Memorial Lake State Park (Blog Hike #1073)

Trails: Woodland, Scout, Hillside, Overlook, and Grasslands Trails
Hike Location: Memorial Lake State Park
Geographic Location: north of Hershey, PA (40.42300, -76.59613)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A mostly flat loop around Memorial Lake.
Park Information: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/memorial-lake-state-park
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming May 28, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: North of Harrisburg, take I-81 to SR 934 (exit 85).  Exit and go north on SR 934.  Drive SR 934 north 0.5 miles to Asher Miner Road and turn left on Asher Miner Rd.  After 0.3 more miles, angle left on Boundary Road.  Drive Boundary Rd. west 0.8 miles to Middle Road and the park entrance on the left.  Turn left on Middle Rd., which dead-ends at the large parking lot for the boat launch and kayak rental station.  Park here.

The hike: Featuring 85 acres of water surface, Memorial Lake was built in 1945 in memory and honor of Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers who served in World War I and World War II.  The lake was built on the grounds of Fort Indiantown Gap, a Pennsylvania National Guard training center that dates to 1931.  In 1955, a total of 231 acres that contain the lake were transferred to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to form the park we visit today, but Fort Indiantown Gap still surrounds the park.  In fact, the Directions to the trailhead above takes you past one of the fort's old entry gates, so this park still retains its military feel.

            Memorial Lake State Park is only open for day-use, and therefore the list of amenities is rather limited.  The lake offers fishing and boating, and several picnic tables and 2 picnic pavilions provide opportunities for cook-outs.  For hikers, the park offers 6 trails, but all of the trails are short: the trail distances sum to only 2 miles.  Piecing together several of the park's trails and adding a road walk forms the circumnavigation of Memorial Lake described here.

Start of Woodland Trail

            From the Middle Road parking area, pick up the signed Woodland Trail; it starts as a wide gravel trail that heads west through a picnic area with Memorial Lake through the trees on the left.  Soon the trail heads into the dense woods.  The large number of maple trees in the woods would make this a good leaf peeping hike in October.  Wooden bridges get you over a couple of small streams.

Hiking the Woodland Trail

            At 0.4 miles, you reach the Woodland Trail's west end at the Lower Road parking area.  Angle left through the parking area to head for the boat launch.  Just before reaching the boat launch, turn right to leave the pavement and begin the Scout Trail.  The Scout Trail offers more of the same wooded lakeside scenery, and the going remains very easy.

Crossing Memorial Lake's main feeder stream

            Just past 0.6 miles, you cross Memorial Lake's main feeder stream on a long wooden bridge.  After crossing the bridge, you reach the west end of the Scout Trail where it intersects Memorial Lake Road.  To continue our loop around the lake, turn left and start the road walk portion of this hike.

            Memorial Lake Rd. features one-way traffic coming at you in light to moderate volume.  Private property adjoins part of this road, so be sure to stay on the public road.  At 1.3 miles, you reach a road intersection where Lake Road exits right.  Your road walk ends here: turn sharply left to begin the signed, wide, and obvious Hillside Trail.

Start of Hillside Trail

            After only a few hundred feet on the Hillside Trail, you reach a bench that overlooks Memorial Lake.  I recommend not spending long here because a better overlook is just a few minutes ahead.  The trail curves sharply right and climbs gently to reach the aforementioned overlook.  Several benches and picnic tables stand here, and Indiantown Gap in the distance makes a perfect backdrop for Memorial Lake.  Take a few minutes to rehydrate and enjoy the scenery.

Main lake overlook

            Exit the overlook area by walking uphill toward the parking lot and then angling left to begin the Overlook Trail as it heads across the dam that forms Memorial Lake.  After crossing the spillway on an iron bridge with wooden deck, turn left to begin heading through the mowed-grass Hemlock Grove Picnic Area on gravel trail.  Turn left at the first trail intersection, but where the Lakeside Trail exits left angle right to begin the Grasslands Trail, the final leg on our loop.

Grasslands Trail

            True to its name, the Grasslands Trail makes an arc through a sunny prairie area.  The prairie wildflowers were decent but not stunning when I came here on a warm afternoon in early September.  Soon you come into the northeast corner of the Middle Road parking lot, thus signaling the end of the hike.  If you want to do more hiking, Swatara State Park, which features a segment of the Appalachian Trail, is located a few miles to the north.

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.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/nescopeck-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

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: 2.3 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.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/hickory-run-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

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.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ravensburg-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

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.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/milton-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

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.

