Monday, November 21, 2011

Appalachian Trail: Auburn Overlook to Port Clinton, PA with Schuylkill River Trail


ABOUT THE PARK:
Appalachian Trail - Keystone Trails Association
Schuylkill RIver Trail - Schuylkill River Trail Association

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.5521 -76.0542

View Larger Map
Turn on the gravel road at the State Game Lands sign then proceed to a large parking lot on the left.
If the gates are open you can drive all the way to the top and shave 2.4 miles and a huge climb up off the hike but this is one-way so you will be driving out a different way and missing a great view.
Parking at the top just before the Appalachian Trail and Auburn Overlook a short distance to the left before the barrier.

TRAIL MAPS:
PA Appalachian Trail Map Sec. 1-6: Delaware Water Gap to Swatara Gap - Keystone Trails Association (3rd item down to purchase map)
PA State Game Lands 110 - Pennsylvania Game Commission (Auburn Overlook in wrong place on map)
Schuylkill River Trail Hamburg to Pottsville Section - Schuylkill River Trail Association

HIKE DISTANCE:
Full hike with additional section of Schuylkill River trail:  13.6 miles
Full hike:  10.8 miles
Hike from upper parking lot:  8.4 miles
Deduct .9 mile if not detouring into Port Clinton

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
TrailHeadFinder.com - AT section miles 1200.2 to 1202.7

THE HIKE:
NOTE:  Most of this hike is on state game lands and should only be hiked on Sundays from September through February.  Hunting is currently not allowed on Sundays in Pennsylvania.
From the parking lot walk up the gravel road which will start to switchback up more steeply.
Near the top, nice views to the east.  The view is better on the way down when the sun is not directly ahead.
At the top turn right towards a wooden barrier (alternate parking) then just before the barrier turn left on a short unmarked trail which will cross over the white-blazed Appalachian Trail and go directly to the Auburn Overlook.
Auburn Overlook with views of Weiser State Forest, Stony Creek and the Schuylkill River.
From the overlook, turn around back to the AT, turn left and make note of the sign on the right which will remind you where to turn on the unmarked trail coming back at the end of the hike.
The Appalachian Trail follows the ridge of the Blue Mountain with views all around when foliage is not present.
The small town of Port Clinton comes into view as the AT descends, very steeply at times.
The AT comes out on the multi-use Schuylkill River trail.  Continue to the left on this cinder trail or follow the AT to the right for a .9 mile loop of Port Clinton.
Continuing right on the AT, a very short but very steep set of stone steps lead down to the railroad tracks.
Carefully cross live railroad tracks over to picnic tables along the Schuylkill River.
View of the Schuylkill River at the picnic tables.
Watching trains from the picnic tables at the river.
Continue on the AT into town following arrows and blazes.
When the AT turns right just beyond the fire station, keep straight to busy Route 61 and turn left. 
Walk 1 block along Route 61 to the Clinton Peanut Shop, an old-fashioned candy store...
... with a ton of snack choices.
Loop around the block from the candy store to avoid Route 61 and meet back up with the Appalachian Trail.  Follow over the railroad tracks and up the steep stone steps back to the Schuylkill River Trail.
Follow the Schuylkill River Trail to the right where the live tracks run a level below and the Schuylkill River a level below that.
After a little over 2 miles turn left into the Stony Creek Parking Lot.
Or continue straight on the rail trail for 1.4 miles to the end of the trail as it exists today with a break spot and the river flowing below.  From this point retrace back to the Stony Creek parking lot.
Walk straight through the parking lot to a short footpath then left on a woods road which will start to ascend, steeply at times
When the woods road ends at a pipeline cut, turn left and ascend very steeply but be sure to stop and turn around for great views in the opposite direction nearing the top.
After the pipeline cut turns left and flattens out along a ridge, the ridge of the Appalachian Trail is visible to the right.
After just a little incline, the pipeline cut meets up with the AT just before descending steeply.  Turn right on the AT and when meeting up with the woods road, that can be taken the rest of the way to give weary feet a break from the jagged rocks of the AT.
Take the gravel road back down the switchbacks to the lower parking lot.  The views are clearer now with the sun out of the way.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]    Continue up gravel road beyond gate
[  0.80]    View to the east along switchback
[  1.20]    Veer right towards upper parking; turn left before wooden barrier on path, cross AT to Auburn Overlook
[  1.30]    From Auburn Overlook retrace to AT, turn left on AT
[  1.35]    AT joins woods road briefly before leaving to the left
[  1.65]    AT crosses over woods road
[  2.20]    First pipeline cut (will be coming in from the left at end of hike)
[  2.60]    Second pipline cut
[  3.30]    Cross unmarked trail
[  3.40]    Turn left briefly on cinder trail then follow AT to the right down steep steps; cross live tracks and follow AT over two bridges
[  3.70]    AT turns right after fire station; continue straight to end and turn left to follow along the left side of Route 61
[  4.90]    Port Clinton Peanut Shop; continue to end of block, turn left 1 block, turn left back to AT, right on AT over bridges then railraod tracks
[  4.25]    Ascend steep steps and turn right on Schuylkill River Trail
[  6.60]    Turn left into Stony Creek parking lot, walk straight through to path then left on woods road
               (Continue straight for 2.8 mile out and back to end of Schuylkill River Trail)
[  7.20]    Woods road ends at pipeline cut, turn left and go uphill very steeply
[  7.30]    Pipeline cut turns left and levels out following ridge
[  8.60]    After short incline turn right on AT at top before pipeline descends
[  9.20]    Turn left on woods road for smoother walking surface (or continue on AT to Auburn Overlook Sign)
[  9.50]    AT joins woods road briefly before leaving to the right
[  9.60]    Walk through upper parking then turn left on gravel road to switchback down
[10.00]    View to the east along switchback
[10.80]    Back at lower parking lot

