Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
The LT is a well-maintained, linear trail traversing about 60 miles of Loyalsock State Forest in north-central Pennsylvania. The western trailhead is on Route 87 northeast of Williamsport; the eastern trailhead is just off Route 220 near Laporte. Numerous side trails provide alternative hiking oppotunities throughout this forest. Backpacking the entire trail requires multiple days of consistent climbing and descending. The effort is worth it, though; the LT features several waterfalls and stunning vistas. The trail is maintained by DCNR, along with The Alpine Club of Williamsport and KTA. There have been several relocations and trail updates in the last few years. The main trail is now blazed with yellow discs with a red LT label.
Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
Recently, my buddy Eriks and I enjoyed a 3-day end-to-end hike of the LT. We started at the eastern end of the LT, which is backward in the eyes of most LT hikers. We thought it best to navigate the long shuttle drive on day 1 rather than day 3. First lesson of the weekend: Distinguish between the yellow discs with the LT label and the yellow discs with the X or XX label. We learned this less than a half mile from the start. Second lesson: If you enjoy rocks, the Haystacks area is really, really great. If you don’t know anything about rocks, the Haystacks area is still spectacular and could be an idea summer swimming hole.
Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
Third lesson: Wear blaze orange. It’s officially late fall in Pennsylvania when you have to yell over the sound of crushed leaves to talk while walking. The presence of armed humans hiding in the woods while wearing blaze orange is also a dead giveaway. Really, though, we saw about a dozen people on Friday (hunters and hikers), which was strange for us rural central Pennsylvania folk, but we managed.
Third lesson: Wear blaze orange. It’s officially late fall in Pennsylvania when you have to yell over the sound of crushed leaves to talk while walking. The presence of armed humans hiding in the woods while wearing blaze orange is also a dead giveaway. Really, though, we saw about a dozen people on Friday (hunters and hikers), which was strange for us rural central Pennsylvania folk, but we managed.
Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
We descended steeply into Worlds End State Park on Friday afternoon and climbed back out of the valley before dark. The elevation change was tough, but I’m glad that we got through it on day 1. The day ended at a backcountry campsite just outside the state park boundary.
The fourth lesson—tough for me to admit—is to go the correct way. Yup, you guessed it—we started day 2 heading in the wrong direction. To our defense, we’d collectively walked over 2,500 miles in the previous 11 months, so mistakes will happen; plus we questioned our decision for a full half mile before consulting our trail guide and subsequently turning around. Day 2 (our second attempt) began with a warming climb, followed by a mellow road walk. Eriks and I encountered wonderful waterfalls and vistas in the afternoon. There are plenty of campsites all along the LT, so we didn’t have a problem finding an open spot just before dark.
The fourth lesson—tough for me to admit—is to go the correct way. Yup, you guessed it—we started day 2 heading in the wrong direction. To our defense, we’d collectively walked over 2,500 miles in the previous 11 months, so mistakes will happen; plus we questioned our decision for a full half mile before consulting our trail guide and subsequently turning around. Day 2 (our second attempt) began with a warming climb, followed by a mellow road walk. Eriks and I encountered wonderful waterfalls and vistas in the afternoon. There are plenty of campsites all along the LT, so we didn’t have a problem finding an open spot just before dark.
Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
The wonderful autumn weather continued on the last day of the trip. The trail was still great, and we were still working hard to get to the vistas. This leads to the fifth and final lesson—the western side of the LT definitely has a lot of elevation change.
Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
One advantage to walking westbound on the LT is the long, fun, final descent. Eriks and I hit this descent at dusk. I fell at least twice on the steep slope, but it was a good time overall. My car was still in the parking lot, and the motor turned on! Soon we were headed home, happy to have spent 3 more days on trail.
Photo credit: Eriks Perkons
Learn more about the trail here: Alpine Club of Williamsport
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