Pennsylvania
From Nctguide
New York State Line
NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
N.Y. STATE LINE to HENRY’S MILLS Northern Half What a great hike, going from north to south. Start at Willow Bay ( UTM 17 T 673753 4650200 ) where there is a nice campground ¼ mile north of the trailhead and a small store ½ mile south. Here you are only 1.2 miles south of the N.Y. state line. Continue south and climb a gentle hill to start your walk along the Allegheny Reservoir. This is the largest man-made body of water east of the Mississippi River. The trail runs right beside the reservoir and at times goes around small bays. About 6 miles down the trail, you come to a small primitive campground right on the reservoir, Handsome Lake CG ( UTM 17 T 671914 4643331 ) From here, you climb up and over a hill to get to Nelse Run trailhead. ( UTM 17 T 674310 4640626 ) Total distance is 10.1 miles.
After leaving Nelse Run TH, you walk right along the reservoir to Sugar Bay TH ( UTM 17 T 675387 4639689). Then meander along Sugar Run and up Hammond Run past an old homestead to the top of the hill and mountain laurel. The trail follows the old state road and crosses Rt 59 at the Rt 59 TH. ( UTM 17 T 677633 4636167) Total distance 6.0 miles.
Now you are near the highest point of the NCT in Pa. After leaving the TH, a good level walk at an elevation of about 2100 feet. Then down a slow moving stream to Chapel Bay and a great campsite right near the water. Another 1.5 miles and you are at Chapel Bay TH ( UTM 17 T 676788 4631019 ) Total distance 6.6 miles.
Crossing over Rt 321, you once again climb a hill. On top is a nice stand of lodge pole pines. Down the other side and past an old World War 2 prisoner-of-war camp and on to Red Bridge campgrounds and TH. ( UTM 17 T 676215 4626319 ) Here also is a nice improved campgrounds with flush toilets and showers. A restaurant and small store is 1.2 miles south of where the trail leaves Rt 321 to climb Longhouse Hill. Total distance 4.7 miles.
After you leave Red Bridge TH, you walk across a long bridge to then climb one of the longest and steepest hills in the ANF. The rewards are a fantastic view of the Kinzua arm of the reservoir and Kinzua Creek valley. One of the best viewing areas along the trail. Then an easy walk and slightly down hill to Bliss hill TH. (UTM 17 T 675967 4624094 ) To continue on, just cross the road and up the steps. The first part of this section runs beside private land but then on to oil and gas roads. Once past the wellsites, you wonder thru large rocks and on level ground. A slight down hill and your at Rt 6 TH. ( UTM 17 T 673862 4619814 ) Total distance 8.1 miles.
Crossing Rt 6, you find a stream and camping area. Back up a gentle hill, cross the railroad tracks, cross Wetmore Road, and back into the woods. There is a slight uphill and then level. Once you start downhill, you close to Fox’s Dam ( UTM 17 T 671510 4618634 ) a great campsite. Then along a stream and to a road crossing at Forestry Rd 133E ( UTM 17 T 672372 4614827 ) Total distance 6.0 miles.
Now you enter the Tionesta Scenic Area noted for virgin timber. The tornados of 1985 cut right thru this area and the trail was re-routed to avoid the heavy tornado damage. But in 2007/8, the chapter put the trail back on it’s original course. The interesting part of this is, there are still very large trees here, some laying down. This is closest you will get in the ANF to a “green tunnel”. The young trees are surrounding you and the sun peeks thru in small spots. After walking across the level top, you start down Cherry Run to the TH. ( UTM 17 T 666755 4611173 ) Total distance is 6.8 miles.
Your still heading south and cross Rt 948. Walking along the hillside, you see evidence of oil wells from years gone by and some new activity. You climb a gentle grade and across the top where it’s quite level. The trail drops down to a township road right now, but, there are plans to r-route this section. Once the re-route is done, you’ll walk along the top of the hill and right to the edge. Here you’ll find large cherry, red oak and white pine trees. Coming down along a gentle benched grade and then an old pipeline, you’ll be at Henry’s Mills bridge ( UTM 17 T 663017 4611218 ). This is un-official half way point thru the ANF. Good trailhead parking. Total distance 3.7 miles.
