Yankee Springs Recreation Area: Hall Lake Trail and Devil's Soup Bowl (Blog Hike #970)

Trails: Hall Lake Trail and spur trails
Hike Location: Yankee Springs Recreation Area
Geographic Location: west of Hastings, MI (42.61306, -85.49046)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2023
Overview: A semiloop featuring Hall Lake and 2 overgrown overlooks.
Park Information: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=511&type=SPRK
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=949092
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 7)

Directions to the trailhead: Between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, take US 131 to SR 179 (exit 61).  Exit and go east on SR 179.  Drive SR 179 east 7.6 miles to Briggs Road and turn right on Briggs Rd.  Briggs Rd. becomes Gun Lake Road in 1 mile.  Drive a total of 2.2 miles from SR 179 to the entrance for the Long Lake Outdoor Center on your left.  Turn left, then immediately park in the dirt parking lot for the Hall Lake Trailhead on either side of the road.

The hike: Located between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids in southwest Michigan, Yankee Springs Recreation Area consists of 5200 acres of reverting farmland.  Most of this land was opened up to homesteading in the 1830's, and 100 years of farming depleted the soil and left much erosion.  In the 1930's, the federal government bought the land, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked here to reforest the worn out farm fields and build park infrastructure such as roads and trails.  The land was turned over to the State of Michigan in 1943 and added to its state park system.

            The area today features many amenities including a 200-site developed campground, 120 primitive campsites, fishing, boating, and swimming on 2680-acre Gun Lake, bridle trails, mountain bike trails, and 30 miles of trails open to hiking.  The route described here takes you to Hall Lake, one of the park's many scenic lakes, and tours some of the park's most famous geological sites, thus allowing you to sample the best scenery this park has to offer.

Start of Hall Lake Trail

            From the trailhead parking area, start on the trail that goes east directly away from the park entrance road.  A sign states "Hall Lake Foot Trail, Foot Traffic Only."  Marked with red blazes, the Hall Lake Trail is a wide single-track sandy dirt trail; it forms a loop that you are hiking counterclockwise when going this direction.  This part of the forest is dominated by young maple trees, and this part of the hike was very pleasant when I came here on a damp and chilly Sunday afternoon in mid-October.

Trail intersection near Hall Lake

            After descending imperceptibly for 0.4 miles, you reach the shore of Hall Lake and a trail intersection.  The North Country Trail, a 4800 mile backpacking trail that stretches from Vermont to North Dakota, enters from the right here.  To continue the Hall Lake Trail, turn left to start hiking north with Hall Lake on your right.  Whereas maple trees dominated the higher forest, pine trees dominate the area near the lake.  Some nice views of the lake emerge.  The red blazes of the Hall Lake Trail and the powder blue blazes of the North Country Trail run conjointly here.

Hall Lake

            Where the North Country Trail exits left, angle right to stay on the Hall Lake Trail.  At 0.6 miles, the trail curves north to exit the lake area and begin the hardest climb of this hike.  The elevation gain on this hike is only about 200 feet, so the moderate climb is over rather quickly.  Just shy of 1 mile, you reach another trail intersection.  The Hall Lake Trail turns left here, and we will go that way eventually.  To also see some of this park's geological points of interest, continue straight to begin hiking an unblazed connector trail.

Graves Hill "overlook"

            Only a few feet later, angle left to hike the short spur trail to the Graves Hill Overlook.  While there is a hill and an unusual-shaped rock up here, this "overlook" is completely overgrown and offers absolutely no view.  Back on the connector trail, continue north, following signs for Devil's Soup Bowl.  The connector trail descends slightly, passes a jeep trail parking lot, and climbs slightly through steeper terrain than you have encountered thus far.