Shikellamy State Park: Deer Trail (Blog Hike #963)

Trail: Deer Trail
Hike Location: Shikellamy State Park
Geographic Location: across the river from Northumberland, PA (40.88361, -76.80456)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2023
Overview: A loop hike featuring fantastic clifftop Susquehanna River overlooks.
Park Information: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/shikellamy-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Northumberland, take US 11 south 0.7 miles to County Line Road, crossing the Susquehanna River in the process.  Turn right on County Line Rd.  Drive County Line Rd. north 0.3 miles to the state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park and drive up the steep, narrow, and winding park road to the large gravel overlook parking lot at its end.  Park here.

The hike: My September 2023 visit to Shikellamy State Park was actually my second visit to this park.  On my way back from New York's Finger Lakes in 2013, I stopped here with the intention of enjoying the overlooks and hiking the Deer Trail described here.  Unfortunately, as I admired the overlook at the trailhead, a strong thunderstorm fell on the park, drowning my hiking plans for the rest of the day.  10 years later, I drove up the park entrance road for a second time and had an excellent hike.

            Located near the confluence of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna River in east-central Pennsylvania, Shikellamy State Park consists of two separate and disjoint sections.  The Marina Section opened in 1972, and it consists of 54 acres along the river that contain a marina and a paved walking trail.  The Overlook Section dates to 1960, and it consists of 78 acres located atop a steep bluff above the west bank of the river.  The park is named after the Iroquois chief Shikellamy who ruled in an 18th century village located near today's Overlook Section.

            The park is solely a day-use park with no lodging accommodations, and boating, fishing, and picnicking along the Susquehanna River remain its main attractions.  For hikers, the Marina Section offers only the flat, paved walking trail, but the Overlook Section has a couple of short natural surface trails.  This hike features the Deer Trail, which is the outer-most loop through the Overlook Section's trail system.  Thus, this hike is the park's longest possible natural-surface hike without retracing steps, and it tours both the overlooks and the surrounding woods.

View across the river to Northumberland

            The northern-most overlook is located at the parking area, so you may as well get a view before you even begin the hike.  This viewpoint looks east across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, and it gives a nice view of Northumberland.  When you are ready to leave the overlook, pick up the Deer Trail as it heads north through a sparsely-treed mowed-grass area with the bluff to your right.  The Deer Trail is marked with yellow rectangular paint blazes, and they keep you heading the right direction through the mowed-grass area.

Hiking through mowed-grass area

            The Deer Trail curves left, enters the woods, and begins a gradual to moderate descent.  The forest here is a mixture of oak and pine trees, and true to this trail's name I did indeed see 3 deer as I walked through the woods.  Soon some wooden steps appear as the descent steepens, and traffic noise from County Line Road can be heard from the right.

Crossing a bridge

            At 0.5 miles, a short-cut trail exits left just after you cross a wooden bridge with metal handrails.  Angle right to hike the full Deer Trail.  More gradual descending brings you to another short-cut trail at 0.65 miles.  Turn right to stay on the Deer Trail as it descends steeply using more wooden steps.

Climbing steep wooden steps

            The park entrance road comes in sight on the right as you pass the lowest elevation on this hike.  You also pass what appears to be some water works infrastructure on the left.  All you have done so far is descend, so you know what comes next: a steep climb involving more wooden steps.  Although this hike is short, the 200 feet of elevation gain is accomplished rather quickly, thus increasing the difficulty.

Hiking along the chain-link fence

            After crossing the park entrance road, you start following a chain-link fence and reach my favorite overlook at this park.  The view here looks down on the confluence of the Susquehanna River's two main branches.  Numerous bridges and this park's Marina Section can be seen in the foreground, and the hills of eastern Pennsylvania form the background.  A bench encourages you to sit, rest, and enjoy the view.

River confluence overlook

            Past the overlook, the grade moderates as the trail continues to climb, following the chain-link fence.  Trees clinging to the edge of the bluff prevent any further views.  Soon the parking lot comes in sight, signaling the end of the hike.  If you want to do more hiking, this park's Marina Section offers a flat asphalt trail, and nearby Milton State Park has trails that explore an island in the Susquehanna River.

Pymatuning State Park: Sugar Run Trail (Blog Hike #779)

Trail: Sugar Run Trail

Hike Location: Pymatuning State Park

Geographic Location: north of Jamestown, PA (41.49820, -80.45889)
Length: 1.1 miles

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: October 2019

Overview: A short, nearly flat loop below Pymatuning Dam.

