Length: 11-12 miles approx.
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: Hoover Farms parking area, 41.229042, -78.191704
Trail conditions: Trails are in decent shape with signs at most junctures. Gore Draft Trail was the most brushy, but can still be followed.
Highlights: Scenic streams, meadows, view, cascades, gorges, old bunker, isolation, lots of hemlock, laurel, and rhododendron.
Description: This is a great loop hike in the Quehanna Wild Area. I was excited to hike this loop since I had not been on some of these trails before. The Quehanna Wild Area is a hiking and backpacking wonderland, and these trails can always use more traffic.
From the Hoover Farm parking area, I crossed the Quehanna Highway and followed a red trail to the yellow Wykoff Trail. I stayed on it as it turned left. The next section to Wykoff Run Road was very scenic with meadows, streams, hemlocks, and camping. I crossed the road and followed the Bailey Log Trail. Here, the trail crossed a vast jungle of mountain laurel (the trail is clear) making this a highlight when the laurel blooms in June.
There is a tricky turn. At the powerline, follow it to the right and veer left onto Gore Loop/Gore Cut off Rd. Turn right onto the Gore Draft Trail. This is the most overgrown trail with hemlocks and rhododendron, but I liked it. The trail is followable. The brush recedes as you enter the gorge with cascades. It is a scenic place. Cross the creek and turn left onto Sevinsky Trail with more cascades, boulders, and hemlocks near the top. This is another beautiful trail.
Turn left onto Foley Trail, another fine trail with hemlocks, meadows, and open hardwoods. The out and back to Gore Vista is worth it, offering a nice “window” view into the Quehanna Wild Area. I then followed Gore Vista Trail to the Gore Cut off Trail where we saw an old blue trail to the left, I hope to explore it someday. I turned right onto Bailey Long, left on Hoover Road, and right onto Old Hoover Trail. This trail was easy and scenic with more hemlocks and laurel. At a meadow, there is an old bunker just off the trail. I reached Quehanna Highway and crossed it to the parking area.
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 