Length: About 42 miles
Difficult: This is a challenging loop, but not as difficult as the Black Forest Trail. Expect lots of climbs and descents, with some cruisey sections.
Trail conditions: Overall, pretty good. Some trails were brushy or weedy, but the loop was fairly easy to navigate. Some creeks have no bridges. Most trail junctures have signs.
Highlights: Views, diverse forests, Pine Creek, several waterfalls and cascades, gorges, glens, streams, mountain laurel blooms, good isolation.
Parking: I began at Slate Run and hiked the loop clockwise. Large parking area at 41.471322, -77.502328.
Issues: Some nettle on Vanaimes Trail, and a section of nettle along Long Branch creek. If hiking south/clockwise on the Mid State Trail there was a turn that was easy to miss (see map). This loop has a roadwalk and also follows jeep or forest roads. Established camping is somewhat limited on the loop.
Amenities: Pit toilets, seasonal garbage cans at Blackwell. Small seasonal restaurant in Blackwell. Store and restaurant in Slate Run.
Blazes: Black Forest, West Rim, Mid State and Golden Eagle Trails are orange. Long Branch Trail is red or yellow. Bohen and Dragons Back Trails are yellow.
Maps: Maps of this route can be found at the Tioga and Tiadaghton State Forests websites.
Would I hike again? Absolutely, this was a great loop.
Description: This is an excellent loop in the Pine Creek Gorge you didn’t know existed. It serves as an ideal alternative to the popular Black Forest Trail (BFT). This loop is easier than the BFT, has more waterfalls, cascades, creeks, and water features, but has fewer views (though there are still quite a few views).
I also called it the “Big Four in the Gorge” because this loop connects all four premier state forest hiking trails in the Pine Creek Gorge, the Black Forest, West Rim, Mid State, and Golden Eagle Trails.
From the Slate Run parking area, cross the bridge and pick up (turn right onto) the BFT behind the Hotel Manor. Cross beautiful Slate Run on a bridge and climb the ridge with rock outcrops and pine seedlings. Reach two views at old quarries with more rock outcrops. There is superb dry camping at the second view. Reach the top of the plateau with mountain laurel, pass a spring. Where the BFT goes left, go straight onto the Algerine/Long Branch Trail (LBT). (Point 1 on map).
The LBT is made up of individually named trails and is beautiful; hikers have long loved it. Enjoy more laurel and fern meadows. The terrain is cruisey. Reach Point 2, where the LBT crosses a dirt road. It goes straight across but can be hard to notice. Cross Gamble Run Road. Enjoy diverse forests of pine and spruce, with a small meadow. Follow Vanaimes Trail down Hamilton Hollow, this section is beautiful with cascades and one waterfall. There is some nettle. Reach Cedar Run. A beautiful cascade, grotto and pool is just off the trail on Mine Hole Run.
Follow the LBT into a beautiful glen with another falls. Climb up along Long Branch, this section is more rugged but scenic with cascades and mossy boulders. Nettle becomes an issue but it recedes as you climb. Near the top, hike through pine and spruce forests. Reach the West Rim Trail (WRT) and turn left.
The WRT offers great hiking with meadows and a view. Descend to Bohen Run, turn right onto Bohen Trail. Camping is nearby. Descend into the gorge with cascades. Towering Bohen Run Falls appears below through the trees. Watch for an unsigned blue side trail on the left, it goes down to camping along Pine Creek and rejoins Bohen Trail. Enjoy views of Jerry Run Falls and descend to Blackwell.
Hike through this scenic village and follow the Mid State Trail (MST) south. Make the big climb up Gillespie Point to see the stunning views. Descend to Brill Hollow and Big Run with cascades. Hike down Big Run, the MST stays above it, but reach an incredible gorge and grotto with falls and slides. Spend some time here. Big Run is so scenic, framed by ledges and cliffs.
Climb over the ridge and down Hoyt Hollow where the MST passes above a 20ish foot falls. Cross Trout Run, a sizeable creek that can be dangerous in high water. Climb and follow grassy forest roads for a few miles. Watch for a turn that’s easy to miss if hiking south. Descend to Brown Fork where there is a good campsite below the trail. Hike to a unique log cabin with a register and climb up a scenic, open stream valley with camping potential. Climb steeply to a nice view. Follow more forest and jeep roads to Barrens Road and parking. Turn right. Follow this lonely road for about three miles.
Reach Point 3. Go straight onto a gated game commission jeep road. Reach Point 4, the gate and sign for the Beulahland Hunting Club, turn right onto a grassy jeep road with one nice view of the fields. Climb the ridge. At the top, another obvious grassy road to the right goes to the impressive Twin Mountain Vista, a short, worthy side trip.
Reach the popular Golden Eagle Trail (GET). The route is to the right, but go left for a quarter mile to the gorgeous Beulahland Vista, another worthy side trip.
Back on the route, follow the GET. Where it leaves the forest road to the left, go straight. This forest road dead ends and the yellow blazes of the Dragons Back Trail appear. Hike along a narrow wooded ridge and enjoy Webber Vista. Descend on switchbacks to PA 414 and the rail trail. Turn right on the rail trail and hike back to Slate Run.
At the southern end of the loop you can also choose alternate routes. Hilborn Trail is very scenic, with three views, but gets very steep at the bottom. You can also follow the GET down Wolf Run and to Ravenshorn, definitely worth it if you have the time, but it will make the route a bit more challenging. Wolf Run has cascades and the view from Ravenshorn is stunning.
Pine Creek Gorge is a special place, enjoy it!
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 