Park Information: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/pymatuning-state-park

Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Jamestown, take US 322 west 2.2 miles to the signed entrance for Pymatuning State Park on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, then immediately turn right again to head for the dam.  After driving across the dam, turn right on the access road for picnic shelter #1.  Park in the parking lot near picnic shelter #1.

The hike: Straddling the Ohio/Pennsylvania state line, 17,088 acre Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in either Pennsylvania or Ohio (of course, Lake Erie is the largest lake period in either of those states).  The lake was formed in 1934 when the Pymatuning Dam was built on Pennsylvania’s Shenango River, and the dam’s old-school stone construction makes it an interesting roadside attraction on your drive to or from the trailhead.  Because the submerged land is former swampland with little relief, Pymatuning Reservoir is long but shallow: the lake’s maximum depth is only 35 feet.

Interesting Pymatuning Dam

            Two state parks lie on the shore of Pymatuning Reservoir.  To make matters confusing, both of these parks bare the name Pymatuning State Park, but one is owned by the State of Ohio while the other is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Pennsylvania’s version of Pymatuning State Park has the better hiking opportunities, and that is the one featured in this blog entry.  While not the longest hike in either Pymatuning State Park, the Sugar Run Trail described here offers a well-marked and well-maintained course near the dam area, so it lets you see the interesting dam while also letting you experience the park’s natural environment.

Bridge across Shenango River

            From the parking area, reach the Sugar Run Trail by walking across the iron bridge with wooden deck that spans the Shenango River.  The river flows wide and shallow here as its waters slowly make their way southward toward the Ohio River.  Vegetation crowds the river downstream, while upstream the dam area’s wooden fishing deck and stone dam structures are in view.

View down Shenango River

View of fishing and dam area

            At the south end of the bridge, you reach the Sugar Run Trail, which goes left and right to form its loop.  To get to the dam sooner, I chose to turn right here and hike the loop counterclockwise.  Marked with blue rectangular paint blazes, the Sugar Run Trail heads west paralleling first the Shenango River and then Sugar Run on the right.  The forest is a nice mixture of maple, oak, and hickory trees, and the leaves were just starting to change color when I hiked here in mid-October.

Pymatuning Dam spillway

Ripple in Sugar Run

            Near 0.4 miles, Pymatuning Dam’s stone and concrete spillway comes into view across the creek just before you pass a small cascade in Sugar Run.  Just past this point, the trail forks.  The main loop turns left here to head up a small but steep hill, while a spur trail continues to follow Sugar Run; the spur leads to an alternate trailhead on US 322.  A bridge used to cross Sugar Run and allow access to the picnic areas above the dam, but that bridge was out on my visit.

Hiking the Sugar Run Trail

            Continuing around the main loop, the single-track dirt trail heads through dense broadleaf forest with the park boundary close on the right.  A flat easy cruise brings you back to the bank of the Shenango River, where the trail curves left to once-again start following the river.  A little more riverside hiking returns you to the Shenango River bridge you crossed at this hike’s outset, thus completing the hike.  Before you leave, be sure to check out the interesting stone dam and admire the stark yet elegant construction.

Ryerson Station State Park: Iron Bridge and Lazear Trails (Blog Hike #642)

Trails: Iron Bridge and Lazear Trails

Hike Location: Ryerson Station State Park

Geographic Location: west of Waynesburg, PA (39.88285, -80.43649)

Length: 3.2 miles

Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: July 2017

Overview: A lollipop loop, occasionally muddy, occasionally steep, and occasionally overgrown, featuring an overlook high above Ronald J. Duke Lake.

Park Information: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ryerson-station-state-park

Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In southwestern Pennsylvania, take I-79 to SR 21 (exit 14).  Exit and go west on SR 21.  Drive SR 21 west 22.4 miles to Bristoria Road.  There is a brown highway sign for Ryerson Station State Park at this intersection, which is located at the bottom of a long, steep hill.  Take a sharp left on Bristoria Rd.  Drive Bristoria Rd. east 1.3 miles to the park office, where you should stop to pick up a trail map.  Then continue east another 0.5 miles to the signed Iron Bridge Picnic Area.  Park in the gravel roadside parking lot.

The hike: Tucked deep in the hills and hollows of southwestern Pennsylvania, Ryerson Station State Park protects 1164 acres along the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek (a very long name for a very small creek, and henceforth simply called “the Creek”).  The park’s name comes from the historic Ryerson’s Fort, which was built by the Virginia Colony some 2 miles downstream from here at the confluence of the Dunkard Creek’s North and South Forks.  The fort operated between 1774 and 1793, and it protected English settlers from attacks by Mingo, Shawnee, and Lenni Lenape people.  The park was established in 1958 as part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s plan to have a state park within 25 miles of every resident.

