Length: 5 to 6.5 miles depending on route taken, ours was 6.5.
Difficulty: Moderate. Stream crossings, steep slopes, no significant climbs. There is flood damage along the creek that drains Dutchman Swamp.
Trail conditions: There is a well marked white blazed trail on the Elklick Wilderness Preserve. The rest of the hike is off trail or follows a gravel road. Other than the preserve, no trails are marked or signed. This hike involves creek side hiking. Off trail navigation required.
Highlights: Several beautiful waterfalls, impressive hemlock and moss forest, glen, narrow gorge.
Parking: Small gravel lot at 41.419024, -76.480881.
Description: This hike has incredible scenery and should be on the list of any hiker who doesn’t mind off trail hiking. There are scenic waterfalls, gorges, glens, and beautiful hemlock forests. And because much of the hike follows creeks, the off trail navigation isn’t very difficult. Mokoma Falls was previously described on this blog, but this hike is far superior and makes the falls much closer to reach.
From the parking area, hike the white trail into the Elklick Wilderness owned by the Mokoma Conservancy. Reach the start of the loop and turn right. These white trails are nice with forest scenery, a meadow, and small streams. At the southeast corner of the loop, leave it and hike to the pipeline swath. Cross it and enter SGL 13. Hike off trail in a south east direction and enter a stunning hemlock and moss forest. It is truly beautiful. Reach a creek and follow downstream, Cross the creek and follow a grade on the south side of it. You will see a gorgeous glen with hemlocks, cascades, and a seven foot double falls.
Hike above Mokoma Falls, which is not even fifteen feet tall. The setting is stunning with towering hemlocks. Follow the creek downstream and reach another creek, turn left and go upstream. The flood damage is apparent. There is space to hike on the north side of the creek, but you will need to cross and follow an old grade on the south side. There are many cascades and old stone retaining walls. The gorge narrows with ledges. It is scenic despite the flood damage.
The first falls on this creek comes into view, about seven feet in a bedrock grotto. Above is another falls, a slide with a deep pool and small sidestreams with their own small waterfalls, a gorgeous spot. Continue upstream. Reach a 12 foot falls with a bedrock slide and above is the tallest falls, a beautiful, broad falls over twenty feet tall. More cascades and slides are above. This gorge of waterfalls is absolutely beautiful.
Here, you can retrace your steps back to the car, or head north off trail to the game commission road and hike that out back to your car (Alt. Route on map).
We continued upstream to Dutchmans Swamp, there were no more falls. It became apparent why there was flood damage. The large beaver dam at the swamp blew out. What was once a pond is now a huge meadow. I’m sure this is an ideal place for rare plants and flowers in summer. We hiked north, followed a deer fence around a logged area and hiked out via the game commission road. We crossed the pipeline swath and followed the white trail back to the car.
Sullivan County has so much natural beauty. Enjoy this amazing hike.
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 