The trails (Lowlands and Red Spruce) have had some new routing and some work in-progress at the 40 Maples Day Use Area. There has been clearing and clean-up done to open up the area (see pictures) and there is now a Wildlife Viewing Blind added to view the marshland. This area is covered under the Lowlands Trail added 2/8/2023. The Lowlands Trail passes behind the 40 Maples Day Use Area, and it is still a little confusing how different trails intersect, and how to stay on the Lowlands Trail when hiking that trail. The Sinnemahoning State Park Trail map has a enlarged insert that helps to show the trails in the 40 Maples Day use Area. There might be more signage planned after the area the improvements are finished.

Hiking

Lumberman's Loop

Susquehannock State Forest
Sweden Township, PA

OliverPhineas

6.2 miles / 10.0 km

October 18, 2022

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum is an educational experience visited by many a tourists motoring along US Route 6 throughout the year. Luckily, for outdoor enthusiasts, this destination has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. And going another step farther, and since The PA Lumber's Museum is located in the wooded mountains of Potter County, several wonderful trails abound in the area for hikers to explore. This Lumberman's Loop steps through a northern hardwood forest with streams, wetlands and rocky areas that transverse along on maintained paths not too difficult to follow. An exception being the slightly confusing corridor across the open field on private property behind the Nine Mile Cottages (mile 0.8). Here the hikers must make thier way along the stand of pine trees just to the right of the driveway to the private house at the bottom edge of the hillside. This brings to mind another interesting possibility. These trails on this loop, could be easily accessed from the Nine Mile Cottages, which appeared to offer a retro-60's-style motel for a pay-to-stay get away for outdoor enthusiasts. A possible alternative to camping in the woods for those who might prefer a rustic cabin to rent. Anyways that's just speculation, as to another way to explore this part of the Susquehannock State Forest to take an adventurous hike or just to lumber along this old path.

Hiking

Zindel Falls and Keller Reservoir Loop

Zindel Park
Lock Haven, PA

OliverPhineas

3.1 miles / 5.0 km

October 04, 2022

The black and red caterpillar is giant leopard moth (picture 47).

Hiking

Mt. Broadhead Trail

Susquehannock State Forest
Galeton, PA

OliverPhineas

11.5 miles / 18.5 km

June 20, 2022

This hike could be easily considered a trip into an abandoned or the "ghost" railroad of Goodyear's lost empire used during the lumber rush era of the 1890's in Potter County. The 15-car trains are no longer in existence, the water tank went dry, and the lumber boom soon petered out after a mere 10 year run. But the trails are here today and so are a few intrepid hikers who adventure up on Mount Broadhead to journey on these great outdoor explores. Almost certainly the spirit of George Wayne Burrous, who daily commuted by foot from his cabin at Upper Dry Hollow to his job as a fire spotter at the Cherry Springs Fire Tower went along with us on these trails. A faint but reassuring whisper was heard to say along way, "The path is sometimes difficult to follow, but don't lose your steam on the steep slopes of the old railroad grades." Fire Spotter Burrous also channeled the following message about the forest ferns: "My favorite one is the smaller dark green one called a Christmas Fern. I have them growing all around my cabin. The more common forest fern that you see growing here, as in the sea of ferns, is the Interrupted Fern, and is the oldest species, at about 200 million years. Ferns are easy to walk through in the woods and make the forest look tropical and pre-historical. Seeing a dinosaur walking around in them would seem quite natural to me." Technical note: due to the lack of a consistent internet signal on this hike, my geo tracker gave a longer than actual mileage reading, likely due to erratic fluctuations in the track recording. The actual mileage for this hike is probably about 8.5 miles.

Trail Map

Hiking

Square Timber Vista via Bucktail Path

Elk State Forest
Lumber Township, PA

OliverPhineas

1.7 miles / 2.7 km

April 12, 2022

As noted in the hike write up given here, in addition to this area having the advantage of viewing mountain vistas, here too is a likely good wildlife viewing place, especially for the elk. The strategy is to know the best times and where to look and find the elk in thier seasonal migrations. In the spring as the weather warms and food becomes more plentiful, elk do move to the meadows to feed on the grasses at the edges of the woods. In the winter, they are more likely to be in the more wooded areas of the forest and down in the sheltered hollows. So that crashing sound could be elk. To be successful, the best times are early in the morning or at dusk in the evening. Find a comfortable viewing spot and to sit quietly, to hopefully make that elk sighting and this probably a great place to do that. Due to my trail map Geo Tracking Glitch that caused this hiker's smart phone device to shutdown probably due to going into a battery saving mode: no trail map to share on this hike. Lesson learned: Carry an extra battery pack. This hiker on this day left one behind in the vehicle.