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Washington Crossing State Park and Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, NJ


ABOUT THE PARKS:
Washington Crossing State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - Mercer County, NJ
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - NJ Trails Association
Goat Hill Overlook - NJ.com

DIRECTIONS:
For Washington Crossing State Park only or combined with Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain:
GPS Coordinates 40.297243, -74.867736

View Larger Map
For Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain portion of hike only:
GPS Coordinates 40.318542, -74.866162

View Larger Map
For Goat Hill Overlook (requires short drive):
GPS Coordinates 40.352848, -74.936041

View Larger Map

TRAIL MAPS:
Washington Crossing State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - Mercer County, NJ via HiddenTrenton.com
Goat Hill Overlook - USGS map in Google Docs (click download button to be able to rotate map)

HIKE DISTANCES:
Washington Crossing State Park and Ted Stiles Preserve - 13.45 miles
Washington Crossing State Park - 6.65 miles
Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain - 6.8 miles
Goat Hill Overlook - .9 mile

THE HIKE:
Walk back through the parking lot the way you drove in towards the Nelson House at the southern end by the bridge crossing the Delaware.
Nelson House
Continue around the Nelson House veering left on the pedestrian overpass into the park.
Pedestrian Overpass
The green dot trail starts at the end of the overpass but go left first for a view of the Delaware River.
View of the Delaware River from the overlook.
Heading back to the green dot trail.
The first part of the hike is along the Continental Lane
The yellow dot trail meanders along Steele Run.
The blue dot trail.
Trails and intersections are well marked.
Trails around the Nature Center are marked with solid squares instead of dots.
At a small parking lot which can be used to access the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, turn right beyond a gate for a short loop around an attractive pond.
A duck pair swimming in the pond.
Access the red trail at Ted Stiles Preserve directly across Church Street from the parking area/pond.
Current information was not posted but during these times of the year, best to plan on Sunday hiking.
Red trail towards Baldpate Mountain (formerly Kuser Mountain).
Bridge over Fiddlers Creek
The orange Power Line Trail comes out into a large parking lot, another access option.
The white Summit Trail passes abandoned farm buildings and a small pond.
The red NW Loop Trail goes downhill and back up again for a better workout.
Plaque at the former Kuser Estate.
Head back on the white Ridge Trail.
Coming off the red trail back over to the parking lot at the pond in Washington Crossing State Park.
A horse trail along the northern side of Washington Crossing State Park.
The yellow dot trail comes out at Route 29.  Cross over then take the Grant Street bridge over the canal and turn immediately left on the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath.
D&R Canal Towpath
The towpath leads back to the parking lot.
If doing either and/or both of these hikes, it is worthwhile to drive north about 5 miles to the Goat Hill Overlook trail to a nice view of the Delaware River.  This trail is only .45 mile long one way so it's under a mile added to the hike.
From the parking lot, continue on the gravel road beyond the metal gates.
The trail winds gradually up to the top of the hill.
The view at Goat Hill Overlook.

