Hike the Conklin Run Wilderness Area-Mokoma Conservancy

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The Mokoma Conservancy owns the Conklin Run Wilderness Area, a preserve that is open to the public.  This little known hiking destination is located near Laporte and features a nice trail system.  All trails are blazed tan, and most trail junctures have signs.  At other junctures you will have to pay attention to the map and blazes.  The terrain is level to rolling, and some trails follow old grades and roads.   Overall, the trails are well established and are easy to follow.

The most scenic areas of the preserve are the northern and southern ends.  Do not miss the hike along Conklin Run, Sand Run, or Found Lake.  These areas feature streams, wetlands, a pond, and beautiful hemlock forests.  The other areas of the preserve feature hardwoods.  You will also see forest management, such as deer fences and selective logging.  The preserve is also located near some homes, so you will be near a few as you hike.  Please do not be a disturbance.

There is a pull off parking area along Lake Road.  Walk up the road to a gate and sign for the conservancy.  Hike around the gate and follow the old woods road. Soon, turn right onto the Conklin Run Trail.  This is a beautiful trail as you explore a hemlock forest along the clear babbling stream.  Climb away from the creek into a forest of beech.  Make a right onto Old Glassworks Rd. and follow for a quarter mile.  Then make a second right on Old Glassworks Rd.  Here, the forests continue to be hardwoods with beech.  Reach the pipeline swath and turn left.  Re-enter the woods on an old grade and hike along a deer fence.  This is now Plank Road, which gradually descends.  At a “T” intersection, continue straight on Plank Rd.  

The scenery improves with hemlock forests.  Turn right onto Sand Run Trail and enter a beautiful area with hemlocks, ground pine, and moss along a wetland.  In places, the trail tunnels through the green hemlocks.  Reach a trail intersection, go right and reach Sand Run.  Before crossing the run, look for a trail to your left as it will be part of your return route.  Cross Sand Run on stones and walk up some stone steps.  Turn right to begin a mini-loop featuring more hemlocks, blueberry, and laurel.  Reach a short side trail to the right that goes to a viewing platform at Found Lake, a beautiful serene, spot.  This is an ideal place to birdwatching and photographer.  Continue on the mini-loop and return to Sand Run, cross the creek again, and now turn right on the trail mentioned previously.  This trail explores more hemlocks along Sand Run.  Turn left onto the Beechnut Trail.  The trail becomes hillier and a little rocky and passes behind some houses.  Avoid any trail to the left.  The trail also passes near a logged area.  Continue through scenic woodlands and then descend to the old woods road you first hiked in on.  Turn right and return to your car.  

For the map above, the dashed trail is an ideal cross connector to see the most scenic areas of the preserve.  The entire loop described above is about 3.5 miles.  Pull off parking is at about 41.420487, -76.480929.

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Conklin Run Trail, Mokoma Conservancy, Laporte.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 4:09pm PST

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Mokoma Conservancy has some nice trails. Do not miss the Conklin or Sand Run Trails, they are very beautiful. Laporte.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 4:17pm PST

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Viewing platform at Found Lake. Beautiful spot. Mokoma Conservancy, Laporte.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 4:28pm PST

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Found Lake is a serene place at the Mokoma Conservancy. I need to return in the Summer and Fall. Also looks like a great place for birdwatching and wildlife photographers. Laporte.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 4:42pm PST