Hiking

Square Timber Trail

Elk State Forest
Lumber Township, PA

OliverPhineas

7.6 miles / 12.2 km

April 12, 2022

Tagging along on this hike was me: Goo Grampus. Having only a couple of causal observations to add. First you might have missed the news that the Eastern Hellbender, recently became Pennsylvania's official state amphibian. This is important to know because these rare nocturnal, slimy salamanders are known to be in these parts. They inhabit clear, fast-moving creeks, like Square Timber Run, throughout the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania but tend to favor the mud in the rich and gooey silted bottoms of old springhouses. It is best not to disturb thier habitats when hiking in wild areas. You can however, choose your Hellbender nickname to bestow upon yourself when hiking the Square Timber Trail. My hiker Square Timber Trail name: Goo Grampus. To find yours, look it up on the posted picture chart. Another observation made during this early spring hike, it is still mostly brown everywhere. However looking closely and listening carefully, there are some green spots on carpet below to match the hues of the evergreens and mountain laurel. Mosses and Lichens are also the perennial greens of the forest. The moss and algae were heard to brag, "We're the only food producers on this rock." Thier branchy-looking companion did say back, "You act like a bunch of old stoneworts. You crusty hitchhikers better start liken your Lichen. You know I'm the one with enough structure to go places around here." My favorite portions of this hike were peering into the mucky bottoms of that old springhouse structure, wondering what was lurking around in there, and then climbing that steep switchback trail to the mountain ridge atop. Last note: My trail map got truncated because of Geo Tracking Glitch: At about 7.6 mile into the hike, on what was planned to be 10 to 12 miles, this hiker's smart phone device did an unexpected shutdown probably due to going into a battery saving mode. Must learn to carry an extra battery pack. The hiker had one but it was left in the vehicle.

Trail Map

Hiking

Arts - Moores Run - Blue Coat Loop

Susquehannock State Forest
Coudersport, PA

OliverPhineas

6.2 miles / 10.0 km

March 27, 2022

Trail Map for the Winter solstice hike on Dec. 20, 2021. Scouting was done on the Art's Trail, upper end of Rock Hollow Trail, upper end of Windfall Hollow Trail, Moores Run Fire Trail and Blue Coat Trail.

Trail Map

Hiking

Jacob Run and Stuckey Hollow Loop Trail

Austin Dam Memorial Park
Austin, PA

OliverPhineas

7.2 miles / 11.6 km

December 05, 2021

All apologies. To help future hikers, my plan is to break this hike into two parts. The first being an added trail called "Jones Run Loop Hike" which is the beginning 5 km, that returns on the easier to follow Jones Run Road trail as seen here on the attached GPX trail. And then in the not-to-distance future, add another trail, "Jacob Run Loop". Once these two part are available, the more adventurous hiking explorers can embark upon the "Jacob Run and Stuckey Hollow Loop Trail" after having the option to explore each part individually. As it stands in the here and now, I must agree that the "Jacob Run and Stuckey Hollow Loop Trail" is hard to follow and so it does need work to make better markers on the trails for hikers to follow. From my observation of the pond at the bottom of Jacob Run, it appears that this work is likely the result of a industrious beaver colony, which has damned up the creeks in that area, and changed the terrain making the trail crossings in this area more watery. Again agreed that better trail markers needed. Thank you for the valuable feedback.

Trail Map

Hiking

Spook Hollow & Ole Bull Vista Loop

Susquehannock State Forest
Cross Fork, PA

OliverPhineas

5.0 miles / 8.0 km

October 02, 2021

Let it be known that I, OliverPhineas, found this hiking adventure to this remote corner of Potter County to be a beautiful spot and it, without a doubt. needs additional treks to get the full orientation of the many trail opportunities available here in the purlieus of the Ole Bull Castle site. Also let it be known, that although, I did not see any specific spooky creatures while on the Spook Hollow section of the STS Trail, I did indeed get that eerie feeling that strange things were afoot when entering Spook Hollow and again within the Spook Hollow near vernal pool. Be fair warned to be on guard at those points. My next hike to this area, is being planned my headroom, to include the Big Trestle Trail to search for any railroad ruins left behind in these parts and to explore the “Joerg Crest Trail” which in my theory might be an alternate path to the trek on the Joerg Road section of this hike. A hard climb on the STS trail (as I recall on an earlier journey) is that trail leaving Ole Bull State Park (mile 26 to 28). Can't remember if there is a vista at the top of the mountain, but that might be a dandy for when the leaves are off the trees. It's sure to be a bear of a climb (pun). Remember, my hiking friends, we are all like the falling leaves in the autumn wind. We only get brief time to make our journey through this space. So, be sure to make the best of it.

Hiking

Big Blue Hole Hike

Susquehannock State Forest
Austin, PA

OliverPhineas

10.0 miles / 16.1 km

July 07, 2021

Take a hike through the remote Pennsylvania's Hammersley Wild Area was the purpose of the trek. A main point of interest for this hiker, was finding the campsite at the bottom of Road Hollow at mile 3.0 used on family outings in the 1970's. Our group hiked in on the Darling Run Trail from the Trailhead on the McConnell Road near the intersection with the Marvin Run Road back in those days. There were no marked trails anywhere in this area at that time. Interestingly, the campsite appear to be very similar, perhaps more closed-in view-wise with the brush growing on the east side toward the Hammersley Fork creek. A second goal was to revisit the Big Blue Hole, which was remembered as awesome summer swimming. The third goal was to complete this day hike along the remote Hammersley Fork creek without doing a 2-mile plus climb-out at the finish. Mission accomplished on all three points. However, I certainly agree it was a hard hike in the summer bushwhack portions with tall grass and multiple creek crosses, and limited paths to follow in those non-marked areas. Back in the day, we termed this sort of hike "a real trudge". A timber rattler, a bear clawed tree and miles of tall grass (and poison ivy). Oh My!

Trail Map

Hiking

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Proposed Link Trail West