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 Reporter |
Summary: I did this hike as the first day of a two day backpacking excursion on a recent, unusually warm weekend in April. The map I posted shows this as a one-day loop hike, although when I did it , I actually set-up camp well off trail, near the intersection of the White Line and Frank Gantz Trails, for a total of 10.03 mile. With numerous side trails, the possibilities for exploring the 23+ miles of Lackawanna State Forest's Pinchot Trail system are plentiful. There are several wet spots, as well a few rocky areas, so bring proper footwear. Also, a few of the trails pass near, and occasionally through, private land. Please respect the rights of local landowners, and stay on the marked trails. The lookout tower on top of Big Pine Hill is accessible by road, so expect to have company, especially during the weekend. NOTE: A sign at the trailhead says that the Pinchot Trail is blazed blue, when in fact most of the blue blazes have been painted over in ORANGE. Trailhead: From Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, take PA 115 north towards Wilkes-Barre. Pass the junction with PA 940 in Blakeslee (at a traffic light), and continue another 4.6 miles to SR 2040. Make a right onto SR 2040, which becomes SR 2013 at the county line. Take SR 2040 5.1 miles, and turn left onto Bear Lake road (SR 2016). Continue another 4.3 miles to a sign advertising the main trailhead for the Pinchot trail system. Turn right into the parking area. You will have passed the Lackawanna State Forest Headquarters on Bear Lake Road. (Lat:41.21874 Lon:-75.6315) Trail Guides for Pinchot Trail - North: 50 Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania by Tom Thwaites (The Countryman Press) Best Seasons: Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Bureau of Forestry, Forest District #11, (570) 963-4561, fd11@state.pa.us Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jeremy Taitelbaum, who has posted 9 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Juniper on 10/14/2008 Best trip I've had in a long time. My group was all either inexperienced or out of shape so we chose this trail for it's flatness. Very easy hiking on the well-marked and maintained trails. The laurel is changing colors this time of year and provided spectacular foliage. All in all, the trail is really pretty and sort of cozy. We camped at the creek at the north end of the loop and had a blast. The soil is very soft there and, as long as it is dry enough, provides a soft mat for sleeping on. The creek is nice. Wood and water were plentiful so we could all enjoy our trip. 
Reviewed by JW on 7/13/2008 My dad, my dog and I completed the North Loop as a dayhike in July, and we were really impressed. The trail was mostly single-track and overgrown in places, so I recommend wearing long pants. We went clockwise and hit the Pine Hill Vista in the morning, and the 360 panoramic view from the platform was surprisingly spectacular. The rest of the trail was lush, green, and crowd-free, except for a few sets of backpackers headed for Painter Creek, a really nice spot where we ate lunch. Blueberries were abundant along the trail in July. If you're going in the summer, especially with a dog, take plenty of water and/or a filter, since Painter Creek and Spring Run are the only sources. We're looking forward to coming back for the South Loop! 
Reviewed by Daryl on 12/27/2007 Did this hike in August, 2007 when the huckleberries were abundant. Other surprises: Sassafras for tea and rocks, rocks, rocks. Best water is Butler Run. Little change in elevation. Would rate the hike "easy."
Reviewed by Maciej on 9/14/2006 We did this trail as a 3 day trip September 7-9, 2006. It was a great trail with many different types of terrain. We camped at Painter Creek the first night at a nice campsite with good water and lots of hemlocks. There is a very steep climb soon after the campsite, a great way to open up a new day. Pine Hill vista is a must see as it gives you a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and you can see for miles. I would recommend getting water at the two most prominent streams, spring run and painter run. There really isn't too much water besides those two. The sign at the trailhead now says it has been blazed orange, and in fact is, blazed orange. Great trail for beginners, hiking boots are a must as there are lots of rocks.
Reviewed by Moon Monster on 5/31/2005 Nice and variable trail. Very little elevation change save for one wickedly steep hundred yards at the northern tip of the loop. Several interesting open areas including near the tower ruins (sadly there were dozens of beer cans littered about there). Campsites fairly reliably every 5-7 miles around the loop. Water about the same frequency but not neccessarily at the obvious campsites. I'd say there were 7 or 8 total streams crossed and all were flowing well this Memorial Day weekend. Some very tough blowdowns in the southern loop--a semi-route is flagged around them, but it'll slow you way down to get through them. Very pleasant trail.
Reviewed by Aaron on 10/4/2004 good trail, not to much change in elevation, so its a easy hike, but it is very beautiful. you change scenery many times through out the 23 miles, so its a great hike. just watch out for birch still trail, a few downed trees, kinda hard to make it through Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Pennsylvania Hiking, Pennsylvania Trails, Pennsylvania Hikes, Wayne County Hiking, Wayne County Trails, Wayne County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||