Black Forest Trail - Pennsylvania 4/1 - 4/3/05

“another installment.

I would like to try and do the entire trail.

details TBA”

“There ya go again!”

“I'll try and post some more info tonight.”

“I gotta go somewhere in April.......maybe two trips in April.”

“the Black Forest Trail is a good one. Outstanding views and good hills to climb. Closer to you than Monongahiela NF too.”

“Wellsboro is over 250 miles, I think.”

“
Trail Stats

Nearby City: Slate Run, PA
Length: 42.1 total miles
Skill level: Moderate to Strenuous
Trail type: Loop
Trail category: State Forest Trail

A detailed trail-guide and map are available for $10.00 from:

Tiadaghton Forest Fire Fighters Association
P.O. Box 5091
South Williamsport, PA 17701

Trail Description

The Black Forest Trail is a 42.1 mile loop trail in the northwest corner of Lycoming County near the village of Slate Run, PA. Slate Run is located along Pine Creek on highway 414, 27 miles north of Jersey Shore, PA. The trail starts and finishes in a pine plantation 0.8 mile from the Slate Run Village on the State forestry road. The foresty road leave Route 414 in a westerly direction. The name Black Forest was derived from the dense,dark (Black) virgin coniferous forests that originally covered the region.

The Black Forest Trail is a rugged trail with many vistas as the trail winds up to heights overlooking Slate Run, Morris Run , Big Dam Hollow, Naval Run, and Pine Creek. There are many steep climbs on the Black Forest Trail but the vistas are well worth the effort. In the spring, when the water is high, the many creeks that traverse the trail provide numerous beautiful scenes.”

“I think the trailhead would be about 200 miles from you. It's right near the trailhead for the Golden Eagle Trail. The trail is on the west side of Pine Creek Gorge.”

“I car camped at Leonard Harrison State Park(???) at the east rim of El Grande Canyon.

That was a long schitty drive this side of Williamsport.”

“The BFT is probably closer to 45 miles than 42. At least, that is what my GPS said when I did the whole trail last year. A small ambitious group (2-4) could probably do this in 3 FULL days. It's not an easy trail though, as there are many ups and downs. It's not as rugged as Catskills / ADK trails, but it has it's share of rocks, especially the descent down Red Run.

One of the great things about the BFT is that there are several cutoff trails which make bailouts and improvising possible.

Also, I forget the exact figure, but when I GPS'd it, the total elevation gain was around 11,000 ft.
last edited: 1/04/05 12:04:28 PM”

“wow, 11,000 feet of gain in PA. That's awesome. I maybe able to get off that friday and do it as 3 day. Doing the full trail would be prime.”

“might wanna check on whether they rebuilt the bridge over pine creek... if it hasnt been done yet then you have to hike around or ford the river....”

“Do you mean the bridge that crosses Pine Creek at Slate Run is out? Dang, Pine Creek is a full river. I can't imagine fording that. Or do you mean the Slate Run crossing near Pine Creek in Slate Run? That is usually mid-shin to mid-thigh deep, and that's where the wiggy's waders come in handy.”

“2003 the pine creek one washed out at mile 0... yep its a river there... I had to hike around to the alternate route. Havent been up there since, last I heard it was waiting for funding to get rebuilt.”

“I checked and couldn't find anything about the bridge across Pine Creek being washed out. Even if it is you can still access the trail from Rt. 44 near the Black Forest Inn.”

“what RichB is what I always heard. I heard that there is a bridge behind the inn.”

“There is (or was?) a road bridge that crosses Pine Creek on rt 414 in Slate Run. On the other side is Slate Run Road. Nearby on Slate Run Rd is the Slate Run Inn (or whatever that Inn is called). Behind the Inn is Slate Run, and that is where the BFT crosses before heading up the mountain. It's a difficult but doable (most times, and waders are a big help) stream crossing, and I heard there used to be a bridge that crosses it.

This is why I am confused by LJ's post. The BFT does not cross Pine Creek. Are you saying the road bridge is out?
last edited: 1/10/05 2:55:50 PM”

“i don't think the road bridge across pine creek to slate run is out. the bridge across slate run on the BFT, near the trailhead, has been out for several years.”

“I did say mile 0.... ok its slate run... the trail crosses it and goes up into the algerine wild area. I assume by pennsys post it is still gone.

If you hike up 414 north past wolfies along the bike path the road bridge is there and there is a trail just over the bridge that runs up and meets the bft at mile 1.2 or so....

and now ya know why I have to use maps even when Ive been there before .....”

