Pinchot State Forest, PA - Pinchot Trail South

ABOUT THE PARK:
Pinchot State Forest - Pennsylvania DCNR
Hiking the New Re-routes of the Pinchot Trail-South Loop - Endless Mountain Experience

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.175630, -75.611276

It was very unclear where to park - could not find any parking where the Pinchot Trail crosses over Phelps Road as shown on one of the maps (at least not where my low clearance car could go) but I found this little spot about a tenth of a mile from the trail off of Phelps Road.

TRAIL MAP:
Thornhurst Tract Map - Pennsylvania DCNR (outdated map, does not show the reroutes)
Thornhurst Snowmobile Trails - Pennsylvania DCNR (shows named snowmobile trails that are not labeled on the hiking map)

Map showing reroutes from the Pinchot Trail Club Facebook page.

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HIKE DISTANCE:  11.7 miles

THE HIKE:
Some things to note:

• The entire south loop would be a couple miles longer but I had to short cut it to make it home at a reasonable time.
• The Pinchot Trail sometimes follows other named trails (signs at intersections but no names noted on maps, some named trails are on the snowmobile map) but it's the only orange blazed trail so even though there are no signs that say it is the Pinchot Trail, it is.
• The Pinchot Trail used to be blazed blue and there are still a few blue blazes here and there, just ignore them.
• Plan on being in ankle deep water at times especially if it's been a wet summer like this one.
• Clockwise follows Choke Creek upstream.
• Trail is overgrown at times but it's very well blazed and easy to follow.
• Two ticks chose to ignore Deep Woods OFF - the only two this year.
• Very scenic and remote feeling hike - contrary to some reviews I have read, I really enjoyed it.

Facing Phelps Road turn right and head downhill.

At the Butler Run Trail sign on the right (this will be the return route) ...

... turn left on the orange-blazed Pinchot Trail.

We soon came upon a camping site ...

... at Butler Run.

The trail follows Butler Run.

Where Butler Run meets Choke Creek, a right over the only bridge on this hike.

After the bridge the trail turns left and trail follows scenic Choke Creek for over 3 miles.

Choke Creek Falls

There are some short rocky sections but as far as Pennsylvania trails go, it wasn't bad at all.

At one point the trail is flooded because of beaver dams but it's possible to bushwhack around.

The foliage was very pretty along the creek.

I would say hiking on Sunday is your best bet during hunting season.  I saw several tree stands.

This was embedded in the trail and I wasn't sure what it was at first.

Turns out it's balloon #49 of the year, breaking last year's record and this year isn't even over yet.  I had actually nabbed balloon #48 right where I parked my car.

The intersection with the yellow-blazed Choke Creek Trail which would make a shorter loop but too short for us so on we went.

A campsite overlooking Choke Creek.  There are lots of campsites throughout this hike.

Time to get our feet/paws wet and slosh on through.  It was an unseasonably warm and humid day so it actually felt pretty good.

Some overgrowth - Brodie is in there somewhere.

Looking back over Choke Creek ...

... before the trail turns right leading away from the creek.

At this time there was a pretty long stretch of overgrowth between miles 4 and 5 of the hike.

It ends before a tunnel ...

... and the trail is clear.

Coming up on the next rhododendron tunnel, it's obvious there has been some recent trail maintenance with lots of cut branches scattered around.  Thanks!

Straight ahead is a yellow side trail (the former route of the Pinchot Trail) that leads to parking but we continued left on another rerouted section of the Pinchot Trail.

Backpackers up ahead.  We crossed paths with 3 pair of backpackers while on the trail, other than that, nobody else around.

The Pinchot Trail touches briefly on this gravel road before going into the woods to the left but after taking a break...

... we made this our shortcut and continued on the gravel road to the gate ...

... where we turned right on Tannery Road briefly ...

... then left on Stone Tower Trail (a snowmobile trail).  Seems to be parking space for a few cars to the left of the sign.

Stone Tower Trail

At the top of the hill, a clearing where the Pinchot Trail crosses over straight ahead.

After a break, right on the Pinchot Trail.

After going through another clearing ...

... back on the Stone Tower Trail for a while as the Pinchot Trail uses this route.

The gravel ends and it becomes a very pleasant grassy woods road for a nice long stretch.

Left on the Sunday Trail back into the woods.

This part of the trail skirts along the northern side of Spruce Swamp Natural Area and it's all flooded out but easy enough get through the ankle deep sections.

The trail crosses Phelps Road diagonally to the left (the one place the blazes aren't that obvious and you have to look closely) and continues on the Birch Still Trail.

Sand Spring Creek flowing to the left of the trail.  The trail is never that close to the creek but it's easy enough to bushwhack over for a look.

The water was running pretty deep at this crossing so we just bushwhacked upstream to the right a bit to find a better way over.

A picture taken while standing in ankle deep water.  What the heck, once you get wet it doesn't matter anymore. 

Coming out on Phelps Road ...

... where we turned left back to the car.

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