Gone Hikin': Ralph Stover State Park, PA and Tohickon Valley Park, PA

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Ralph Stover State Park, PA and Tohickon Valley Park, PA

ABOUT THE PARKS:

Ralph Stover State Park - Pennsylvania DCNR

Tohickon Valley Park - Bucks County

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 40.43556, -75.10074

There are several parking areas. This is the farthest lot from the entrance.

TRAIL MAP:

Ralph Stover State Park Trail Map - Pennsylvania DCNR

HIKE DISTANCE: 7.5 miles

THE HIKE:

The last time I hiked here was in January 2012. There is a lot more to see with no leaves on the trees but there are views in the summer, too. The trails are blazed a little more consistently now, when there are blazes. Basically orange is the lower level, blue is the upper level and yellow runs between orange and blue with several unmarked connector trails between all three. The orange lower level is the most popular so I hiked that first while it was early and not too many people were there yet. Hiking the blue trail back later in the day, it was very busy down on the orange trail so something to keep in mind. There is also a white trail that is a loop away from the more popular area where I encountered nobody at all.

From the parking lot heading towards Tohickon Creek and ...

... the mill dam remnants.

Right through picnic areas with Tohickon Creek on the left to Means Ford Bridge.

Going under the bridge then looping around to the left uphill ...

... to cross the bridge which is open to pedestrians, just not motor vehicles.

An uphill road walk on dead end Stover Park Road with no traffic, just a few residences.

Just before the yellow sign ...

... right on an unmarked trail.

This leads to the yellow trail. The white trail is to the left - the one we will be taking when we return to this spot on the way back.

We left the yellow trail to follow the trail closest to the edge along the fencing. This is were the views are and they get better as you go along.

One of three memorials along the way.

Two of three memorials.

The fencing ends and in a few spots you can go right out to the edge.

Third memorial.

Back on yellow after all of the overlooks.

The trail will start to descent and get closer to Tohickon Creek.

Somewhere along the way I veered right on the lower orange trail and followed that.

As it gets closer to Tohickon Creek there are short side trails to the right that lead to the creek.

A little farther along when the trail comes to a cabin directly ahead, that would be a good time to take a side trail to the left to get back over to yellow since orange goes straight to the cabin. I remember 12 years ago I just walked by the cabin but there was nobody there. The cabin was occupied this time. I turned right before the cabin and went steeply downhill to Tohickon Creek.

It was a lovely spot to take a break but I had the brilliant idea of rock hopping along to get to the road that goes through the campground. That worked to a point but then I had to bushwhack steeply uphill through boulders and weeds and downed trees. I do not recommend it.

I surfaced on that flat rock to the left of the bridge finally having arrived at the road and the cabin I was trying to get around.

Now on the paved road through the campground.

Left on the trail ...

... staying to the right on yellow at a higher level than orange down below where we had been earlier.

Brodie having a staring contest with a fawn that was very curious about him.

A blue trail veers to the right at yet a higher level than yellow.

We took blue all the way until it merged back to yellow.

A few steps to the right is the parking lot for High Rocks Vista, right at the overlooks. I was not surprised to see how packed it was after seeing all of the people down below on the lower level trails that we had been on earlier.