As you can see, the NCT utilizes many old logging railroad grades. These are gentle slopes and easy walking. The trail is marked with blue painted blazes and very easy to follow. The trailheads have good parking and they are easy for the day hikers or the long trekker. Major trailheads have kiosks that include a map of the section, north and south. Registration boxes are at the trailheads.
NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL
HENRY’S MILLS to RT 66
Southern Half
Once you leave Henry’s Mills, you got a long uphill walk along an old railroad grade. You’ll see a body of a steam locomotive tender along the trail. Continuing upward, you’ll cross a forestry road and a slight down grade to Pell Run. Here is more evidence of the oil industry of yesteryear. Watch for the sharp left hand turn and along an old railroad grade again. Easy up hill and on the level again. When you start downhill, you’ll be close to Hunter’s Station Shelter at Upper Sheriff Run. 8 x 10 Adirondack style shelter with plenty of camp space around it. The trail follows Upper Sheriff Run and then cuts up the hill to Fr 179 ( UTM 17 T 656593 4613995 ) where there is parking for only a few cars. After crossing Fr 179, the trail runs level then does a few ups and downs to Minister road TH ( UTM 17 T 653940 4613071 ) Total distance is 10.3 miles.
Once you leave Minister Road, this is a proposed wilderness area. Which means, no motorized equipment. There will be no logging here. A easy, level walk across the top, then down a slight run to Triple Fork Campground. ( UTM 17 T 652256 4612384 ) Nice primitive campsite along a quiet stream. This is also the northern most point of the Minister Creek loop trail. Climbing out of Triple Fork is easy along an old railroad grade to the top of the hill. A short distance along a forestry road and back into the woods, and another old railroad grade. This area is known as Dunham siding because of all the logging activity that took place here in the early 1900’s. You’ll see more railroad grades and evidence of the old loggers. Then a level walk to Fr 116 TH ( UTM 17 T 647666 4614832 ) Total distance is 5.5 miles.
After leaving Fr 116 TH, where there is a nice small campsite, you have a easy walk down to Queens Creek. This is a proposed shelter site that may happen in the fall of 2010. A short climb to Fr 543, a small campsite and parking area (UTM 17 T 646927 4611962 ) and then down Coalbed Run. Watch for the left turn and climb back up a hill and across the flats. Then down thru a gentle slope to Beaver Run. Small campsite area here, then back up to Fr 449. Another TH parking, ( UTM 17 T 644700 4607092 ) Total distance is 6.8 miles.
Leaving Fr 449, you walk down a slight hill to the head of Fork Run. About 1 mile from the TH, watch for a small sign directing you to a spring on your left. This is the best tasting water I have found on the trail. Then along an old path and climb back up a small run. There are a couple oil roads here, so watch the blazes. At one oil road, you make a left and walk the road for a couple hundred yards, cross Fork Run and make a right, keep your eyes open. The creek crossing her has a nice small campsite. Once you make your right, you will be walking in a pine forest and along the creek. The trail really winds thru here, watch were you are. At one point, you walk an oil road to a well location. Cross the location and bear right. This is going to be a re-routed section in the summer of 2010. Right now, the trail continues along a wide path and down a slope to the base of the valley. Here you will find the twin bridges. ( UTM 17 T 644336 4601092 ) Cross the bridges and the trail goes uphill to Rt 666 TH. ( UTM 17 T 644343 4600823 )m Total distance is 5.3 miles.
Now you have the reason for the above mentioned re-route. You walk Rt 666 for 1 mile to the bridge across Tionesta Creek. Before you cross the bridge, you can continue along Rt 666 for ¼ mile to Cougar Bob’s ( Kelletville Tavern ) Good food, cold beer, good prices. Across the Tionesta Creek is Kelletville Campgrounds, run by the Corps of Engineers. Flush toilets and showers, for a small fee. The trail follows Branch road to the junction of Fr 145 and veers left into the woods to walk along the stream and Branch Road TH. ( UTM 17 T 647061 4600509 ) Total distance of road walk, 2.5 miles.
