Hiking the Pinchot Trail South Loop-Pinchot State Forest
The south loop of the Pinchot Trail (PT) is a beautiful, and fairly easy, hike. While the terrain is rolling and hilly, there is still a lot of great scenery and diversity. The south loop is about 13 mile long, and the trail is blazed orange. This loop is ideal as an overnight backpack, or a long dayhike. Two years ago, several trail relocations were completed which greatly enhanced the scenery of this loop. All road walks were eliminated (other than the one to complete the loop at the north end) and the new trails explored diverse forests, wetlands, and streams. The new route also encompassed great creek walking along Choke Creek, and now includes Choke Creek Falls. The reroutes have been popular with hikers. The Keystone Trails Association helped build these new trails.
I decided to tackle the south loop as a dayhike, and I went counterclockwise, a direction I don’t usually take. I parked at the trailhead where Tannery Road meets Bear Lake Rd. (SR 2016). There were spaces for about seven cars. I walked the road to the west side of the loop and headed south. The trail became wet and tunneled through thick laurel and rhododendron. Spruce and hemlock grew overhead. I crossed the headwaters of Choke Creek and passed a campsite. I soon reached a nice view over a wetland.
The PT continued to meander through scenic forests of spruce, pine and hemlock. The forests opened up with hardwoods and blueberry bushes. I crossed a gated gravel road and entered one of my favorite places, a primeval forest of spruce, pine, moss, and hemlock near a swamp. The PT is unique in having more native red spruce trees than most backpacking trails in PA. The trail meandered through these beautiful forests, defined by a tread of bare earth. I enjoyed hiking through the tunnels of rhododendron, which bloom in early July.
One section of trail was inundated with laurel, but I soon broke free and descended to Choke Creek with its beaver dams, ponds, and beautiful campsites. I really enjoy this section of trail due to its scenery and isolation. The creek had been heavily impacted by beaver dams, but floods breached several dams and the trail was not as flooded as it had been in the past. I took a break at one of the trail’s finest campsites, which sits on a ledge over the creek. I then passed the yellow Choke Creek Nature Trail to the left; this trail makes an ideal dayhike loop.
I continued along scenic Choke Creek with views of the creek, meandering wetlands, and giant pine trees. The PT moved away from Choke Creek to avoid wetlands and thick brush, but soon returned with fine views across a large wetland. I soon reached stunning Choke Creek Falls, which is about 20 feet tall and tumbles into a deep pool lined with ledges. A boy scout troop was swimming in the pool. The trail continued up along Butler Run in a deep hemlock forest with great camping. The next few miles featured rolling terrain with hardwood forests, small streams, and a pine plantation. The trail became rocky after crossing Phelps Road and then I followed wide forest paths up to a hill with a fine dry campsite. I dropped down to a vast meadow along Balsam Swamp with views of the spruce and fir trees. The trail then returned to tunnels of rhododendron, scenic spruce and pine forests, before returning me to my car.
Over the last twenty years, it is remarkable to see how popular the PT has become. I enjoy the south loop because it is such a diverse and scenic route. The trail threads through hemlock, hardwoods, spruce, pine, rhododendrons, and laurel. There is always something different to see with the creeks, wetlands, and waterfall. And the fine camping makes this hike that much better.
I parked at 41.215358, -75.642310. The only real issues on the trail are some wet areas, possible beaver flooding, and some brushy areas. Enjoy the trail!
View this post on InstagramHiked the south loop of the Pinchot Trail today, about 14 miles. Diverse and beautiful trail.
A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:24pm PDT
View this post on InstagramSouth loop of the Pinchot Trail, Pinchot State Forest.
A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:28pm PDT
View this post on InstagramBeaver pond on Choke Creek, Pinchot Trail. Pinchot State Forest.
A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:31pm PDT
View this post on InstagramMeadow views on the Pinchot Trail, Pinchot State Forest. Hiking the south loop.
A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:35pm PDT
View this post on InstagramRed pine forest, Pinchot Trail.
A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:41pm PDT
View this post on InstagramScenery in the atmosphere, Pinchot Trail, Pinchot State Forest.
A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 3, 2019 at 5:43pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:20pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:10pm PDT
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