review

This was an awesome trail to travel. It is closely comparable to the Black Forest Trail, and certainly rates #1 in my eyes along with the BFT. The scenic waterfalls, Vistas, Worlds End State Park, High Knob, and the terrain will make a lasting impression in your mind of memories. This was truly an amazing trail with lots to offer. I have and will continue to go back and explore more of this trail on day hikes. It is such an awesome trail!

From the trail head prepare to ascend roughly 900 feet in a grueling .75 mile hike up a rock area known as Sock Rock. On this trail you will cross, merge onto and off of many old logging roads, and railroad grades so keep your eyes open for the trail markers. Also at times the markers become scarce to find.

There is a possible campsite at m1.73 and another at m3.03 at an amazing vista. Both contain no water or very little. At m4.85 prepare to climb 2.25 miles to Smith Knob Vista. At this point you will have passed 5 vistas and 5 campsites. There are excellent campsites at m8.15 and m10.06, but Shingle Run offers 3 of the best campsites I have seen so far. At m16.10 prepare for a 3.2 mile road walk, but there is some interesting history towards the end of this road walk. m19.15 offers an incredible vista at Camp Genesee. Angel Falls at m23.26 offers a pretty view of both the waterfall and the mountains on the other side. Kettle Creek is another pretty area of this hike. An excellent run with four water falls is Dutters Run around m27.11. There is a great big campsite a m28.48 along Dry Run. At 29.95 prepare for a sticky .6 mile walk through some briars. Split Rock at m32.48 is a definite highlight of the trail. The rock formation is truly awesome. m33.92 starts the Ketchum Run walk. There is a good campsite here and another at m34.16 by the trail register and a great waterfall known as Lees Falls at m34.35, but that's not it. At m35.16 there is another waterfall known as Rodes Falls and an excellent campsite and a ladder you have to descend too! m35.80 offers a great vista and is known as Lower Alpine View. Prepare to climb a nasty ascent to the top of the mountain and across Coal Mine Road. From here the take-out parking area is to the right.

It is hard to pinpoint a favorite section of this amazing trail, but this last leg offers some great experiences. This section starts off fairly easy, traversing around an old mining area. As you continue your adventure east you will descend to Double Run in about 3 miles. you will then ascend to Winners Knob (view) and descend to the very cool Minerals Springs at mile 41.53. From hear you will make your way east, passing several good campsites and then north to Canyon Vista! mile 43.27, great place to eat lunch and relax for a bit. You will begin to descend to Worlds End State Park m46.00. This is a wonderful state park with lots to do, including kayaking, camping, site-seeing, hiking and much more. After you visit WESP, you will head north and ascend the rock stairs at m46.49, awesome! Waterfall nearby down below the trail. There are some great camping spots ahead on High Rock Run (towards the end that is). After you make a big horseshoe you will head east for a big at mile 50. Soon to reach Sone's Pond at m53.36. This part of the hike seems so remote and then poof, their is a pond with some great camping spots, which of course are off limits and people are fishing across the other side. From here you will head south to the Loyalsock Creek passing some neat rocks at mile 54.35. Camping ahead on the Loyalsock Creek is incredible. From here you will head east along and close to the Loyalsock Creek reaching the Haystacks at mile 57.23. In about two miles your journey will end, but before you leave check out Dutchman's Falls at m59.06. What a hike!!!
 

Directions

From Rt.220, exit off at Rt.87 Montoursville. Head north on Rt. 87 for 11 miles. The trail head is on the right side of the road. There is enough room for parking about 3 or 4 cars. Little Bear Road is .5 miles north of the trail head and is an access road for take-out points at miles, 4.82 (.75 miles), 8.08 (4 miles) and  13.53 (6 miles). You can also come in Dunwoody Road to these areas as well. Other parking areas include m22.10, 3 miles east on Ogdonia Road, which is 12 miles north of the trail head on Rt. 87. .7 miles north of Ogdonia Road is Dry Run Road. At mile 28.42 you can park a vehicle here. It is about 3 miles in. Also along Dry Run Road is Dry Run Falls, I recommend you visit this waterfall. Also accessible from this road is High Knob Vista. It's about 4 on Dry Run Road and about 3 miles on a Forest Road that is to the left. Don't worry there are signs guiding you here. There is also a parking area at this point at mile 30.57. Another parking area is near Worlds End State Park at mile 36.76. To access this parking area turn right onto Rt.154. Travel 2 mile to the state park. Turn right on SR3009 for no more than 2 miles. Here you will take a right onto Coal Mine Road. There is two access roads as this road makes a big loop. The LT crosses this road towards the back end of the loop. The eastern terminus of the Loyalsock Trail is quite simple to access. Right from Rt.220, 6.5 miles south of Dushore, PA.

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