Leaving Branch Road TH, the trail winds along the hillside thru an old clear cut and along skid roads. You cross over the top at an old forestry road TH, Fr 399 ( UTM 17 T 648610 4599798 ). This TH is not accessible by car. And now back down a small run to Four Mile Run and a bridge and small campsite. ( UTM 17 T 649656 4598766 ) The trail now becomes a series of ups and downs, switchback abound. At one point, a great view is right on the trail. You can see nothing but forest and hills looking up Salmon Creek valley. Walk down a stream to Guiton Run, along the hillside and then along Little Salmon Creek to a bridge crossing and a nice campsite. ( UTM 17 T 651355 4595219 ) Now there is a good climb out of the valley and across the top of the hill. This whole area has active gas and oil wells, so keep your eyes open for traffic and the trail. At one point, ( UTM 17 T 649934 4594380 ) you come to a set of rock steps that the chapter put in a few years ago. After you climb the steps, you are at the top of the hill and a level walk. The trail passes some large rocks and heads down hill to Amsler Springs TH and shelter, ( UTM 17 T 650330 4592398 ) This is a large shelter with plenty of open ground for camping right at the TH. Total distance is 11.2 miles.
Leaving Amsler Springs, you walk up a slight hill and then find some switchbacks to make it to the top. A level walk from there to Muzette Road and a parking area just off the trail. Across Muzette Road, and a easy walk to the national forest boundary. Once out of the forest, you’re on private land. Please, no camping from here to Rt 66 TH. Along the trail, you’ll be walking on an old gas pipeline and feeder strips on the State Game lands. You’ll pass a large beaver pond and across the Knox and Kane Railroad tracks. Trains no longer run on these tracks. Just up ahead is Rt 66 TH ( UTM 17 T 649540 4586823 ) Total distance is 5.2 miles.
This is the Allegheny National Forest chapter area. 96.3 of these trail miles is on the Allegheny National Forest. Camping is permitted anywhere except within 1500 feet of the Allegheny Reservoir. We practice Leave No Trace policy, please observe these ideals. The remainder 3.7 is on private land and state game lands.
McConnell’s Mill State Park
McConnell’s Mill State Park, in Lawrence County, encompasses 2,546 acres of the spectacular Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Created by the draining of glacial lakes thousands of years ago, the gorge has steeps sides and the valley floor is littered with huge boulders and is a national natural landmark. A gristmill built in the 1800s is open for tours. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round. McConnell’s Mills SP has several hikes that make up the NCNST route. These hikes can be strung together to form a longer hike. A one mile hike to Hells Hollow Falls and back to the trailhead on Shaffer Rd. is a short possibility. A two mile loop hike on the Kildoo Trail will take you from the historic McConnell’s Mill and covered bridge to Eckert’s bridge in the beautiful Slippery Rock Gorge. Connecting these two hikes is the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail for 6.2 miles between Hells Run Trailhead and Eckert’s Bridge. This hike passes many falls, creek crossings, and has outstanding beautiful views along the Slippery Rock Gorge. From Eckert Bridge, you can hike up Cheeseman Rd. to make your way to Breakneck Campground for primitive or developed camping or an overnight in a cabin. Along Cheeseman Rd., you can explore Breakneck Run, a falls that is visible from the abandoned bridge on the gated road. This is a must if you haven’t done it! Unbelievable beauty. Besides this, you can visit the working Grist Mill and covered bridge in McConnell’s Mill State Park. You can do some shorter hikes of beauty near the Mill. You have Breakneck Campground to camp. There is Pizza Joes and Browns Country Kitchen in Portersville nearby. What more could you want!
TO TRAILHEAD: From Pittsburgh take I-79 North to Exit 96 SR 488 into Portersville. In Portersville take SR 19 North to Johnson Rd on the left. Follow Johnson Rd to the West and finally McConnell’s Mill Rd to the South ending at the mill.
Hell's Hollow at McConnell's Mill State Park to CEMEX at Sankey Hill Road
This section is a 4.6 mile roadwalk along rural western PA roads and links the certified section at McConnell's Mill State Park and the certified section on the CEMEX property just east of Wampum, PA and the Beaver River. This road walk is blue blazed. Hell's Hollow to Sankey Hill Road Map
Begin your walk by turning left out of the parking area at Hell's Hollow and follow Shaffer Road .1 of a mile to the stop sign at Center Church Road. Cross over Center Church Rd. and then follow Frew Road as it bears off to the left .1 of a mile past the stop sign (.2 from your starting point at Hell's Hollow). The roadwalk is all uphill for the first .6 of a mile after leaving Hell's Hollow, and thereafter descends and climbs over the next four miles as befitting a rural PA road.