HIKE SUMMARY:

Washington Crossing and Ted Stiles Preserve combined:
[  0.00]    Walk south towards the Johnson Ferry House; take walkway over Route 29
[  0.35]    At beginning of the green dot trail, turn left to overlook then retrace and continue on green dot trail
[  0.50]    At paved road, turn left briefly then right on unmarked Continental Lane
[  0.65]    Red dot trail merges in from left
[  0.75]    Keep straight on Continental Lane crossing paved road when the red dot trail ends
[  0.85]    Cross paved park road
[  0.90]    Open gate to enter fenced area, close gate behind you
[  0.95]    Open gate to exit fenced area, close gate behind you
[  1.10]    Cross the main park road; trail descends
[  1.20]    At sign pointing right towards the park office, make a sharp left on the yellow dot trail
[  1.25]    Cross foot bridge, paved road, then another foot bridge
[  1.30]    Back side of open air theater on right
[  1.45]    Straight on yellow dot when green dot comes in from left
[  1.50]    Rock hop across creek, continue left on yellow dot trail
[  1.55]    Keep straight when a bridge goes left over the creek
[  1.70]    When red dot/yellow dot goes straight, turn right on red dot; after a few steps turn right on blue dot
[  2.00]      Keep straight when unmarked connector trail goes left
[  2.05]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked connector trail goes left, go beyond gate, keep to left of open grassy area and continue straight
[  2.15]    Continue along paved circular drive which goes to parking for open air theater; turn left on blue dot foottrail at sign for nature center
[  2.30]    When blue dot turns right towards Knox Grove, turn left on the unmarked connector trail briefly then left on red dot
[  2.55]    Turn right on blue dot when red dot goes straight downhill on wide wood beam steps
[  2.60]    Keep straight on red when unmarked goes right
[  2.65]    Cross foot bridge over creek then immediately turn right on unmarked along creek briefly then right on solid blue
[  2.70]    Cross foot bridge then turn right on solid red; stay on solid red back around to this point
[  2.85]    Beginning of self guiding trail with orange numbered squares - same as solid red trail
[  3.00]    Trail comes out at nature center, continue follow solid red to left at sign that says "counter clockwise"
[  3.15]    Keep left on solid red when solid white goes right
[  3.25]    Keep left on solid red when bridge goes right on solid white/green
[  3.30]    Straight when solid blue/green goes left
[  3.40]    Turn right on solid blue, cross bridge, pass bench, cross bridge, turn right where previously came in from left
[  3.50]    Keep straight when a trail goes to the left indicated by "E" on post
[  3.55]    Turn left on solid green
[  3.65]    Turn left on solid white when green/white goes right
[  3.75]    Continue straight on unmarked towards wildlife blind when solid white goes right
[  3.80]    Turn right towards the wildlife blind; retrace keeping to the right towards wide horse trail
[  3.90]    Turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.00]    At T-intersection, turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.05]    Pass white park building on the left
[  4.10]    At gravel road with park gate and buildings on right, turn left on gravel road towards small parking area; right at parking area beyond gate to loop around pond
[  4.25]    Come out at clearing and keep left back towards parking lot
[  4.30]    Cross paved Church Road and take red trail into Ted Stiles Preserve
[  4.55]    Cross footbridge over creek, keep right along creek when an unmarked trail goes left
[  4.70]    Keep right on red when orange goes left
[  4.80]    Turn left on orange, cross over unmarked trail
[  4.85]    Turn right on blue
[  5.00]    Turn left on blue/red when red comes in from the right; right on blue when red leaves to left
[  5.10]    Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  5.30]    Turn left at power cut on unmarked trail shown as orange on map
[  5.50]    Turn left in parking lot towards information board; take trail to right of information board (unmarked at this point but is the white trail)
[  5.80]    Keep straight when orange goes left; first white marker comes into view
[  6.00]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  6.60]    Keep right at abandoned farm buildings; trail becomes pavement briefly then gravel
[  6.70]    Turn right on red leaving gravel road
[  6.90]    Keep left on red when white goes right
[  7.85]    At T-intersection turn left (right not on map - dead ends at gated quarry); continue straight when yellow goes right; at T-intersection turn right on white
[  7.95]    Keep right through orchard at former Kuser estate towards split rail fence; turn left on paved road
[  8.20]    Go beyond "no vehicles allowed" sign, follow road to the left
[  8.25]    Turn right on the blue trail
[  8.60]    At arrow indicating sharp right turn on blue, turn left on an unmarked footpath
[  8.70]    Old abandoned farm buildings from earlier in the hike, pond on right, veer right uphill towards white building
[  8.85]    Turn right on path which is white trail (look behind you to see markers)
[  9.40]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  9.65]    Right on orange when white goes straight
[ 10.00]    Pass chimney and fireplace ruins on right
[ 10.05]    Keep left on orange when blue goes right
[ 10.10]    Keep left on orange when unmarked goes right (not on map)
[ 10.35]    Turn right on red 
[ 10.45]    Turn right on red/blue, stay left on red when blue leaves to the right
[ 10.50]    Straight on red when orange goes left
[ 10.60]    At multi-trail intersection, left on red/orange briefly, then keep right on red when orange goes straight
[ 10.85]    Cross footbridge over creek 
[ 11.05]    Cross over paved Church Road and take path through field towards parking lot
[ 11.10]    Continue on gravel road towards park gates, turn right on woods road just before gates, pass white building on right
[ 11.25]    When a wide horse trail goes left, keep straight
[ 11.50]    Pass open field with parking on right through trees
[ 11.75]    At T-intersection, turn left on the blue dot trail
[ 11.85]    Turn left on the blue dot trail when unmarked goes right towards homes
[ 12.25]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked goes left
[ 12.35]    At top of beam steps, turn right on red dot when blue dot goes straight
[ 12.60]    Left on red dot when unmarked goes straight (not on map)
[ 12.70]    Right on blue dot when red dot goes straight
[ 12.95]    Right on yellow dot when blue dot goes left
[ 13.10]    Cross Route 29, to Grant Street, cross canal on Grant Street then left on D&R Canal towpath
[ 13.45]    Turn right on steps down to parking lot

