Coyote Rocks and Bowmans Creek Loop-SGL 57 and Ricketts Glen State Park

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This is an excellent dayhike in SGL 57 and Ricketts Glen State Park.  The trails are unblazed, but are pretty easy to follow.  Cairns mark some intersections.  You will see tumbling mountain streams, giant rocks, hemlock forests, a great view, peaceful woodlands, fern meadows, and a superb streamside hike along Bowmans Creek.  You will also see some ruins from the ice industry era.  The terrain is moderate with gradual inclines and declines.  There are some stream crossings without bridges and it will be difficult to navigate this hike in snow or heavy leaf cover.  This loop is part of an extensive system of unofficial trails in the isolated Bowmans Creek valley.

Start at the parking area along Wolf Run.  The road here is in decent shape and can be driven by a car, but a vehicle with some clearance is a good idea.  Avoid if there is snow or muddy conditions.  Look across the road from the parking area, notice a trail going into the woods.  Follow it.  The trail crosses Wolf Run and then proceeds upstream along Bowmans Creek.  The scenery is excellent along this pristine creek with laurel, rhododendron, pine and hemlocks.  The creek babbles over rocks and into pools.  This is an excellent streamside hike.  Keep in mind the trail is close to the creek in places, so do not hike it in high water.

Reach a large mound, an old railroad grade, and continue upstream in a hemlock forest.  Look for some metal beams crossing the creek; here, the trail turns right away from the creek and goes along a meadow with some stone ruins and foundations.  Reach a T intersection with an old grade, turn left, and then right onto another old grade and go up hill.  Reach a second parking area.  Turn right onto the road and walk to Bean Run.  The trail begins on the left before Bean Run, but notice a massive stone retaining wall for the railroad grade along Bean Run.  

The trail follows an old grade up Bean Run and it keeps its distance from the creek.   The trail turns right, it is easy to miss as a trail also continues straight.  If you cross a creek, you went too far.  Descend to Bean Run and cross it as best you can.  The trail continues up the grade with giant boulders along the trail.  Spruce trees also become more common, making for a scenic hike.  Climb away from the creek to the plateau with open hardwoods and ground pine.  A red blazed side trail joins from the left.  Descend along beautiful fern meadows.  Reach the top of Wolf Run and look for a trail to the left, the side hike to Coyote Rocks.  

Cross Wolf Run and cross the plateau with open woodlands and more ground pine.  Curve south and into a small valley.  Reach the edge of the plateau and Coyote Rocks.  Enjoy the expansive views over the Bowmans Creek valley.  This is a great view for sunsets.  Return to Wolf Run.  Descend along Wolf Run on an old grade for more pleasant hiking.  At the bottom, reach a meadow with some briars.  Reach the road, turn left to the parking area and your car.  

This hike is about 6-7 miles long.  Parking area from where description begins: 41.353013, -76.194238. Second parking area: 41.348599, -76.209527.

For the map above, yellow is this route. Orange are other trails or grades. All trails are unblazed but are pretty easy to follow. Watch for intersections; cairns mark some of them.

Another hike to Coyote Rocks.

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Coyote Rocks, SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:47pm PDT

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Trail along Bowmans Creek in eastern Ricketts Glen State Park, one of the most scenic streamside hikes in the region. Still some snow, but it was melting.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:44pm PDT

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Coyote Rocks on a beautiful day. SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:50pm PDT

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Coyote Rocks panorama. SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:52pm PDT

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Falls and deep bedrock pool on Bowmans Creek. SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:55pm PDT

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Ice flows and seasonal side stream falls along Bowmans Creek. SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 2:58pm PDT

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Hiking the trail down Wolf Run to complete the loop. SGL 57.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 8, 2020 at 5:48pm PDT

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Hiking along Bowmans Creek.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Mar 9, 2020 at 5:44pm PDT