Ricketts Glen has a new trail and vista, called Valley View, and it is located off of the Old Bulldozer Road Trail. In some sense Valley View isn’t new; old park maps from twenty or more years ago show a Valley View on the Old Bulldozer Road Trail, however that location was different from the present Valley View. It is easy to find Valley View, however, the hike does require a vigorous climb.
From the PA 118 parking area, you can start from either of two places. The red Old Bulldozer Road Trail begins at the end of the parking area near the kiosk and restrooms. Or you can begin from the middle of the parking area at a sign and an orange marked trail for snowmobiles. We started in the middle and followed the orange trail under large hemlocks to the red Old Bulldozer Road Trail, on which you will turn right. Continue to hike under large hemlocks and pines, some of these trees are over a hundred feet tall. Enter more open hardwoods where the trail splits. To the left, the trail goes to the Falls Trail. However, we went right and continued on the red trail as it began its climb.
And climb we did. We went up a fairly steep slope, which leveled off, and then a second steeper climb under some rock outcrops with even a small natural arch. We reached the top of the plateau with some hemlocks and the terrain leveled off. There were oaks and mountain laurel, making this an ideal hike in late June when the laurel blooms. We then reached a sign for Valley View and we turned right onto the yellow blazed trail.
The yellow trail meandered through the open woods and soon reached the edge of the plateau. The view soon appeared. We could see over 40 miles from a rock outcrop, across foothills, small valleys, and tiers of distant ridges. The water gap at Shickshinny is clearly seen. It is a beautiful view. This is a good view for sunrises. Some yellow blazes continued past the view, but then just ended. A private property line is nearby.
From the view, we just retraced our steps back down the mountain. It is nice to see Ricketts Glen expanding its trail system. With the Falls Trail closed every winter, it is good to have other hiking destinations in the park.
We parked at 41.300619, -76.272082. This hike is about 2 miles, one way. It is a 900 foot vertical climb to the view.
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 