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37-545: Construction of the Donut Hole Trail began in the mid-1970s, and the trail was intended as a long-distance backpacking route through the more remote areas of Sproul State Forest . The original version of the trail began at Kettle Creek State Park and traveled northeast to a junction with the Susquehannock Trail System , with the two trails sharing a common path for several miles. After the two trails separated,

74-473: A former route of the Donut Hole Trail departs to the south and heads to a wet, bridgeless crossing of the wide Kettle Creek. For safety reasons, in the 2010s the official route of the Donut Hole Trail was moved onto an old side trail that heads north along the creek, after which the hiker heads south on the paved road through Kettle Creek State Park . This added seven-tenths of a mile to the Donut Hole Trail's total length. After departing Kettle Creek State Park,

111-551: A junction with the Susquehannock Trail System (STS) at 37.1 miles. The two trails are concurrent for the next 8.6 miles. The hiker passes a shelter (associated with the STS) at 38.9 miles, followed by a walk along Greenlick Run and then a significant descent to the Left Branch of Young Womans Creek at 44.5 miles, using a high footbridge called Ted's Truss in honor of a state forester. The hiker then climbs very steeply up Morgan Hollow, and

148-703: A junction with the South Link Trail, which heads west 5.9 miles to the Suquehannock Trail System. The next junction is with the T-Squared Trail , which heads south 5.7 miles to the Donut Hole Trail . After climbing back to the top of the plateau again, the Black Forest Trail crosses PA Route 44 for the second time at 23.2 miles, and returns to the edge of Pine Creek Gorge at 25.2 miles. For

185-764: A loop through portions of Tiadaghton State Forest and routed through Pine Creek Gorge and areas of the Allegheny Plateau above the gorge. Most of the trail is in Lycoming County , with about five miles in Potter County and a very brief segment in Clinton County . The trail was named after the region's original forest landscape, which reminded immigrant loggers of the Schwarzwald ("black forest") region of Germany . The Black Forest Trail has been cited as one of

222-595: A multi-use trail, offers a 20-mile (32 km) loop through several historical locations in the area. Additionally with the exception of designated hiking trails and municipal watersheds, horseback riders may utilized the old woods roads and State Forest Road system. Trail maps are available by contacting the Sproul district office. Mountain Biking -- All trails within the Sproul State Forest are open to mountain biking, with

259-556: A piece of legislation in 1897 that authorized the purchase of "unseated lands for forest reservations." This was the beginning of the State Forest system. Hiking -- Two hiking trails systems designated as State Forest Trails are located within the Sproul State Forest. The Chuck Keiper Trail is a 50-mile (80 km) double looped system which includes trails in the Fish Dam Wild Area and Burns Run Wild Area. The Chuck Keiper Trail

296-641: Is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #10. The main offices are located in Renovo , Pennsylvania in Clinton County in the United States . The forest is located in western Clinton County and northern Centre County and contains 280,000 acres (113,310 ha) of land. It also includes several tracts in Potter , Cameron County , and Lycoming Counties. Its forests are part of

333-609: Is abundant, and these species are found in good numbers throughout the Sproul State forest. Hang Gliding - Hyner View State Park offers seasonal hang gliding opportunities for recreation. Hang gliders take off from the vista and sail out over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River . Black Forest Trail The Black Forest Trail is a 43.0-mile (69.2 km) hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania , forming

370-555: Is allowed for 8.1 miles. The trail is very remote and difficult in this area, with no road access (for ordinary vehicles) for nearly 16 miles. After climbing with great difficulty through the Nature Conservancy parcel, the trail again descends steeply and reaches near the level of the West Branch Susquehanna River, then follows an unpaved road through the ghost town of Whetham at 80.9 miles. The trail then climbs to

407-454: Is found here There are numerous other foot trails which were originally built for fire access which provide good hiking into most parts of the Sproul State Forest. These trails are not marked or maintained. When hiking in the Sproul State forest persons should dress for the weather and use map and compass Equestrian Use -- An Equestrian Trail located near Kettle Creek State Park is a 15-mile (24 km) loop. The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail,

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444-544: Is located on Hyner Mountain and traverses 14 miles (23 km). The trail covers diverse terrain providing opportunities for both novice and experienced skiers. Snowmobiling -- Snowmobile Trails are available for use when snow conditions permit. The Hyner Mountain Trail system is marked and groomed. Also, many State Forest Roads are open for joint use of snowmobiles and licensed motorized vehicles. All Terrain Vehicles -- There