“I think he means the old suspension bridge across Slate Run. There used to be a suspension bridge across Slate Run for hikers, but the last time I crossed it was in 1996 and it was dangerous and literally falling apart. I had to walk on one cable that was left and hang on to the upper cables with both hands. Thinking back I must have been crazy to even cross it. It was located below the point where everyone crosses Slate Run now.”

“I was at EMS last night and found that they have a really nice guide book and map for this trail and the surrounding network. I'm going to go and pick that up. the guide book for this trail is pretty neat and includes the Bob Webber Trail and Golden Eagle Trail. Definitely a good buy. It's only like $9.

Pennsy's map still rules though. Pennsy's map is 3D.”

“sure sure. You're just buttering me up, hoping I'll map out the BFT route. and yeah yeah, I probably will.”

“you can't resist”

“hopefully the beginning of April will allow us to hike the trail before the black flies come out. I'd like to take that friday or monday off (prolly friday) and complete the whole trail. Three days should be good to hike the whole trail.

I bet it would be cool to see the Black Forest trail area with snow. If it ever snows in PA anymore.
last edited: 1/13/05 9:53:42 PM”

“Silly Humans, you cannot resist the Black Forest Trail...”

“they say it's the best trail in PA.”

“all right, i'm interested. it's too early for me to give a yes for sure, but chances look very good at this point.

who's butt do you have to kiss to see this way cool 3-D pennmeister map i've heard so much about?”

“Pennsy's, lol I'm sure it's already brewwing in his magical map making calderon.”

“Did you mean cauldron?”

“What a nut!”

“I'm sick!! I brain is full of green stuff right now.”

“That 'splains a lot.”

“what's the fishin situtation of this trip?”

“I'd think it'd be pretty good. I think there are numerous creek crossings on the trail and the creeks are pretty large. I'm not sure how close we'll be camping to a creek.”

“who's butt do you have to kiss to see this way cool 3-D pennmeister map i've heard so much about?”
sacco

Hey Sacco - Kiss my A$$!!

I didn't do the map yet. I'll get to it though.”

“sacco,

beautiful slate run is a renowned freestone flyfishing stream, special regs may apply. trout can also be found in manor fork and county line branch; good fishing in pine creek too.”

“Slate Run is catch and release fly fishing only. I don't have the fishing regulation book with me now so I don't know about the others, but I think Pine Creek is open to spin fishing as well as fly, at least in some sections. Slate Run in early April is likely to be cold and maybe high depending on the snowmelt if any at that time. I've fished it many times, but not on a backpacking trip because I didn't want to carry waders and other fishing gear while hiking the trail. In early April, waders will be necessary to fish it and probably neoprene or insulated chest or waist waders.”

“that would be pretty neat to catch some fish and then eat it for dinner. Tasty too. Bring some old bay.”

“Trout season doesn't open until April 16. Slate run and Francis branch are open year round on a catch and release basis.”

“i want to make a pair of silnylon chest waders for backpacking.
i'm thinking that that i could use them w/ my crocs.

i would make them big big enough to wear a couple of heavy layers underneath.

as a bonus, they could double as my VBL in the winter.

might also be interested in getting there the day before, getting a room and fishing that afternoon.

any decent lodging in the area? (by decent i mean cheap, not fancy)”

“Sacco and RichB should get together and open their own homemade gear shop.

btw - ENS wants to do this trip in 3 days. You guys won't have the time (or energy) to fish. ;o)

btw2 - Sacco, return to the Santa thread and finish your trip report. Sheesh!”

“The Blackwell Hotel is only a few miles from the trailhead.”

“that'll make for some interesting convo. The two TT gearsmiths on the same trip sharing notes.

3 days on this trail is about 15 miles a day. Pennsy, did you say there was 11,000 feet of gain along the way?”

“E&S 11k feet is right and its mostly on the eastern side to boot. Hope you enjoy it.”

“I can't wait to hike this trail. This trail has been high on my list for some time now.”

“where is the pennsy map?

still don't see it.

you'd think being on strike would give him lots of time to make all sorts of maps.”

“naw he has to make up the picket signs....”

“haha!

Dang impatient hobbit. I thought this trip was in April, not NEXT WEEK. ;o) But hey, I'm working on it. I have the route mapped out, but I want to add the various side/cutoff trails, parking areas, optional trailheads, campsites etc.”

“if we can find some cutoff trails, that would be awesome. Specially on Sunday.”

“that's one of the nice things about this trail. there are several options. When we did this trip a few years ago, we had 3 small groups starting at different places at different times, yet we all managed to meet on the trail and camped together for at least one night. One group did the entire trail while the other 2 groups did smaller sections.

Speaking of options, I am trying to recall what the parking area is like at mile 0. I'm thinking it's a small pullout with room for only a few cars. Anybody know?”