Washington Crossing State Park only:
[  0.00]    Walk south towards the Johnson Ferry House; take walkway over Route 29
[  0.35]    At beginning of the green dot trail, turn left to overlook then retrace and continue on green dot trail
[  0.50]    At paved road, turn left briefly then right on unmarked Continental Lane
[  0.65]    Red dot trail merges in from left
[  0.75]    Keep straight on Continental Lane crossing paved road when the red dot trail ends
[  0.85]    Cross paved park road
[  0.90]    Open gate to enter fenced area, close gate behind you
[  0.95]    Open gate to exit fenced area, close gate behind you
[  1.10]    Cross the main park road; trail descends
[  1.20]    At sign pointing right towards the park office, make a sharp left on the yellow dot trail
[  1.25]    Cross foot bridge, paved road, then another foot bridge
[  1.30]    Back side of open air theater on right
[  1.45]    Straight on yellow dot when green dot comes in from left
[  1.50]    Rock hop across creek, continue left on yellow dot trail
[  1.55]    Keep straight when a bridge goes left over the creek
[  1.70]    When red dot/yellow dot goes straight, turn right on red dot; after a few steps turn right on blue dot
[  2.00]      Keep straight when unmarked connector trail goes left
[  2.05]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked connector trail goes left, go beyond gate, keep to left of open grassy area and continue straight
[  2.15]    Continue along paved circular drive which goes to parking for open air theater; turn left on blue dot foot trail at sign for nature center
[  2.30]    When blue dot turns right towards Knox Grove, turn left on the unmarked connector trail briefly then left on red dot
[  2.55]    Turn right on blue dot when red dot goes straight downhill on wide wood beam steps
[  2.60]    Keep straight on red when unmarked goes right
[  2.65]    Cross foot bridge over creek then immediately turn right on unmarked along creek briefly then right on solid blue
[  2.70]    Cross foot bridge then turn right on solid red; stay on solid red back around to this point
[  2.85]    Beginning of self guiding trail with orange numbered squares - same as solid red trail
[  3.00]    Trail comes out at nature center, continue follow solid red to left at sign that says "counter clockwise"
[  3.15]    Keep left on solid red when solid white goes right
[  3.25]    Keep left on solid red when bridge goes right on solid white/green
[  3.30]    Straight when solid blue/green goes left
[  3.40]    Turn right on solid blue, cross bridge, pass bench, cross bridge, turn right where previously came in from left
[  3.50]    Keep straight when a trail goes to the left indicated by "E" on post
[  3.55]    Turn left on solid green
[  3.65]    Turn left on solid white when green/white goes right
[  3.75]    Continue straight on unmarked towards wildlife blind when solid white goes right
[  3.80]    Turn right towards the wildlife blind; retrace keeping to the right towards wide horse trail
[  3.90]    Turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.00]    At T-intersection, turn right on wide horse trail
[  4.05]    Pass white park building on the left
[  4.10]    At gravel road with park gate and buildings on right, turn left on gravel road towards small parking area; right at parking area beyond get to loop around pond
[  4.25]    Come out on clearing and keep left back towards parking lot
[  4.30]     Continue on gravel road towards park gates, turn right on woods road just before gates, pass white building on right
[  4.45]    When a wide horse trail goes left, keep straight
[  4.70]    Pass open field with parking on right through trees
[  4.95]    At T-intersection, turn left on the blue dot trail
[  5.05]    Turn left on the blue dot trail when unmarked goes right towards homes
[  5.45]    Keep right on blue dot when unmarked goes left
[  5.55]    At top of beam steps, turn right on red dot when blue dot goes straight
[  5.80]    Left on red dot when unmarked goes straight (not on map)
[  5.90]    Right on blue dot when red dot goes straight
[  6.15]    Right on yellow dot when blue dot goes left
[  6.30]    Cross Route 29, to Grant Street, cross canal on Grant Street then left on D&R Canal towpath
[  6.65]    Turn right on steps down to parking lot