Devil's Soup Bowl Overlook

            At 1.25 miles, you reach the Devil's Soup Bowl overlook.  Like the previous overlook, there is not much of an "overlook" here, but you are standing on the rim of Devil's Soup Bowl.  Devil's Soup Bowl is a steep-sided depression that is almost 100 feet deep; no creeks flow into or out of the depression.  A wild trail going left leads steeply to the bottom of the depression, and the Deep Lake Trail heads right to its namesake lake.

Peering into Devil's Soup Bowl

            After viewing Devil's Soup Bowl, retrace your steps back to the Hall Lake Trail and turn right to begin the final segment of this hike.  The trail descends moderately as dirt Graves Hill Road comes in view on the right.  Ignore trails that exit first left and then right, and stay on the red-blazed Hall Lake Trail.  After passing a wetland area, you cross one final low ridge before closing the loop.  A right turn quickly returns you to the parking area to complete the hike.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site: Cedar Run/Big Bone Creek Double Loop (Blog Hike #969)

Trails: Gobbler's Trace, Cedar Run, Bison Trace, and Big Bone Creek Trails
Hike Location: Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Geographic Location: southwest of Union, KY (38.88424, -84.75212)
Length: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2023
Overview: A double loop passing the park's bison pen and fossilized bone dig site.
Park Information: https://parks.ky.gov/union/parks/historic/big-bone-lick-state-historic-site
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=948925
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: In northern Kentucky, take I-75 to SR 338 (exit 175).  Exit and go west on SR 338.  Drive SR 338 west 7 miles to the park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then turn right at the first intersection.  Park in the blacktop lot in front of the park's Museum/Visitor Center.

The hike: I first drove into Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in August 2000 when I worked in Fort Mitchell, KY a few miles to the north.  I came here after work one humid summer evening, and I only hiked the Coralberry Trail around this park's lake, never bothering to visit this park's famous mammoth and mastodon fossil dig site.  Likewise when I returned here to take some photos on a 100+ degree day in 2012, I confined myself to the trail I had hiked several years earlier.  Finally, as the first stop on my October 2023 hiking trip to Michigan and Ohio, I did a hike through the main part of the park on my third visit to Big Bone Lick.

            The fossil dig site that eluded my presence for so long has been an important site for centuries.  Before European settlers arrived, the Shawnee lived here, and Mary Draper Ingles was held hostage here before her daring escape back to Virginia.  Daniel Boone came here in 1770, and future President William Henry Harrison came here to collect fossils in 1795.  Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame dug for fossils here in 1803, and the park today is a stop on the Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail.

            Despite the site's impressive history, Big Bone Lick State Historic Site dates only to 1960.  The park offers a fantastic Visitor Center, which features fossil and art exhibits, a 62-site developed campground, and several hiking trails.  My earlier hike on the park's Coralberry Trail is described elsewhere in this Trail Journal, and this hike focuses on the trails that start at the Visitor Center, including the trails through the famous dig site and around the almost as famous bison pen.

Trailhead across from Visitor Center

            To take the long route to the bison pen and save the dig site for last, start across the parking lot from the Visitor Center and pick up the Gobbler's Trace as it heads southeast, going steeply uphill.  The Gobbler's Trace is the main trail connecting the park's Visitor Center and campground; it is well-trodden and marked with blue rectangular paint blazes.  Some wooden steps make the climb easier, but this is a steep ridge.  Oak and black walnut trees dominate the forest on the lower parts of the ridge.

Climbing the ridge

            After gaining almost 150 feet of elevation, you reach the ridgetop, and the trail flattens out.  Ignore (for now) the red-blazed Cedar Run Trail, which descends to the right, and stay on the blue-blazed Gobbler's Trace as it stays near the top of the narrow finger ridge.  Large numbers of red cedar trees and honeysuckle bushes grow up here, and the young forest allows a lot of light to reach the forest floor.

Trail intersection near park boundary

            At 0.55 miles, you reach a trail intersection with the park's east boundary straight ahead.  The Gobbler's Trace turns left here to continue its journey toward the campground, but you want to turn right to continue our first loop on the red-blazed Cedar Run Trail.  The Cedar Run Trail heads south with the park boundary on your left.  Some sections of this trail have been rerouted due to erosion problems, but the reroutes are well-signed and well-blazed.

