The Pine Creek Gorge is a popular hiking destination, with many of the trails on the west side of the gorge. Thanks to the Mid State Trail, Pine Creek Rail Trail and the Water Tank Trail, there is also a great hiking loop on the east rim. This loop is about six miles long. Ian joined me on this hike.
We began hiking from a parking area on Clay Mine Road and walked down the road to the MST, on which we turned right. The MST explored some boulders and meandered through the forest until it eventually made its way down to Water Tank Run. We passed springs and thickets of laurel with pine. At Water Tank Run, the yellow Water Tank Trail joined the MST; this would be our return route.
We continued on the MST as it explored beautiful forests and more laurel thickets. The trail was a pleasure to hike. We crossed the other branch of Water Tank Run and continued on the MST. The trail took us into gorgeous open forests with meadows of ferns, sunlight dappled the forest floor as the ferns waved in the breeze. A yellow side trail to the right took us to a fine view from the east rim, looking across the gorge. Thunderstorms rumbled to the north from dark, ominous clouds. There was also a view looking south, but it was mostly grown over. We retraced our steps back to the MST and soon reached Stone Quarry Run. Here, the MST turned right and descended along Stone Quarry Run. (Keep in mind the MST is presently being rerouted and it will go across Stone Quarry Run and down Fork Hill with two vistas, this route is shown as red on the map).
The trail down Stone Quarry Run was beautiful as we followed a narrow grade above the deep gorge. We could hear the creek cascading far below and the open forest allowed us to see the other side of the gorge carved by Stone Quarry Run. The trail became steep near the bottom. We reached the Pine Creek Rail Trail and there was a fifteen foot falls on Stone Quarry Run.
The next part of the hike followed the rail trail, which is not blazed but obvious. We hiked up the trail as storm clouds gathered to the north. Pine Creek flowed along the trail as kayakers sailed by. Flowers adorned the bank and bicyclists passed us. Many bicyclists from the Philippines passed us and one stopped and warned us about some snakes ahead and their massive size. His alarm caught me by surprise as I thought the Philippines must have some pretty fearsome snakes. We hiked on, but never saw the snakes. We reached Water Tank Run. I hiked an unmarked trail on the south side of the run (black on the map above) to a stunning 30 foot falls. It was a little tough to get to the falls due to the steep terrain, but a path with a rope provided some assistance. I hear there is a double falls upstream, but we did not have time to see it.
We returned to the rail trail and then turned right onto the yellow Water Tank Trail, which is on the north side of Water Tank Run. The trail was very steep, but that was not our only concern. The clouds opened up and we were treated to a torrential downpour complete with thunder and lightning. There was little we could do, so we trudged up the steep trail as heavy rains doused the forest. The trail became more gradual and the rain began to ease. The gorge of Water Tank Run was beautiful with cascades. The gorge was deep and impressive, as the trail clung to the side of it. We crossed Water Tank Run, reached the MST, and retraced our steps back to the car.
This was a beautiful and diverse hike that offered a bit of a challenge. Once the new MST route down Fork Hill is complete, it will be best to begin at Blackwell and I expect Stone Quarry Run will become a cross connector trail.
We parked at 41.603757, -77.373709. Parking in Blackwell is at 41.556268, -77.381904.
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 