At mile 1.4 from Hell's Hollow PA Route 65 is reached. One-tenth of a mile to the south (left) on Route 65 is a Tic Toc Food Mart convenience store where some prepared food and drinks are available and limited resupply is possible. Crossing over PA Rt 65 the road's name changes to become Harmony Baptist Road and it descends (steeply) into and through the small community of Castlewood, PA, and then ascends (steeply) to arrive at Old Pittsburgh Road 1.8 of a mile from Rt. 65 (3.2 miles from Hell's Hollow). Turn right on Old Pittsburgh Road and travel north .6 of a mile until Boyd School Road is encountered coming in from the left. Turn left onto Boyd School Road and travel .2 of a mile until Sankey Hill Road is encountered on the right. Follow a winding Sankey Hill Road .6 of a mile to the trailhead for the next certified section on Cemex property.
Map PA-03
CEMEX Property, Sankey Hill Road to River Road
This 4.9 mile, certified, blue-blazed section of trail is on the Cemex Company property. Some notes about this part of the North Country Trail: Although the property is posted by the company as "no trespassing" Cemex is a very supportive partner and North Country Trail hikers are welcome to walk the trail. Also, there are several heavy duty bridges on this section, all built and installed by Ron Rice, the former PA State Trail Coordinator. The Wampum Chapter appreciates the time and effort he put in to do a quality job on these.
Start your walk at the intersection of Sankey Hill Road and Snake Run Road, where there is a trail sign, a bench put in by a Scout for his Eagle project, and room to park three or four vehicles alongside the road. The trail enters the woods and ascends multiple switchbacks, emerging at the top on the edge of a field. The pathway traces along a couple of different fields until it suddenly cuts to the left off an old skid or jeep road. Watch carefully for the blazes in this area so as to not miss the turn to the left. Just after the turn there is a haunted house to your left. Make another sharp left just past the house and continue walking along old forest double track (note the old mines on the hillside to the right) to eventually reach Fletcher Hill Road, one mile from your starting point.
Cross Fletcher Hill Road, following the blue blazes up a short incline to the field above. This section of trail runs .8 of a mile to the next road - Snake Run Road - and consists of a field walk, followed by a downhill trek through a grove of crabapple trees and crosses a small, unnamed stream via a simple footbridge. Once across the stream you'll walk across another field, and then descend back down into the woods as the trail curves around a large rock formation. Several small limestone cave entrances can be seen in this area. After crossing another small,unnamed stream, you'll see to the left an old, cut-stone, lime kiln last used in the 1930's. It was heated by burning coal and used to bake the lime out of the limestone found in the area. Once past the kiln the trail skirts the end of a cornfield, crosses Snake Run on a substantial bridge, and then ascends a switchback up to Snake Run Road. At this point you are 1.8 miles from the trailhead at Sankey Hill Road. There is room to park two or three cars at this point.
The next .6 of a mile is a roadwalk (to the right, or west) down Snake Run Road in order to bypass a private property inholding in this area. The roadwalk is blue blazed, with trees on the right side of the road marked. At the .6 of a mile mark the trail reenters Cemex property to the right where there is a North Country Trail sign and bench installed by a local Scout for his Eagle Project. There is room to park a couple of vehicles at this spot.
The trail leads you downward through a small field and back over the run via a bridge, and then goes back into the woods and ascends a hill via switchback. This section is primarily a woods walk, although it does utilize an old skid road for a distance once you get above the switchback. The trail cuts off to the left back into the woods off the skid road after a couple of hundred yards -watch closely for the blazes to the left. This section is .8 of a mile and leads you to Chewton-West Pittsburg Road. There is a trail head sign here and room to park three or four vehicles along the road.
Cross over Chewton-West Pittsburg Road and shortly afterwards you'll utilize a substantial bridge to get across a VERY DEEP gully. After you cross the bridge the trail ascends through the woods and then breaks out into a large field. Much of this half-mile segment is a field walk - volunteers from the Wampum and Butler Chapters spent a good part of the trail work season two years ago on all the field walks on the Cemex section Cemex Tread Work. This area is an old, reclaimed coal and limestone strip mine.
Tony Dytko Road is reached next, and you are 3.7 miles from your starting point at Sankey Hill Road. Tony Dytko Road receives minimal maintenance, and although there is room to park alongside the road care should be exercised in attempting to drive up there, especially in the winter.