Hiking the Cedar Run Trail

            The Cedar Run Trail uses a winding course that goes more downhill than uphill.  You may wonder whether this trail is taking you any direction in particular, but have some faith and keep following the red blazes.  At 1.4 miles, you reach another trail intersection.  The Cedar Run Trail continues straight to close its loop with the Gobbler's Trace, but you want to turn left on an unblazed spur trail marked "bison."

Spur trail to bison pen

            As the sign foretold, a moderate descent brings you to the bison pen at 1.5 miles.  Turn right to walk with the wire-fence pen to your left, and keep an eye out for the park's bison herd.  When I came here on a seasonally warm day in mid-October, most of the herd was laying in the shade, but I did see several bison here.  Take some time to admire these large scruffy animals.

Bison in bison pen

Bison pen

            After viewing the bison, walk the asphalt trail back to the parking lot to complete the first loop.  Next walk behind the Visitor Center to reach the viewing platform for the fossil dig site.  Statues of  mammoths, mastodons, and bones have been constructed to mark the area, and many interpretive signs describe the animals, fossils, and people who dug here.  Take some time to read the signs to appreciate the history of this site.

Fossil dig site

            Past the dig site, continue downhill and angle right to begin heading counterclockwise around the Big Bone Creek Trail's loop.  Soon you pass a couple of salt springs.  These springs are one reason so many large fossils were found in this area, and they still draw wildlife looking to replenish their body's salt today.  More interpretive signs describe the animals that frequent these springs.

Salt spring

            The rest of the Big Bone Creek Trail follows a nearly flat loop on mostly asphalt trail.  At 2.6 miles, you close the loop.  Turn right to walk back uphill past the Visitor Center to the parking lot to complete the hike.

Seven Bends State Park: Eagles Edge/Gokotta Loop (Blog Hike #968)

Trails: Eagles Edge and Gokotta Trails
Hike Location: Seven Bends State Park
Geographic Location: east of Woodstock, VA (38.87118, -78.49341)
Length: 2 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: A loop hike featuring the Shenandoah River and old Camp Lupton.
Park Information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=947386
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 8)

Directions to the trailhead: In northern Virginia, take I-81 to SR 42 (exit 283).  Exit and go east on SR 42.  Where SR 42 ends at US 11, continue east 2 more blocks to Water Street and turn left on Water St.  Drive Water St. north 6 blocks to Hollingsworth Road and turn right on Hollingsworth Rd.  Drive Hollingsworth Rd. east 0.5 miles to Lupton Road and turn right on Lupton Rd.  Drive narrow and winding Lupton Rd. downhill and across a low water bridge over the Shenandoah River to the large gravel parking lot on the right.  Park here.  If water covers the bridge, do not attempt to access this trailhead; save this hike for another day.

The hike: Opening only in 2019, Seven Bends State Park is one of the newest state parks in Virginia.  The park gets its name from the Seven Bends region of the North Fork Shenandoah River, which winds its way in serpentine fashion through northern Virginia and into the Potomac River.  The river forms the park's west boundary, and Powell Mountain in George Washington National Forest borders the park to the east.  Thus, this park has a secluded feel even though it sits just outside of Woodstock, a small city.

            Seven Bends State Park offers no lodging, and fishing and paddling are the most popular day-use activities here.  For hikers, the park offers 8 miles of trails that explore the park's riverside and blufftop areas.  I came here on a morning when I had a long drive that afternoon, so I needed to keep my hike short and easy.  The route described here fits that bill, but it does so by exploring the park's riverside areas, blufftop areas, and possibly this park's most interesting historical area.