            True to its rustic nature, Ryerson Station State Park offers limited amenities that include a 46-site campground, 2 cottages, 5 picnic shelters, and fishing in the park’s Ronald J. Duke Lake.  For hikers, the park offers 13 trails that total 13 miles, but many of the trails can be combined to form longer hikes.  This hike features the park’s longest trail, the 2.4 mile Lazear Trail, and leads to a nice overlook high above the lake.  Parts of this hike pass through land that is open to hunting, so wear bright orange in season to prevent accidents.

Iron bridge at trailhead

            The Lazear Trail is a loop that can be accessed directly from picnic shelter #3, but to also see an interesting iron bridge I recommend starting at the Iron Bridge Picnic Area and getting to the Lazear Trail via the Iron Bridge Trail.  To execute such a plan, start by walking across the picnic area’s namesake iron bridge.  Both the superstructure and deck of this bridge are made of iron, and stout stone supports undergird either end.  This bridge carried vehicle traffic in its pre-park days, but today it carries hikers on the Iron Bridge Trail over the Creek.

            After crossing the iron bridge, trails go right and left.  Turn right to continue the Iron Bridge Trail.  The wide grassy trail parallels the Creek as it heads downstream along the edge of a wet meadow.  The first and last parts of this hike pass beside a wetland area, so be sure to wear good bug spray during the warm months.  Also, some wet areas will need to be negotiated if it has rained recently.

Hiking beside the wetland

            At 0.3 miles, the trail curves left to enter the woods and begin heading up Munnell Hollow.  The biggest trees in Munnell Hollow are tulip poplar and sycamore, but quite a few oak, maple, beech, and hemlock also live here.  The small stream that flows down Munnell Hollow makes scenic cascades as it spills over some low rock ledges.

Stream in Munnell Hollow

            0.4 miles into the hike, the Iron Bridge Trail ends at a junction with the Lazear Trail, which goes left and right.  To make the climb more gradual, this hike turns left and uses the right trail as a return route, thus hiking the Lazear Trail clockwise.  Named for a former landowner, the Lazear Trail follows an old two-track dirt road as it climbs on a gradual to moderate grade up Munnell Hollow.  Overall, the trail gains just over 400 feet of elevation over the next mile.

At the next three intersections, continue straight where two side trails exit right and one exits left.  The Lazear Trail is not blazed, but most intersections are signed, and the path is wide and easy to follow in the hollow.  As I approached the top of the ridge, the trail conditions devolved, and I ended up wading through some knee-high vegetation for short stretches.  I saw evidence that the grassy vegetation had been mowed several months ago, but parts of the trail needed clearing again.

Approaching the top of the ridge

At 1.3 miles, the trail curves softly right to leave the old road.  A sign that simply says “trail” marks this turn.  After a sharp switchback to the right, the ridge’s 1400-foot crest comes into sight to the left, and some east-facing views start to emerge to the right.  In another 0.1 miles you reach the overlook that marks this hike’s highest elevation.  A narrow gap in the trees allows you to view the park’s lake over 400 feet below, and a bench allows you to rest near the midpoint of this hike.  Some raspberries grow near this overlook and may provide a snack in season.

View toward park lake at overlook

View east near overlook

A trail appears to head straight downhill toward the lake, but it quickly ends.  The Lazear Trail continues north and soon reenters the forest to begin its descent.  The descent starts gradual, but the grade soon intensifies and involves a pair of switchbacks.  Where the Orchard Trail continues straight, curve sharply left to remain on the Lazear Trail.  Some interpretive signs that describe common flora in the forest and improved trail conditions give this part of the Lazear Trail a front-country nature trail feel.

            As you approach the bottom of the hill, you pass through a nice pine planting just before picnic shelter #3 comes into view downhill to the left.  At 2.2 miles, the spur trail to the picnic shelter exits left.  Turn right to begin the final leg of the Lazear Trail.

Hiking through the pines

            The Lazear Trail now undulates moderately as it heads east with the Creek’s wetland off to your left.  2.8 miles into the hike, you close the Lazear Trail’s loop at a junction with the Iron Bridge Trail.  A left turn and 0.4 miles of retracing your steps along the Iron Bridge Trail return you to the iron bridge and complete the hike.