The Susquehannock Trail System — Pennsylvania’s most remote loop
Hiking Collection by Alex
7
days
4-8 h
/ day
132 km
3,570 m
3,550 m
Most hikers begin at the Cross Fork and take 4 to 10 days to complete this loop. You can leave your car at the Susquehannock State Forest headquarters at the Susquehannock Forestry Maintenance Building for a south-end start. I recommend hiking the loop in a clockwise direction, but you can complete it in either direction. While on the trail, you'll gain over 14,000 feet of elevation, with the steepest challenge coming at mile 36, where you'll drop 600 feet in just 0.3 miles through Morgan Hollow; trekking poles are essential here. The terrain is generally smooth and well-marked, but summer hikers will encounter plant overgrowth, ticks, and other biting insects. I recommend long pants and clothes treated with permethrin. Rattlesnakes are not uncommon along the trail as well, so watch your footing!
Fortunately, water sources and stream crossings are plentiful, but bring extra socks for potential wet feet after crossing a stream or an unexpected downpour. For water purification, a filter is the most effective solution. Resupplying is tricky, as there are no towns directly on the trail. Therefore, plan on carrying all your food, or consider hitchhiking into Coudersport halfway through the loop. When carrying your food, be sure to store it properly, as you’re in bear country. Use a bear hang, bear can, or Ursack.
No permits are required to take on this hike, and dispersed camping is allowed throughout the Susquehannock State Forest, as long as you avoid state park boundaries and private land. There are also a handful of shelters scattered along the trail that offer a dry spot in a storm. Spring and fall are ideal times to hike, when the weather is at its best and the trails are less crowded. Winter hikes are possible, but not recommended unless you're experienced with snow navigation and cold-weather backcountry travel.
The Susquehannock Trail System is one of Pennsylvania's most remote and scenic long-distance trails. If you're looking to disappear into solitude for a week, look no further.
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Activities
05:19
18.1km
3.4km/h
580m
280m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your adventure on the Susquehannock Trail System begins in Cross Fork, and since this is a loop trail, you've got a couple of options for overnight parking. The most convenient is the small lot located next to the Susquehannock State Forest maintenance building, tucked just behind the Cross Fork Fire
by Alex
04:11
13.9km
3.3km/h
430m
460m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Today gives your legs a break with the shortest mileage of the Susquehannock Trail System loop clocking in at
just 8.7 miles. Think of it as a recovery day after yesterday’s big push. Leave camp and follow the trail as it winds gently through the forest, giving you time to stretch out sore muscles and
by Alex
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05:00
16.9km
3.4km/h
510m
460m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Today, you'll hike 10.5 miles west from Wild Boy Run Shelter through quiet, remote forests for most of the day. Midway through the hike, you'll reach Patterson State Park, a perfect halfway stop for lunch. This roadside park features a covered picnic shelter, tables, a bathroom, and a flat open space
by Alex
04:13
15.3km
3.6km/h
210m
310m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Today, you'll hike 9.5 miles, reaching the northernmost point of the Susquehannock Trail System before curving south again. Wake up, put on your pack, and hit the trail!
If you need a resupply, keep an eye out around mile 3 for a spur trail that leads toward the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. From
by Alex
05:23
18.2km
3.4km/h
470m
520m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.If you’re up for a short detour, consider waking up early and adding a 2.5-mile round-trip on the Lyman Run Trail to visit Lyman Run Lake and the surrounding state park. Treat yourself to breakfast on the sandy beach along the northwest side of the lake. You might even start your day with a refreshing
by Alex
06:11
20.5km
3.3km/h
700m
580m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.After a peaceful night, nestled in an open meadow in Bolich Run Shelter, enjoy your packed breakfast before heading out on the Susquehannock Trail System. You’ll wind through a dense forest until mile 3, where you will cross Yochum Run via a small wooden bridge. Yochum Run is an excellent spot to refill
by Alex
08:30
29.0km
3.4km/h
680m
940m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Today marks your final push on the Susquehannock Trail System, with a full 18-mile stretch. It’s your longest day on the trail, so start early and pace yourself. After 6 miles of hiking, you’ll reach your first reliable water source at Left Branch Young Womans Creek. From this point on, reliable water
by Alex
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Collection Stats
- Activities7
- Distance132 km
- Duration38:47 h
- Elevation3,570 m3,550 m
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