Start of Eagles Edge Trail

            From the parking lot, head west on a two-track gravel road with the park's picnic area on the right and an active soybean field on the left.  The Eagles Edge Trail is marked with blue signs bearing the trail's name and a blue square.  An interpretive sign near the trailhead tells about the history of this land during colonial times, which includes such famous figures as King Charles II of England and Lord Fairfax.

Hiking beside the soybean field

            At the west end of the soybean field, you reach the bank of the North Fork Shenandoah River for the first time.  A swinging bridge crosses the river and leads to private property, so you want to turn left to stay on the Eagles Edge Trail.  Now with a dirt treadway, the wide trail traces the west side of the soybean field.  The river is only a few feet to the right, but dense brush precludes any river views.

Asphalt slab from old Camp Lupton

            At 0.4 miles, you reach the southeast corner of the soybean field and an odd asphalt slab.  An interpretive sign tells you this slab is a remnant of the former Camp Lupton, a summer camp for boys that operated here in the late 1930's.  To see more of the former camp, keep following the Eagles Edge Trail as it climbs moderately to reach a collection of old chimneys and foundations from former camp buildings.  A pioneer cemetery also sits atop this bluff; it predates the camp and has headstones dating to the early 1800's.  Take a few minutes up here to read the numerous interpretive signs and appreciate the history of this land.

Former Camp Lupton

Pioneer cemetery

            The trail exits the historic area by heading downhill to the northeast.  At 0.6 miles, you reach the end of the Eagles Edge Trail where it intersects gated gravel Lupton Road.  You could turn left here to hike a loop that is less than 1 mile in length, but this hike turns right to start following the gravel road and head deeper into the park.

            The road heads east through the center of a peninsula between Shenandoah River bends.  A sunny grassy field lines the road, and fantastic views of Powell Mountain to the east can be had while walking the gravel road.  Also, some birdhouses built near the road enhance the bird watching, and I saw some woodpeckers, finches, and Canada geese while I hiked this trail.

Hiking on Lupton Road

            Ignore the River Bend Rise Trail that exits right; it heads over a steep arm of Powell Mountain to reach this park's other developed area.  At 1.2 miles, you reach the start of the Gokotta Trail, which goes left.  Turn left to begin the Gokotta Trail and begin your journey back to the trailhead.

Hiking the Gokotta Trail

            The Gokotta Trail stays near the North Fork Shenandoah River for most of its distance, and soon you reach the best view of the river.  If the water is clear enough, you can see folds in the bedrock at the river's bottom, evidence of the tectonic action that formed Powell Mountain to the east.  A bench encourages you to sit, rest, and enjoy the scenery.

North Fork Shenandoah River

            Continuing northwest, the trail stays near the boundary between grassy field on the left and riverside woodlands on the right.  Black walnut and sycamore trees are the most numerous trees in this riparian forest.  After passing the park headquarters, you come out at the park entrance road across from the main parking lot, thus closing the loop.  Cross the road to return to your car and complete the hike.

Nescopeck State Park: Nescopeck and Lake Trails (Blog Hike #967)

Trails: Lake and Nescopeck Trails
Hike Location: Nescopeck State Park (41.08875, -75.88049)
Geographic Location: northeast of Hazleton, PA
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: A double loop along Nescopeck Creek and Lake Francis.
Park Information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/NescopeckStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=947275
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming August 9)

Directions to the trailhead: In northeast Pennsylvania, take I-80 to SR 309 (exit 262).  Exit and go south on SR 309.  Drive SR 309 south 0.9 miles to Honey Hole Road; there is a traffic light at this intersection.  Turn left on Honey Hole Rd.  Drive Honey Hole Rd. northeast 5.7 miles to the main state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park and drive the main park road past the Visitor Center and the Nature Discovery Area to the parking loop at its end.  Park here.

The hike: Established only in 2005, Nescopeck State Park is one of the newest state parks in Pennsylvania.  The park is located in the southwest corner of northeast Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, and its 3550 acres include both wetlands along Nescopeck Creek and steep terrain on adjacent Nescopeck Mountain and Mount Yeager.  Hunting and fishing are this park's most popular activities, and the park is largely surrounded by Pennsylvania State Game Lands #187.