After crossing Tony Dytko Rd. the trail works its way downwards over the next 1.2 miles to River Road and the Beaver River. Along the way you'll pass an old dump site, and farm fields that permit a good view westward towards the Beaver River valley and the Wampum area. [TRAIL ALERT - THIS SECTION OF TRAIL WAS BEING LOGGED IN JUNE 2011. MISSING BLAZES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ORANGE FLAGGING TEMPORARILY]. Near the bottom of this hill you'll cross over the Buffalo and Pittsburgh RR tracks, and then slant southwards along the hillside until River Road is reached. Parking is very limited along River Road, but a boat launch has been developed .2 of a mile south of the trailhead sign and offers a place to park your vehicle.
River Road to Wampum To Gateway at PA Route 18
This section is a 1.6 mile roadwalk from the end of the Cemex property at River Road, through Wampum, PA to the next off-road section at the Gateway Commerce Center at PA Route 18. This entire roadwalk is blue blazed and for the first .9 of a mile parallels the Beaver River. There is truck traffic all through this area so be cautious while you travel along the roadways.
Upon reaching River Road follow the blazes southwest. Three-tenths of a mile from the River Rd. trailhead you'll bear to the right onto Canal Street, following the lesser-used roadway than River Road (and it is closer to the river). Follow this narrow roadway the next half mile as it loops around and approaches the bridge to cross over the river. Cross on the bridge and at its end you'll be a mile from the Cemex trailhead. To your right is Wampum, with a restaurant (Jata's), a bank, and a general grocery-type store (The Store).
The North Country Trail goes to the left after crossing the bridge, and then within a tenth of a mile turns right onto Darlington Road. Follow the blue blazes! Cross over two sets of railroad tracks on Darlington Road, and upon reaching PA RT 18 turn to the left and proceed .3 of a mile south. You'll pass under an old concrete bridge at the top of the hill, and shortly afterwards follow the blazes to the left up the driveway to the trailhead of the next off-road section of trail at Gateway.
Wampum, PA Route 18 to PA Route 60/I376
West of Wampum General Area Map
The four miles of North Country Trail immediately to the west of Wampum is certified, off-road walking, traversing the properties of the Gateway Company, Mines and Meadows ATV Park, PA Gamelands 148, and the Edwards family farm. Please respect the wishes of the private property owners and the Game Commission rules and regulations regarding camping and fires as you travel this section.
Begin your hike by crossing over an old concrete bridge over PA Rt 18, located approximately .3 of a mile south of the intersection of Darlington Rd. and Rt 18. Looking North. Access to the bridge is along a private driveway so please don't block the drive when parking. The homeowners are aware of and supportive of the trail and are used to vehicles being left parked on the grass alongside the driveway. There is room to park five or six cars here.
Begin your walk by following the blue NCT blazes westward across the bridge and up the grade to the Gateway property. Gateway is in the business of storage, specifically, underground storage mines, and consequently doesn't use the "above ground" on the property, although you will see some evidence of secondary/emergency access points and water drainage systems along your walk. Continue to climb to the bench above this old strip-mined area and follow the trail westward. There is a short, white-blazed spur trail leading off to the left during your climb, taking the hiker to an overlook with a view of the Beaver River valley and the Chewton, PA area. Chewton Vista There is also a cleared vista at about the .8's of a mile mark along the NCT allowing a view of PA farm country to the west. At about the 1 mile mark the trail begins its descent from the bench and at the 1.3 mile mark you'll cross over a small, unnamed creek on a wooden foot bridge. In the spring and during periods of heavy rainfall this bridge is essential as this stream can "roar" and flow out of its banks. A very pleasant spot to take a break in calmer times. Gateway Bridge About a tenth of a mile further west you'll arrive at a dirt road built and maintained by the Mines and Meadows ATV park. A right turn off the trail at this road will take you back down to Darlington Rd. and another right at its end will lead you (on a pleasant road walk) back to Wampum.
Cross over the Mines and Meadows dirt road and continue to follow the North Country Trail blue blazes through the woods in the ATV park. The owners of the park are supporters of the trail and do their best to discourage riders from taking unauthorized detours onto the pathway. Recently, barriers were installed at various points on the North Country Trail in this area in an attempt to further discourage riders from leaving the official ATV trails. The trail traverses Mines and Meadows for about .4 mile until PA Gamelands 148 is reached.
