Bartlett Mountain Balds in Summer-SGL 57

[image error]Our route. You can download a georeferenced PDF map below. Parking is the green dot. Pink dots traverse the balds and there is no trail. Map by Ben Van Riper.

There have been many posts on this blog about the Bartlett Mountain Balds.  This destination is unique due to its diversity, scenery, and isolation.  Despite my many visits to this place, I had never been there in the summer, fearing writhing masses of snakes.  Well, I went in early July with Ben and I was blown away by the scenery.  And, amazingly, we didn’t see a single snake (but we did come across a geocache).

 
I wish I was up there a few weeks earlier, in late June.  Then, the balds explode in blooms of white and pink from the mountain and sheep laurel.  Combined with the red spruce forests, this occurs no where else in Pennsylvania.  It really gives the appearance of being in the southern Appalachians, or a natural botanical garden.  The balds here are unique in that they are home to both spruce and laurel.  Usually, spruce forests create too much shade for laurel, but the bedrock balds give the laurel the sun it needs for amazing blooms.  I will be sure to get up there next June.

We began at the White Brook parking area, and hiked through some woods to the right, avoiding the meadows.  We hiked by some cottages, hiked up a steep grade through pine, and circumvented some private property.  We hiked off trail down to White Brook and crossed the creek.  We then reached a grade, and hiked upstream to see White Brook Falls.  We retraced our steps to hike up a grade Ben calls the “Shore Front Parkway” due to a road sign nailed to one of the trees.  

This climb is more scenic and gradual than the one up the White Brook grade, which would be our return route.  We reached the top and crossed some small streams with cascades.  At an intersection, there was a wet area and then we followed an old ATV trail (Bald Access Grade on the map) to the base of the balds.  This trail became faint, but the scenery was beautiful with fern meadows and spruce trees.  We then turned south and scrambled to the top of the balds (pink dots on the map).  

Hiking across the balds was amazing with white bedrock, deep green spruce trees, moss, lichens, and some lingering laurel blooms.  This is PA’s boreal forest wonderland.  We hiked long the edge of the balds, but then turned southwest into the interior which became thick with vegetation at times.  We also explored some rarely seen interior balds which again impressed me with its scenery.  We reached Big Deer Swamp and followed an old grade to the White Brook grade.  Keep in mind the hike across the balds is not blazed or signed; it is shown on the map with pink dots.  About 70% of the route is open, about 30% is bushwhacking through vegetation.

We followed the White Brook grade down the mountain and back to our cars.  This is an arduous, and very rewarding hike, about 11-12 miles in length.  Most of this hike follows established grades, but there are no signs and few blazes. As always, treat the balds with respect. Parking is at 41.496529, -76.132005.

Click here to download a geo-referenced PDF map of Bartlett Mountain. Map was created by Ben Van Riper. Download the free Avenza mapping app, upload the PDF map to Avenza. Then you can navigate this awesome area with your cell phone, even without service. As you can see on the map, Bartlett Mountain is incredible with spruce forests, balds, gorges, waterfalls, wetlands, and vistas.

Get out there and explore.

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Bartlett Mtn Balds. Azalea and now mountain laurel are in full bloom among the spruce and white bedrock. A special place. SGL 57. Photos by Ben Van Riper.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 2, 2019 at 1:36pm PDT

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Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57. Tough 11 mile hike. This place is spectacular in summer, and no rattlesnakes! Late June may be the best time to see the balds, when the laurel and rhodora is in full bloom.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 7, 2019 at 4:13pm PDT

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Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57. The Dolly Sods of PA.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 7, 2019 at 4:49pm PDT

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Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 7, 2019 at 6:12pm PDT

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Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57. Including some of the rarely seen interior balds and Big Deer Swamp. An amazing place.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 7, 2019 at 6:18pm PDT

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White Brook Falls before the climb up to the Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 7, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT

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A geocache lurking at the Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 9, 2019 at 5:32pm PDT

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Slabs to the sky. Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 9, 2019 at 5:36pm PDT

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Bartlett Mtn Balds, can't wait to go back. SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 13, 2019 at 10:10am PDT

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PA's boreal wonderland. Bartlett Mtn Balds, SGL 57. If you want your mind blown, go there in late June or the end of September. You'll see why.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Jul 14, 2019 at 6:28pm PDT