            Nescopeck State Park offers no lodging, and hence it is open for day-use only.  The park offers an excellent Visitors and Environmental Education Center, and 19 miles of trails open only to hiking and skiing allow visitors to interact with nature first hand.  The route described here is a double loop with the first loop exploring the wetlands along Nescopeck Creek and the second loop encircling Lake Francis, the park's main developed area.  Thus, this hike explores the park's main attractions without pegging the distance or difficulty meters.

Start of Lake Trail at parking loop

            From the rear of the parking loop, head west on the wide fine-gravel trail marked with a wooden sign that says "Lake Trail."  Most trails at Nescopeck State Park are unmarked, but they were obvious and easy to follow on my visit.  Soon small but beautiful Lake Francis comes into view on the right, and I saw several people in kayaks paddling around the lake.

Lake Francis

            At 0.25 miles, you reach the southwest corner of Lake Francis.  The Lake Trail turns right to continue its loop around the lake, and we will go that way eventually for our second loop.  To head around the first loop, turn left to hike a short connector trail, then angle left again to begin following the Nescopeck Trail.  The Nescopeck Trail follows what looks like an old road as it heads south through young forest.  Oak trees are the most numerous trees in this forest, but you will also pass through some stands of pines.

Hiking the Nescopeck Trail

            Ignore the Hill Trail that exits left and the north arm of the Creekside Trail that exits right.  At 0.75 miles, where the south arm of the Creekside Trail continues straight, turn sharply left to continue the Nescopeck Trail.  Note that the blue-blazed Creekside Trail features an extended segment through a beautiful pine forest along Nescopeck Creek.  The 1.6 mile Creekside Trail would be an excellent "third loop" for this hike, but it was closed due to a bridge out on my visit.

Hiking the Nescopeck Trail

            The sunny and grassy Nescopeck Trail heads northeast on a rolling course that goes more down than up before going more up than down.  Bugs will be a problem here during the warmer months due to the nearby wetlands, so be sure to dress accordingly and wear bug spray.  At 1.4 miles, you reach a nice area beside some small rapids in Nescopeck Creek.  Despite this trail's name, this spot is the only place the Nescopeck Trail comes beside Nescopeck Creek.  Some rocks make nice places to sit, rest, and enjoy the creek near the midpoint of this hike.

Nescopeck Creek

            1.6 miles into the hike, you reach another trail intersection.  The wide sunny trail continues straight as the Red Rocks Trail, but you want to turn left to remain on the Nescopeck Trail as it begins following a narrower rockier course.  A small unnamed pond appears through the trees to the right.  The trail dips to rock-hop a small stream before the Woodland Way Trail enters from the right.

Final segment of Nescopeck Trail

            A gradual climb returns you to the parking area to complete the first loop.  To start the second loop, head the same way you started this hike: down the Lake Trail with Lake Francis on your right.  Upon reaching the southwest corner of Lake Francis for a second time, turn right to stay on the Lake Trail as it loops around Lake Francis.

Lake Francis

            The trail crosses the dam that forms Lake Francis before treading a narrow strip of land with the lake on the right and the creek from which water is diverted into the lake on the left.  A few fall colors dotted the lakeside area when I hiked here in late September, but most of the trees remained green.  Ignore a trail that crosses the creek to the left and heads for an alternate parking area.  After crossing the channel that diverts water from the creek into Lake Francis, you come out at the park's picnic area.  Angle right to walk through the picnic area and return to the parking loop to complete the hike.