481-424: Is marked with orange paint blazes. The Donut Hole Trail is approximately 90 miles (140 km) in length and connects with the Susquehannock Trail System . The trail traverses Kettle Creek Park and terminates at Hyner Run State Park. The Donut Hole Trail is marked with orange paint blazes. The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail, EMCT, is around a 20-mile loop that has an inter connector. The trail is marked in red. The map

518-751: Is one area in the Sproul State Forest open to All Terrain Vehicles use. The area is located near the Huling Branch of Two Mile Run and consists of old woods roads, old coal mining roads, and unreclaimed surface mining areas. All the rest of Sproul State Forest is closed to All Terrain Vehicle use. Fishing - There are over 400 miles (640 km) of freestone cold water streams within the Sproul State Forest. Included in this total are 12 streams where water quality and native trout populations are such that these streams are classified as Wilderness Trout Streams. Hunting - Black bear, whitetail dear, and wild turkey habitat

555-549: The Allegheny Highlands forests ecoregion . It was named for former Pennsylvania governor William C. Sproul (in office from 1919 to 1923). The first land for what became Sproul State Forest was purchased in 1898. This was also the first land purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for what are now the twenty Pennsylvania State Forests, with over two million acres (810,000 ha) of forest. The Sproul State Forest

592-456: The Quehanna Trail . By the late 1980s the Donut Hole Trail was about 89 miles long. In 2015, the trail was rerouted extensively to the south of Hyner Run State Park in order to visit more scenic and secluded areas. This added several miles to the official route and the trail is now 94.2 miles long. The origin of the trail's name is a matter of some speculation. According to reliable sources,

629-480: The T-Squared Trail at 53.7 miles; that trail heads north to the Black Forest Trail . Now trending south, the Donut Hole Trail traverses several very steep climbs and descents through sharp gorges in the plateau, and reaches Hyner Run State Park at 58.8 miles. The Donut Hole Trail formerly turned east here, but in 2015 it was extensively rerouted onto the pre-existing Jack Paulhamus/Garby Trail (JPG), with

666-402: The old-growth forests for various reasons. They clear cut the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing steam locomotives ignited wildfires that prevented the formation of second growth forests . The conservationists feared that the forest would never regrow if there was not a change in the philosophy of forest management. They called for

703-465: The Donut Hole Trail and STS split at 45.7 miles, at Fork Hill Road. The STS departs to the north while the Donut Hole Trail heads south and crosses the Right Branch of Young Womans Creek at 49.2 miles, on a road bridge and near a historical monument to Pennsylvania forestry practices. The trail rises to the top of the plateau again, and begins a walk along Cougar Run at 53.0 miles. Reach a junction with

740-556: The Donut Hole Trail continues uphill to Hyner View State Park at 65.1 miles. The trail then descends very steeply into the canyon formed by the West Branch Susquehanna River , and at 68.5 miles enters lands managed by the Pennsylvania branch of The Nature Conservancy as a wildlife sanctuary and forestry research district. The organization agreed to allow the Donut Hole Trail to pass through this parcel, though no camping

777-591: The Donut Hole Trail headed southeast and ended at Hyner Run State Park . In the 1980s the trail was extended to both the west and east, eventually reaching its western terminus at Jericho in Cameron County and its eastern terminus near Farrandsville in Clinton County . From Jericho, less than two miles of road walking can lead hikers to the Bucktail Path or the Old Sinnemahoning Trail, which leads to

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814-410: The Donut Hole Trail is at the corner of Pennsylvania Route 120 and Jericho Road in the village of Jericho , which in turn is a short distance east of a junction with Pennsylvania Route 872 . The trail begins at a relatively low elevation near Sinnemahoning Creek but quickly climbs to the top of the Allegheny Plateau , gaining about 1,500 feet of elevation in about the first four miles. At 5.3 miles,

851-547: The Francis Branch of the run via a campground driveway bridge at 7.5 miles. The Black Forest Trail then climbs steeply back to the top of the plateau, traverses relatively easy high ground for several miles, and crosses PA Route 44 for the first time at 12.8 miles. In this area the trail twice encounters a 13 mile-long cross-country skiing loop trail called the Sentiero di Shay, which was named after Italian laborers who built

888-508: The exception of the Donut Hole Trail and the Chuck Keiper Trail. Most trails are kept clear over the summer, but some do become overgrown. It is recommended you contact the district office to find out which trails are better for riding. The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail offers excellent biking. Many sections are narrow, steep and rocky. The northern section is not as technical as the southern loop. Cross-country Skiing -- Hiking Bear Ski Trail