Crossing into Gamelands 148 you begin an ascent, following the blue blazes, up an old abandoned (and sometimes muddy) two-track through the woods Gamelands 148 Double Track. Achieving the top of this hill you'll pass Game Commission feed plots as you follow a maintained two-track, down, down, down a large hill and then back up the other side of the small valley. After climbing to the top of this elevation, a slight downward grade along the Game Commission two-track will lead you to the Possum Hollow Road trailhead where there is a maintained parking area and room for a good number of vehicles. The distance from Possum Hollow road from your starting point at PA Rt 18 is 3.2 miles.
After crossing Possum Hollow Road the trail reenters the woods on Game Commission property along a single-track trail for .4 of a mile, skirting farm fields as it traces through the woods. When the trail reaches Wampum-New Galilee Rd. follow the blue blazes to the right for about one hundred yards along the road until the trail jogs back off to the left into the woods on the Edwards Family farm.
Spring 2012 Camping Update - John Edwards has granted permission for hikers to camp on the Edwards Farm property. The plot of pines mentioned in the paragraph below would make a good spot for a "leave no trace" campsite in a pinch. Being able to camp on this property has the upside of a good place to stop before making the road walk to Darlington and beyond before reaching the next available, approved camp site at Watt's Mill. The down side of this area is that there is no water available so it must be carried in.
Follow the blazes off the road into a very pleasant plot of pine trees. The fallen needles underfoot make for nice walking. The North Country Trail exits the pines after a short distance and skirts the edge of a cornfield, then reentering the woods for the final half of a mile, leading you downward to the intersection of Edwards Road and PA Rt 60/I376. Your distance from the starting point at PA Rt 18 is 4.3 miles. There is room to park four or five cars at the Edwards Road Trailhead. This is the end of this off-road, certified segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail, and a roadwalk will now lead you to Darlington, PA and then on to the next certified segment at PA Gamelands 285 in Beaver County.
Road Walk I376 to the Kirkwood Farm/Gamelands 285/Watt's Mill via New Galilee and Darlington, PA
This road walk section of the North Country Trail is 8.8 miles in length connecting the trail at the Edwards Family farm to the next off-road walk at the Kirkwood Farm and PA Gamelands 285. It is a walk through combinations of farm country, residential neighborhoods, and small western PA towns. This roadwalk is blue paint blazed.
The North Country Trail leaves the Edwards farm at the point where old PA RT 60 (now I376) crosses over Edwards Road four miles west of Wampum, PA. The Google map (linked below) calls Edwards Road along this stretch "Kenforest Road" but the NCTA official map refers to it as Edwards, as do the street signs in the area. I'm inclined to let the Edwards have their road since they live there and have for a long, long time. There is no access to I376 at this point. Edwards Road Trailhead After leaving the Edwards property turn left onto Edwards (Kenforest) Road and pass under the I376 bridge. At the .8 mile mark there is a stop sign at which you will turn right and continue along Edwards Road. At .7 of a mile past the stop sign (1.5 cumulative from the Edwards Farm trail head) you will reach the intersection of Edwards Road and Britton School Road. Turn left onto Britton School Road at this intersection and proceed up the hill .3 of a mile until another stop sign is encountered at the intersection of Britton School and Roslyn Roads. Turn right onto Roslyn Road, crossing over the Pennsylvania Turnpike on brand-new bridge (with North-Country-Trail-Blue painted chainlink pedestrian guards). Follow Roslyn Road .5 miles to State Rt 168. The asphalt on Roslyn Road gives way to gravel as you get closer to Rt. 168. At Route 168 you will have done 2.3 miles of the road walk.
Turn left onto PA Rt 168 and it is a 3.8 mile walk from this point to the intersection of Routes 168 and 551 in the center of Darlington, PA.
Spring 2012 Detour Alert - The bridge over the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek, between New Galilee and Darlington on Route 168 is closed and the creek is unfordable. Upon reaching New Galilee follow the posted detour, turning right onto Monroe St. and then following New Galilee Rd. to Darlington.
Along this segment of roadwalk you will encounter the Big Beaver Boro Wetlands (3 miles from the Edwards trailhead), New Galilee Boro (3.6 miles from Edwards trailhead), and a Beaver County Historical Society marker at a cemetary along the right side of the road, describing it as the site of the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church (4.5 miles from the Edwards trailhead). Arriving at Rts 168 and 551 in Darlington, you will find a couple of convenience stores, a regular grocery store, a US Post Office, The Greersburg Academy Darlington Days and just to the south, a restaurant and beer distributor.
