State Game Lands 211, PA - Rattling Run/AT Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Stony Valley - StonyValley.com
Outstanding Geologic Feature of Pennsylvania - Devil's Race Course - Pennsylvania Geological Survey

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.451440, -76.776133

SGL 211 parking lot off of Clarks Valley Road.

TRAIL MAP:
State Game Lands 211 Map 1(outdated)
State Game Lands 211 Map 3(outdated)
Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania Sections 7 and 8 - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

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HIKE DISTANCE:  11.5 miles

THE HIKE:

From the parking lot, cross Clark Creek on the Appalachian Trail.

Some pretty views of Clark Creek from the other side of the bridge.

In a short distance the Appalachian Trail turns left.  That is the way most people do this hike but it would be our return route because I wanted to go uphill through the steepest parts since that is easier with Brodie than going downhill steeply. He feels I go way too slow downhill and I feel he goes way to fast.  So we veered right on blue.

It's a state game lands road for about a mile.  This is also called the Water Tank Trail.

At the cairn on the left ...

... left on pink.

After ascending as a footpath, pink comes out on what is now a fairly newly graded road.

Everything has been bulldozed over including many trees with pink blazes so there are few left along this route now.

At the top, pink ends at blue.  We turned left on blue here but ...

... it was hard to follow with almost no blazes and lots of downed trees.  We were able to get through and pick up the trail using the Gaia app.

Left on what used to be the Horseshoe Trail, now the Rattling Run Trail, an old stage coach road.

At the fork the Rattling Run Trail goes right, left goes to a fire tower.

I decided to give the fire tower a try even though I can't climb them.

There was one very wet spot along the way.

Even though it was a pleasant grassy woods road all the way out, I was disappointed to see fence around the fire tower but...

... the gate was open!

I decided I would attempt to make it to the first landing.  This fear of heights is so annoying but I try to do a little when the opportunity presents itself.

Views from the first landing where my knees were shaking already.  That is as far as I could go.  I imagine that views from the top would be amazing - not in this lifetime!

Even Brodie can't look.

Back down safely (and that fire tower wobbles and creaks on the way down) and heading back out.

Back at that fork, a left on the Rattling Run Trail.

The spring peepers in these pools of water off the trail were insanely loud until we neared then they would all plop into the water and there would be dead silence. 

But there was lots of evidence of the hanky panky they had been up to - frog eggs.

At a large tank off to the right ...

... I turned to see if there were any views from the other side of the ridge since there seemed to be somewhat of a path.

No, nothing in the way of views.

A little farther along the red-blazed trail to the left is the H. Knauber Trail.  We would be passing the other end of this trail at the end of the hike.

An old yellow blaze from when this used to be the Horseshoe Trail (still shown as such on older maps).

I had been able to see the Devil's Race Course through the trees so I figured this might be a way to it although I have no idea what BF stands for.  (Boulder Field?)

It was pretty much a bushwhack but we made our way over to ...

... the Devil's Race Course.

The water rushing under these boulders is heard very clearly.

Back out on the Rattling Run Trail.

After becoming more rocky and descending, the yellow-blazed Horseshoe Trail crosses over; we turned left.

The Horseshoe Trail through the Devil's Race Course where you can loudly hear water rushing under the boulders.

The Horseshoe Trail climbs steeply.

At the top, a trail register and just a short distance ahead...

... the end of the Horseshoe Trail.

Left on the Appalachian Trail.

It's all downhill for the last 3.2 miles.

Still some snow and ice on the AT.

Dehart Reservoir down to the right.

Dehart Dam

Acid mine drainage.

The AT leaves the grade on a footpath to the left.

To the left of the sign ...

... the other end of the H. Knauber Trail.

According to the SGL 211 map there is an aqueduct here so this must be part of that.

Soon after, Clark Creek.

Back across the bridge ...

... to a much busier parking lot.  We had seen absolutely nobody until we got on the Appalachian Trail.  That is where everyone was.

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