Hickory Run State Park: Shades of Death Trail (Blog Hike #966)

Trail: Shades of Death Trail
Hike Location: Hickory Run State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of White Haven, PA (41.02320, -75.71085)
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: 8/10 (Difficult)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: A rough, rocky, and rooty out-and-back featuring dams and cascades in Sand Spring Run.
Park Information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/HickoryRunStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=947189
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming October 25)

Directions to the trailhead: In northeast Pennsylvania, take I-80 to SR 534 (exit 274).  Exit and go south/east on SR 534.  Drive winding and hilly SR 534 5.1 miles to the signed gravel parking lot for the Shades of Death Trail on the right.  Park here.  If this lot is full, you could also start this hike near its east end at the state park Visitor Center, which is located another 1.1 miles east on SR 534.

The hike: Located in the southwest corner of northeast Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, 15,550 acre Hickory Run State Park is the 5th largest state park in Pennsylvania.  The park exists due to the vision of General Harry Trexler, an Allentown millionaire who began purchasing land in 1918 for the purpose of developing the park.  In 1935, the National Park Service purchased the land after Trexler's death, and the next year the depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began developing the land as a Recreation Demonstration Area.  In 1945, the park-to-be was transferred to the Commonweath of Pennsylvania and became Hickory Run State Park.

            The park has several areas with unique scenery, but its most famous site is its boulder field, which is unusual because it is located on flat terrain rather than on a hillside.  During the most recent ice age, the ice sheets' southern advance halted in the present-day park.  Geologists think repeated freezing and thawing cracked the bedrock, frost heave lifted the resulting boulders, and gelifluction moved the boulders downslope to their current position.  The boulder field was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1967.  While you can hike to the boulder field, there are no short or easy hikes to get there, and it is most easily accessed by driving a good 4.5 mile dirt/gravel road into the remote eastern section of the park.

Hickory Run State Park boulder field

            As you would expect for a park of its size, Hickory Run State Park offers nearly every amenity and activity.  On point, the park has a 381-site developed campground, a disc golf course, swimming and picnicking on Sand Spring Lake, fishing at several locations, and 44 miles of trails.  Many hikes are possible, but the park's most popular trail is the out-and-back Shades of Death Trail described here.  Do not be intimidated by this trail's name: the name was given to this area by early European settlers, who found the dark forests and rocky soil inhospitable and unsuitable for farming.

West trailhead

            The best place to start the Shades of Death Trail is at its west end, where a small parking lot offers access to the trail without hiking any spur trails.  Yellow rectangular paint blazes mark the Shades of Death Trail.  From the signed west trailhead, you cross a small stream on a nice wooden bridge, after which the rocky and rooty nature of the treadway becomes very apparent.  While this hike only requires about 300 feet of elevation gain, the rough footing makes for slow going.

First stone dam

            After climbing to use the shoulder of SR 534 for a short distance, the trail descends slightly to leave the road for good.  You reach the first dam at 0.2 miles.  This small stone dam looks very old and broken-down, and it no longer retains water.  5 minutes later, you reach the second stone dam, which the park map calls the Stametz Dam.  This dam is much larger and in better shape: it does retain water, and water spilling over the stone dam makes a very scenic 15-foot waterfall.  Take some time to enjoy the dam and waterfall.

Waterfall at Stametz Dam

            The trail climbs a rocky area to the top of the second dam before continuing upstream through pine forest with a large amount of rhododendron.  Some natural non-dam cascades appear in Sand Spring Run to your right, and their pleasant scenery and audio makes your slow progress on the persistently rocky and rooty trail more tolerable.  Just past 0.5 miles, where the trail appears to dead-end in a creekside rhododendron thicket, you climb some rough stone steps built in a narrow gap in the cliff.  These steps and the dams seem to be the most photographed features on this trail.

Stone steps up gap in rock

            Next you pass through an open rocky glade before descending back to the creek and ascending again.  Watch for the yellow blazes, and do not make the mistake I did of fording the creek here.  I had to get my feet wet a second time to return to the north side of the creek and get back on the trail.

