Length: Approx. 16 miles
Parking: Small trailhead at 41.572694, -77.847969 (Twin Sisters Trailhead). The roads were in good shape if driving from Cross Fork.
Blazes: STS is orange, Twin Sisters Trail is yellow, with orange blazes. There is an off trail section.
Trail conditions: Fairly good. STS is in decent condition, Twin Sisters Trail was pretty easy to follow.
Highlights: Isolation, meadows, views, small cascades, streamside hiking, great campsites, Hammersley Pool, vistas. Lots of ferns.
Issues: Off trail section is steep, stream crossings, crossing Hammersley Fork in high water would be dangerous.
Level of challenge: Moderate to difficult
Description: The Hammersley Wild Area is one of the premier wilderness areas in Pennsylvania, covering over 30,000 acres and surrounded by vast state forests. The famed Susquehannock Trail System (STS), an 85 mile loop, traverses the wild area and there are many yellow blazed side trails. By combining the STS and Twin Sisters Trail you can make a loop the explores the beauty of the Hammersley.
To complete this loop, most people use the pipeline swath to the north. But if you are more adventurous and want a more scenic route, I recommend the off trail route as shown on the map. It is a ridgewalk with meadows and great views, but it does get steep as you near the bottom.
From the parking area, head south on the Twin Sisters Trail, it is blazed yellow but there are also orange blazes. It is a scenic trail with hemlocks, large hardwoods, and gradually climbs a ridge. It follows an old grade as it hugs the side of the mountain. You will soon reach the Twin Sisters Vista, aka Hammersley Meadows, large meadows formed by wildfires. These meadows offer superb views.
This is also where the off trail section begins. Simply descend right, or west, along the northern edge of the meadows. Watch for brush or pickers, you may want to stay along the forest line. Soon, fine views begin to unfold from meadows of the Hammersley Canyon. It is a beautiful ridge walk. Pick your way down to Twin Sisters Hollow Run as best you can; it gets steep but there are no ledges or scrambling. The rock underfoot can be loose. Reach the bottom, cross Hammersley Fork, ascend the bank and reach the STS. This off trail trek is shorter and more scenic than the pipeline, it also affords you an opportunity to see the meadows twice on this hike. However, it is also more challenging than the pipeline.
Follow the STS as it accompanies Hammersley Fork; the trail usually stays on a bank above the creek. Cross side streams that often have campsites. Meadows are often along the Hammersley Fork, the forests are mostly hardwoods. Cross the Hammersley Fork without a bridge, expect wet feet; this is dangerous in high water. The trail climbs steeply above the fork and then gradually descends. Cross Dry Hollow with small cascades and reach Hammersley Pool and some campsites. This is a beautiful spot with a bedrock pool of clear water and a cascade.
Continue on the STS as it stays above the creek; there is one superb campsite you can see below the trail. Descend to another gorgeous spot, where Elkhorn Hollow and the Hammersley Fork meet. There is great camping under hemlocks with cascades. I think this campsite may be nicer than the Hammersley Pool.
The STS climbs up Elkhorn Hollow, a beautiful wooded gorge. It levels at the top with mountain laurel. Reach the Twin Sisters Trail and turn left. This is an easy, rolling trail with vast areas of ferns and some hemlocks. Most of the forest is hardwoods. The ferns are stunning in the autumn. Years ago, the Twin Sisters Trail was a little hard to follow, but it was much better established on this hike.
Reach the meadows. While off trail, I recommend exploring the south meadow; it has excellent views. There is a campsite between the two meadows. The trail crosses the north meadow where there are pickers and more views. You can go off trail to the right to the top of the north meadow for more awesome views. The views here are unique with tiers of rolling ridges and deep hollows. Both meadows are ideal for sunsets. Complete the loop where you began your off trail hike and retrace your steps back to your car.
The Hammersley is a special sanctuary of the Alleghenies and northern Appalachians.
More photos:
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 