925-547: The most scenic and challenging backpacking routes in Pennsylvania, with dozens of expansive vistas , several rugged descents into and out of Pine Creek Gorge, and remote plateau areas with evidence of railroad and logging operations from the late nineteenth century. The Black Forest Trail is traditionally described in the counter-clockwise direction, starting at the village of Slate Run , near PA Route 414 within Pine Creek Gorge . Hikers were traditionally forced to cross

962-434: The original segment of the trail was built by workers from a federal jobs program who had been brought in from large cities and did not enjoy this remote area of Pennsylvania. Apparently, these workers gave the area and the trail an unflattering nickname containing the word Hole , which forestry officials converted to Donut Hole to symbolize a remote forested territory that is surrounded by urbanity. The western terminus of

999-458: The plateau, and crosses high ground for the next several miles with several vistas into multiple branches of the hollow formed by Young Womans Creek. At 20.8 miles the trail plunges steeply again, this time into the upper reaches of a side gorge formed by the Baldwin Branch of the creek, and passes the crumbling ruins of a railroad foreman's stone hut at 21.1 miles. At 21.6 miles the trail passes

1036-529: The railroads in this area in the late 1800s. At 13.6 miles, the Black Forest Trail passes a junction with the North Link Trail, which heads west for 8.5 miles to the Susquehannock Trail System . Now heading south, the Black Forest Trail follows the County Line Branch of Young Womans Creek , crossing it several times over the next several miles. At 15.8 miles the trail climbs steeply back to the top of

1073-415: The rest of its distance, the trail plunges steeply into the main gorge or its tributary gorges and then climbs vigorously back out five different times, with short stretches of rocky ridge-top or plateau-top hiking between. Starting at 30.5 miles, the trail follows the scenic Naval Run for about a mile and reaches relatively close to Pine Creek before climbing up the side of the gorge yet again. At 36.9 miles

1110-549: The state to purchase land from the lumber and iron companies and the lumber and iron companies were more than willing to sell their land since that had depleted the natural resources of the forests. The changes began to take place in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, the forerunner of today's Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed

1147-441: The top of the plateau yet again, and then descends through State Game Lands 89 starting at 90.7 miles. At 94.2 miles, the Donut Hole Trail ends on a forestry road, near Lick Run and the remains of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, a short distance north of Farrandsville . 41°18′16″N 77°48′23″W  /  41.3044°N 77.8064°W  / 41.3044; -77.8064 Sproul State Forest Sproul State Forest

Donut Hole Trail - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-420: The trail exits Cameron County and remains in Clinton County for the rest of its distance. At 7.2 miles the trail descends into a vast system of hollows formed by Cooks Run and its tributaries, then climbs back to the top of the plateau and visits a significant vista over Kettle Creek at 11.9 miles. The trail then descends into that creek's canyon. At 14.3 miles, the hiker reaches a recent relocation, where

1221-410: The trail returns to the high plateau near PA Route 44 and becomes relatively easy for about two miles. At 39.7 miles the trail reaches the side gorge formed by Slate Run, on the opposite side from the trail's route back near its beginning. The trail makes its final steep descent and reaches the side of Slate Run at 40.7 miles, and then joins an easy logging railroad grade. Near the village of Slate Run,

1258-510: The trail trends northeast and climbs vigorously to the top of the Allegheny Plateau again, traversing an area with many vistas . The trail jogs briefly on Pennsylvania Route 144 at 26.6 miles, and reaches a prominent footbridge over Paddy Run at 32.3 miles. This is followed by an incongruous wetland complex, and then a descent to Shingle Branch at 36.0 miles. The Donut Hole Trail crosses this wide creek without bridges four times then reaches

1295-466: The two trails concurrent for the next 5.3 miles. This was done so the Donut Hole Trail could visit more scenic areas while avoiding fracking pressures to the east of Hyner Run State Park. South of the park, the trail climbs very vigorously to the top of the plateau again, with several more significant vistas. The JPG splits off at 64.0 miles (it eventually connects with the Chuck Keiper Trail ), and

1332-660: The wide Slate Run to begin the hike, but a footbridge was opened in 2014. All the distances below are from that footbridge. The trail first heads north and climbs very steeply to the top of the Allegheny Plateau above the gorge. It traverses Algerine Natural Area, and at 3.3 miles reaches a junction with the Long Branch Trail, which heads northeast for 8.5 miles to the West Rim Trail . The Black Forest Trail then turns west and plunges very steeply into an extensive side gorge formed by Slate Run and its tributaries, and crosses

1369-409: Was named in memory of William C. Sproul , Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. Sproul State Forest was formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid-to-late 19th century. Conservationists like Dr. Joseph Rothrock became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and iron companies had harvested

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