Dry Run Gorge Loop TR

“I’m sure every place and every state has its beauty, but I do feel lucky to live where I do. Just a short drive away is the Loyalsock State Forest; I’ve hiked in many states and many places, but this sprawling chunk of public land ranks as among my most favorite because it always surprises me with some new wonder.

For a while now, I’ve wanted to “construct” a loop hike around Dry Run Gorge by stringing together a variety of forest trails. I’ve hiked many of them and I felt this would make a superb hike. That will turn out to be an understatement.

Today was a gorgeous day, cool, clear, sunny, with the foliage unfolding across the mountains. I began at the Hillsgrove Ranger Station and hiked the Old House Trail across Dry Run and through a beautiful grove of hemlocks. I then followed the Stony Run Trail up a steep glen with thick laurel and more hemlocks. The laurel was incredibly thick and almost choked out the trail. My goal was to follow the Snake Trail to the Loyalsock Trail. Although blazed, the Snake Trail was in rough shape, and then disappeared completely- so I had to bushwhack to reach the LT.

I followed the LT down beautiful Dutters Run with many falls and cascades. The LT leaves the creek, but I continued and bushwhacked downstream into a series of glens of incredible beauty- non-stop cascades, slides and chutes and several sizeable falls, including one over 20 feet. Cliffs and ledges surrounded the glen. I was amazed. There was even a good bit of water despite the lack of rain.

I reached Dry Run Road and passed scenic Dry Run Falls. Next up was a climb along Old Bark Trail back to the LT, which I followed to breathtaking High Knob Overlook. The views were amazing across a crystal clear sky.

I descended from the view via the High Knob Trail- it has been years since I hiked this trail and I forgot how nice it was. The highlight is the little-known Duck Pond- a beautiful mountaintop pond just off of the High Knob Trail; it can only be reached by hiking. It’s a great place to relax. I then descended back into the gorge and to the ranger station.

Overall this was about a 9 mile loop hike that took about 5 hours. Awesome hike.


http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/567710240xqyYgw?vhost=outdoors&start=0”

“awesome TR and pics!!! I am trying to imagine where that is located. hmmmm.

ENS”

“Thanks.

It's the gorge just to the south of High Knob.

Parts of the LT follow the northern and eastern sections of this hike.”

“Great pictures Jmitch. I've been on those trails before except for the Snake trail. I can't remember that one. That's a nice area to hike.”