Natural cascade in Sand Spring Run

            At 0.7 miles, you complete the hardest part of the hike where the trail intersects a gated road for the family campground.  Angle right to walk a short distance on the road, then angle left to leave the road and continue following the Shades of Death Trail.  A couple hundred feet later, you reach the CCC Dam, which is the largest dam on this hike.  Water flows out of the dam's lake via an unusual spout built into the middle of the dam, and this spout forms a large and unusual but not particularly scenic waterfall.

Waterfall at CCC Dam

            Continue upstream on the north side of Sand Spring Run, but just past 1 mile you will cross the creek on a nice footbridge.  A short but steep and rocky climb will bring you to the top of Dam #5, the final dam on this hike.  This small dam forms a small lake relative to the two previous dams you passed, but SR 534's bridge with aesthetically pleasing arches can be seen just upstream from this lake.

Lake created by Dam #5

            The Shades of Death Trail ends at SR 534.  You could hike the short spur trails to the south that lead to the park's campground and Visitor Center.  Unless you left a second car at the Visitor Center, you will need to retrace your steps downstream along the Shades of Death Trail to return to the western trailhead and complete the hike.

Ravensburg State Park: Raven Trail (Blog Hike #965)

Trail: Raven Trail
Hike Location: Ravensburg State Park
Geographic Location: south of Lock Haven, PA (41.10827, -77.24324)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: An out-and-back along cascading Rauchtown Creek.
Park Information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/RavensburgStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=947102
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming October 4)

Directions to the trailhead: In central Pennsylvania, take I-80 to SR 880 (exit 192).  Exit and go north on SR 880.  Drive SR 880 north 6 miles to the signed entrance for Ravensburg State Park on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the small parking lot on the right just after crossing the iron-grate bridge near the park entrance.

The hike: Tucked in the upper reaches of the tight and deep gorge that Rauchtown Creek cuts through Nippenose Mountain, tiny Ravensburg State Park protects 78 heavily forested acres along Rauchtown Creek.  Most experts think this forest was never logged due to the rugged terrain, which made this land a prime candidate for early development as parkland.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked here between 1933 and 1942, and they built picnic pavilions, latrines, waterlines, fountains, bridges, trails, and a dam on Rauchtown Creek.  The park is named for the ravens that roost in the surrounding rocky ledges.

            Today this park retains its rustic and rugged character, and the park's only more recently built amenity is its 21-site primitive campground.  Also, the fact that massive Tiadaughton State Forest nearly surrounds the park adds to the park's seclusion.  The Mid-State Trail, a 306-mile backpacking trail that goes north-south across central Pennsylvania, passes through the park and forest.  The hike described here is far less ambitious than the Mid-State Trail, but it spends most of its time along scenic cascading Rauchtown Creek.  Thus, this hike gives you a taste of the scenery that makes this park special without driving up the difficulty.

Start of the Raven Trail

            The Raven Trail crosses the park entrance road just west of the parking area, i.e. between the parking lot and the iron-grate bridge you drove in on, at an unsigned crossing.  The section of the Raven Trail going right leads only a short distance to the park's campground, so you want to turn left to begin hiking the main section of the Raven Trail.  The narrow trail heads south through a lush mixture of pine and deciduous trees.  The orange blazes of the Mid-State Trail and the red blazes of the Raven Trail run conjointly here, and Rauchtown Creek is audible but not visible through the dense forest to the right.

Rauchtown Creek

            After only a few hundred feet, the trail crosses Rauchtown Creek on a nice wooden footbridge for the first of three times.  Soon a picnic shelter along SR 880 comes into view on the right.  The Mid-State and Raven Trails part ways here.  Angle left to follow the Raven Trail's red blazes, and soon cross back over Rauchtown Creek on another footbridge.

Footbridge over Rauchtown Creek

            The rest of the trail stays in the narrow strip of woods between the creek on the right and the park's developed area on the left.  As secluded as this park is, I was surprised by the amount of truck traffic I could here on narrow and winding SR 880 across the creek to the right.  The traffic noise did not seem to bother the 2 families I passed while hiking here on a pleasant Monday afternoon in mid-September.