To continue your walk, turn left at this intersection and follow Rts 168 and 551 south and west as they run together for .2 of a mile. Route 168 splits to the right at this point (551 continues on strait - you should continue to follow Rt.168 to the right) and the distance from the split to PA Rt 51 (Constitution Blvd) is .8 of a mile. You are 7.1 miles from the Edwards Road trailhead at I376.
Resupply note - The main business district at Chippewa, PA is 3 miles south on Rt 51, and includes numerous restaurants and a 24-hour WalMart Supercenter, along with many other retail establishments.
To continue your hike to Gamelands 285 cross over PA Rt 51 and continue to follow PA Rt 168 south until Hodgson Rd (coming in from the right-hand side) is reached. The distance from Rt. 51 to Hodgson is one mile. Turn right onto Hodgson Road and follow it for .6 of a mile, until just after a white house off to the right side of the road. At this point the blue-blazed trail leaves Hodgson Rd. and goes to the right up a gas pipeline right-of-way. This begins the next off-road segment of the North Country Trail.
CAMPING NOTE A private campground (Crawford's) is located on the left-hand side of Hodgson Road below the trail cutoff onto the pipeline and they are very welcoming towards backpackers hiking through the area. Crawford's opens in mid April and its season runs until late October.
Edwards Farm - New Galilee - Darlington - Kirkwood Farm Roadwalk Map
Kirkwood Farm/PA Gamelands 285/Garrett Property - Hodgson Road to PA Route 251 - PA/OH Border
Gamelands 285/Garrett Property Map
As of this writing (December 2011) the first three miles of this segment are not certified but the trail is completed and walkable, with bridges installed and paint blazing in place. With the hard work of the Wampum Chapter members and immeasurable assistance from Student Conservation Association crews in 2009 and 2011 and volunteers from Chippewa's Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in 2010, the treadway has been grubbed and sidehill has been completed along its length. This 6.9 mile segment of the North Country Trail is on property owned by Evelyn Kirkwood, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Dennis and Cathy Garrett.
There is parking room for three or four cars across and down the road (twenty or thirty yards) from the trailhead. The space is generously maintained by Mr. Crawford of Crawford's Camping park and is located on his property.
Begin this off-road section by leaving Hodgson Rd. to the right, following a gas pipeline onto the Kirkwood Farm and then follow the blazes to the right into the woods. The trail ascends a low hill, descends into a dip and crosses an old logging road, then ascends slightly again until the top of a ridge that parallels the North Fork of the Little Beaver Creek is reached. The trail turns westward at this point and follows the ridgetop. At .6 of a mile from Hodgson Rd. the trail begins to descend via switchbacks, crossing into PA Gamelands 285 (boundry is denoted by a line of white circle blazes painted on trees) until at approximately .75 of a mile from the road the bottom of the hill and Painter Run is reached. Cross over the run via the two bridges in place and upon ascending the next hillside the hiker will notice white, rectangular blazes on a trail coming in from the left. This half-mile spur trail leads to the Game Commission parking area at Sterling Rd. where there is room to park at least ten vehicles. Passing this spur trail and continuing on the NCT a Game Commission double track is reached a short distance further along.
Cross the double track and skirt the west side of the bottom of Indian Rock Hill (also known as Painter's Knob) for three hundred yards until a T in the trail is reached. Straight ahead is the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek, and to the right is a white-blazed spur trail that leads to the top of Indian Rock Hill and Indian Rock. The reason for the carving on this rock is unknown, as well as the identity of the carver. Local historians suggest it was a farmer or farmhand creating a bird feeder. Others suggest it was an Indian, or even someone working in the area when it was stripmined years ago. The course of the North Country Trail is to the left at the T at the bottom of the hill, following the blue blazes and following the creek westward.
Follow the blue blazes westward for .25 of a mile until the old iron bridge is reached. At this point a left turn onto the Game Commission double track will take the hiker .6 of a mile to the Sterling Rd. parking area.
