Henry Lott Brook is one of many beautiful streams in the wonderland that is SGL 57. The brook has carved a scenic gorge into the plateau filled with boulders, pools, grottos, slides, cascades and small waterfalls. There are no towering falls on this brook, but the scenery is non-stop. The hike into the gorge is off trail, there are no trails, signs or blazes. This hike is best for experienced hikers. Do not attempt in high water.
From the parking area, simply follow the gated forest road as is winds its way up the plateau. There are lots of wildflowers in the spring and summer. The road levels and reaches a logged area with some views. The road begins to veer left. Here, look for logging grades descending. Follow them as best you can, as far down as you can. Bushwhack down to the brook.
Now, follow the brook up. You will soon be treated to grottos with dripping springs and boulders. Cascades dance from everywhere. Moss and lichens carpet everything. You have entered a different world. We were amazed by the scenery. In places you will encounter landslides and thickets of birch trees. We found it was best to bypass them to the right, if heading upstream. These landslides and thickets are more of a problem in the lower half of the brook.
As we climbed, the scenery only improved. We reached more incredible cascades and massive boulders. Cliffs and ledges of the gorge reached over a hundred feet tall on the right. The brook tumbled down bedrock grottos with deep pools. The water was a deep amber from the spruce swamps at its source. Around every bend there was something to see.
We reached an amazing grotto covered in moss and layers of bedrock, framed by large smooth boulders. There was a ten-foot falls with a chokestone, we called it Chokestone Falls. A magical spot. But the brook didn’t stop. Ahead were jumbles of large boulders, cascades and mini gorges with bedrock slides. We reached a long bedrock slide with a cliff on the right, to the left were large boulders. We were going to try to do a grand loop with Somer Brook, but I wasn’t feeling well. We climbed to the road and hiked out, enjoying the wildflowers, and a black phase rattlesnake tightly coiled.
The map above is for general directional purposes. Red is off trail. The hike is 6-7 miles long and is rugged.
There are so many places of hidden beauty waiting to be explored. Get out there.
Parking is at 41.473815, -76.142560.
Photos and videos:
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 