White Gold Superloop-SGL 57 and Ricketts Glen State Park

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White Gold Superloop-SGL 57 and Ricketts Glen State Park

The White Gold Superloop is the third in the superloop series. While shorter and not as challenging as the Golden Eagle/Hilborn or Slate Run Superloops, it offers diverse scenery, isolation, and its own unique set of challenges. It is named after a book by Peter Tomasak, “White Gold of Mountain Springs”, which describes the ice making industry and the town of Mountain Springs, which was once located here. The history of this region is remarkable, once home to towns, schools, and stores. It was an important place for the creation and distribution of ice, which was needed before the invention of refrigeration. Some ruins from that era remains, but nature has largely taken over. A variation of this loop is described in “Hiking the Endless Mountains”. This loop is located in SGL 57 and Ricketts Glen State Park. This loop is about 11 miles long.

Before hiking this loop, understand a few things. The trails are unmarked and have no signs, although they are generally well established and often have cairns at intersections. The trails will be hard to follow in the snow or from fallen leaves. There are wet areas, and stream crossings without bridges. The Bean Run crossing will be difficult in high water. You should be an experienced hiker with good navigational skills to hike this trail. This hike is notable for its diversity with vistas, big rocks, wetlands, meadows, spruce trees, superb streamside hiking, and Beech Lake. It is very different from other Pennsylvania hikes.

From the parking area at Bowmans Marsh, walk down the road and turn left onto gated Beech Lake Road. Follow the road to the left. Now look for a trail entering the woods to the right, take it. It meanders through scenic woodlands and reaches cliffs with fine views. Descend with large rocks and ledges off to the left. Drop down to Mountain Springs Road and cross it. This is the confusing part. Follow the trail in a southeasterly direction, veer right on a grade as it descends, turn sharp left onto another grade at the bottom. The log cribbing of one of the ice dams, now breached, is off to your right, off trail.

Hike the grade to a small meadow, turn right, descend along the meadow with some stone ruins into a hemlock forest along Bowmans Creek. Follow the trail along the creek. The scenery is very beautiful with the creek, hemlocks and rhododendrons. This is a highlight of the loop. Cross Wolf Run, reach the road, cross a meadow and hike up Wolf Run on an old grade. At the top, turn right and hike out to Coyote Rocks and its fine views, return the way you came. Continue on the loop, passing through scenic meadows and glades. Descend to Bean Run with spruce and wetlands. Descend along scenic Bean Run with cascades and giant rocks. Cross Bean Run and turn right at the next intersection. Cross a tributary and hike up, turn left, crossing it again with cascades. Reach Beech Lake Road, turn right, and then left into the woods on the trail as it wraps around the lake, offering some beautiful views over the water. This lake is unique for being undeveloped and natural. Reach the other end of the lake, turn left on an old grade and hike out to Beech Lake Rd, completing the loop. Retrace your steps back to your car.

Parking is at 41.359618, -76.235291; it is not accessible with snow and can be muddy in Spring. The route on the map is yellow. Red are other trails. Enjoy this beautiful hike.

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