Following the blue blazes and continuing westward, the next mile of North Country Trail traces through this old clay strip mine area in Gamelands 285, crossing numerous spring-fed streams, skirting private-property inholdings, bypassing numerous beaver dams (both abandoned and active) and winding through two separate groves of very pleasant hemlock trees. The trail courses up and down the hillside to avoid the swampy patches near Little Beaver Creek and the ones created by the beavers. At the 2.7 mile mark the trail crosses a small stream just below a beautiful five-foot waterfall by means of a footbridge built from the timbers of a 100-year old barn that was formerly on property in Darlington owned by Mrs. Garrett's father. Waterfall Bridge The trail rejoins the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek shortly after the waterfall area and runs parallel for a distance. At the 2.4 mile mark the North Country Trail crosses out of the Gamelands and is routed onto the Garrett property, and then reaches Watt's Mill Rd. at the 2.5 mile mark from Sterling Road.
At Watt's Mill Road the remains (stonework) of the old mill, built in the early 19th century are in evidence, particulary in the winter time when the leaves are off the trees and the weeds have died off. Mrs. Garrett's father maintained a summer cottage in this area in more-recent years and the stone foundation from that now-gone cabin can also be seen. Another attraction along Watt's Mill Rd. is the bridge over the North Fork of the Little Beaver Creek, located about 100 yards north (to the right) of where the trail crosses the road. The bridge was built in 1878 by the West Penn Bridge Company and is a good example of the Pratt Pony Truss design used during that period of time.
The North Country Trail crosses over Watt's Mill Rd. and is blue-blazed and certified for the remaining 4.1 miles of the hike. The trail goes through the Garrett's old camp property along Little Beaver Creek until reaching PA Game Commission Gamelands 285 at about the .25 mile mark (from Watt's Mill - 2.75 miles from Sterling Rd).
Camping Update - October 2012 - The Garretts have made a campsite available to hikers on their property along the North Fork of the Little Beaver Creek. It can be found by following the white-blazed spur trail, located approximately 500 yards west of Watt's Mill Road, taking off to the right for about 300 yards through the woods to a flat, clear spot along the creek. In the spring of 2010 Wampum Chapter President Lee Fairbanks led the effort to design and build a hiker shelter at this location. Chapter members, assisted by Americorps volunteers from all over western PA completed this project in June and it is available for backpackers and hikers to use for an overnighter. There is no potable water at this site so any used should be treated or hikers should carry in their own. Please respect this private property and the facilities provided - pack it in/pack it out, use the existing fire ring, and please don't cut live trees.
Upon reaching the Gamelands boundry, right after the shelter spur trail, the trail ascends a hillside on a series of switchbacks and heads generally southwest, skirting feed plots and going through a pleasant area of hemlock trees and (relatively, for this area) large rocks, climbing gradually and in stages. At the two mile mark (from Watt's Mill Rd.) a vista with a view westward along the creek valley, toward Negley, OH is encountered and is very pleasant. Vista SunsetThis vista is located in a recent logging clearcut area and the blackberry bushes along here are prolific.
After leaving the clearcut area the trail generally trends southwestward on a very easy-to-walk, evenly contoured bench along the hillside far above Little Beaver Creek. Evidence of the area's former role as a strip mine is abundant as grown-over tailing piles define the landscape, with tree covered mounds and parallel ridges predominating. At the three-mile mark (from Watt's Mill, 6 miles from Sterling Rd) the trail breaks out of the woods along a gas pipeline right-of-way and ascends Booth Hill, a large, grassy area with expansive views of the surrounding countryside. Daylight Evening The trail follows the maintained Game Commission two-track up and around the edge of Booth Hill. When the two-track ends follow the blaze posts across the remainder of the hill to the top. The deer are thick up on Booth Hill in the evenings during the summer.
The trail reenters the woods as it leaves the top of Booth Hill, and by a series of gradual descents and switchbacks over the last mile, traversing both single and double-track, reaches PA Rt 251 (Blackhawk Road) and the Pennsylvania/Ohio border. PA/OH Border There is room for three vehicles to park alongside Rt. 251 at the trailhead. Additionally, the property owners directly across the road from the trail permit hikers to park in the grass alongside their driveway. Hikers should leave a note on their dashboard that they are hiking the trail and please take care to not block the driveway.
North Country Trail Map PA-03
This is the southern and western-most extent of the North Country Trail in Pennsylvania. Blue blazes westward along the road lead the hiker into Ohio and on to Sheepskin Hollow and Beaver Creek State Park.
