Backpacking the Quehanna West Loop

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Backpacking the Quehanna West Loop

View on Fairview Trail

Length: About 19 miles

Parking: Trailhead is at Parker Dam State Park. 41.193825, -78.506585

Highlights: Meadows, a few views, scenic streams, nice creekside camping, good isolation, hemlock and spruce forests, two small lakes.

Issues: The loop does follow a logging road for a couple miles.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Blazes: Quehanna Trail (QT) is orange, other trails are yellow.

Choose your own route: There are a number of trails you can choose from to lengthen or shorten the loop.

Description: This is an ideal weekend backpacking loop and perfect for those looking for mild terrain. Overall, the terrain is moderate and easy, though there is some climbing and one steep spot near Medix Run. I really enjoyed this loop. It is generally well blazed and maintained. This description is counterclockwise from Parker Dam.

Follow the QT into beech forests, following a stream valley with meadows and old beaver dams. There is good camping past the Spurline Trail. Continue up the valley with more meadows. Veer into the woods with large hardwoods and fern glades. Here the trail seems to follow an old rail grade. As you hike, the forests become more diverse with groves of hemlock and spruce. At Wallace Mine Road, leave the QT and follow the road to the left, on the yellow Quehanna West Cross Connector (QWCC). After .8 mile turn left onto an old forest road and enter more scenic forests. Cross Caledonia Pike into hemlocks. The yellow Shaggers Loop joins, I suggest you include this loop. It encircles the beautiful Shaggers Inn pond with views, pine forests, and meadows. It’s easy and adds some scenery. The Shaggers Loop rejoins the QWCC.

Descend to a stream with nice camping and then hike through a series of meadows. Climb gradually to a road and continue straight onto a gated forest road. The road is wooded and a nice enough walk. Enter more open areas and savannas where there was logging. This is the least scenic part of the loop but I didn’t think it was that bad. There’s a view at a pipeline swath. Watch for where the QWCC leaves the road to the right and crosses a meadow. Enter the woods with some large rocks, blazing is a little infrequent through here but the trail can be followed. Descend and reach a campsite at a nice view, the campsite might be dry, though there is a small spring that bubbles out of the ground. It might be tough to collect water. Next is the steepest part of the loop, follow narrow switchbacks down. Reach Little Medix Road and rejoin the QT, turn left up the road. A nice piped spring is along the road.

Turn right on the QT up a small creek with a small campsite. The creek has some cascades. The trail levels at the top with beautiful fern glades, meadows, and open forests. Descend into a scenic stream valley with one decent campsite, cascades, and a few large boulders. Reach Saunders Road and turn left. Leave the road and hike up Saunders Run with a large campsite off to the right along the creek, ideal for larger groups.

You can continue on the QT up Saunders Run, it is a fine hike, but I did something different on this hike. I took the Fairview Trail. It climbs to the best view on the loop and crosses forests of birch and striped maple. It then follows a gated gravel road. At Tyler Road the blazes end, just go straight on the obvious old road. Enter Parker Dam State Park. The QT joins from the left.

At Parker Lake, leave the road and hike the Laurel Run Trail along the lake. It is scenic with views of the rolling ridges and some large boulders. Parker Dam is such a serene and beautiful state park. Take an obvious path to the left that returns you to the parking area.