Dam and picnic area of Rauchtown Creek

            At 0.5 miles, you reach the final wooden footbridge over Rauchtown Creek just before coming to the CCC-built stone dam.  Although there are no perceptible grades on this hike, this dam sits about 80 feet higher in elevation than the trailhead.  The water cascading over the dam makes pleasant sights and sounds, and the picnic area with large pine trees across the pond makes a truly bucolic setting.  When you are ready, retrace your steps back downstream to the parking area to complete the hike.  Adding spurs of the Mid-State Trail that climb the steep gorge walls to your journey back would increase both the length and difficulty of this hike.

Milton State Park: North and South Trails (Blog Hike #964)

Trails: North and South Trails
Hike Location: Milton State Park
Geographic Location: on Montgomery Island between Milton and West Milton, PA (41.01906, -76.86255)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: A loop hike around the perimeter of an island in the Susquehanna River.
Park Information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/MiltonStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=947101
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 28)

Directions to the trailhead: From the Borough of Milton, take SR 642 west across the first (east) channel of the Susquehanna River.  In 0.3 miles, turn right at the signed park entrance to enter the park.  Park in the first gravel parking lot on the left beside some picnic tables.

The hike: Comprising all of 82 acre Montgomery Island, an island in the Susquehanna River, the Milton State Park visitors encounter today is actually the second iteration of this park.  The original Milton State Park was established on this island in 1966 when the Borough of Milton and the Milton Rotary Club consolidated land deeds on the island and transferred ownership to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  In 1972, Hurricane Agnes inundated the Susquehanna River watershed and completely destroyed the park by flooding.  The park was rebuilt from the ground up using federal disaster relief funds, and the rebuilt park is the one that welcomes visitors today.

            Milton State Park has no lodging accommodations, and boating, fishing, and picnicking are the park's most popular activities.  The park also offers several athletic fields and a system of hiking trails.  The route described here traces the perimeter of the island, and thus it offers the longest route through the park's trail system without retracing any steps.

Exiting the parking area

            There are several places you could start this hike, but the parking lot described in the Directions to the trailhead is the closest one to the park entrance.  From that parking lot, pick up the dirt/grass North Trail, which heads north with the Susquehanna River's west channel just a few feet to the left.  All trails at Milton State Park are unmarked, but the path was wide and clear on my visit.  In general, at all trail intersections you want to take the trail closest to the river.

Hiking northbound

            Some gaps in the trees allow nice views of the river until, at 0.3 miles, the trail curves right to round the north end of Montgomery Island.  Soon the river comes into view on the left again, but this is the east channel of the Susquehanna River, not the west channel you saw earlier.  Such is the situation when you are hiking on an island.  Some young recently planted trees grow in this area, and some benches invite you to sit and enjoy the riparian views.

Bench along the river

            0.8 miles into the hike, you reach the end of the North Trail where it comes out at the park's boat launch and playground.  To continue, walk under the SR 642 bridge and pick up the South Trail, which continues the same general direction as you were going on the North Trail.  Both SR 642 and an active railroad cross this island, and the constant traffic noise reminds you civilization is near despite the island location.  Some beautiful large silver maple trees grow beside the trail here, and the scenery is quite nice for such a developed area.

View down Susquehanna River

            After passing under the railroad bridge, you reach the south tip of Montgomery Island at 1.3 miles.  This narrow peninsula of land offers a fantastic view straight down the Susquehanna River.  The last segment of the hike heads north along the west side of the island.  More large silver maple trees are passed, and goldenrod was in full bloom when I came here in mid-September.  After passing under both the railroad and SR 642 bridges, you return to the parking area to complete the hike.  If you want to do more hiking, try nearby Shikellamy State Park, which offers fantastic blufftop Susquehanna River overlooks and a couple of short hiking trails.