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate only:
[  0.00]    Cross paved Church Road and take red trail into Ted Stiles Preserve
[  0.25]    Cross footbridge over creek, keep right along creek when an unmarked trail goes left
[  0.40]    Keep right on red when orange goes left
[  0.50]    Turn left on orange, cross over unmarked trail
[  0.55]    Turn right on blue
[  0.70]    Turn left on blue/red when red comes in from the right; right on blue when red leaves to left
[  0.80]    Keep left on blue when unmarked goes right
[  1.00]    Turn left at power cut on unmarked trail shown as orange on map
[  1.20]    Turn left in parking lot towards information board; take trail to right of information board (unmarked at this point but is the white trail)
[  1.50]    Keep straight when orange goes left; first white marker comes into view
[  1.70]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  2.30]    Keep right at abandoned farm buildings; trail becomes pavement briefly then gravel
[  2.40]    Turn right on red leaving gravel road
[  2.60]    Keep left on red when white goes right
[  3.55]    At T-intersection turn left (right not on map - dead ends at gated quarry); continue straight when yellow goes right; at T-intersection turn right on white
[  3.65]    Keep right through orchard at former Kuser estate towards split rail fence; turn left on paved road
[  3.90]    Go beyond "no vehicles allowed" sign, follow road to the left
[  3.95]    Turn right on the blue trail
[  4.30]    At arrow indicating sharp right turn on blue, turn left on an unmarked footpath
[  4.40]    Old abandoned farm buildings from earlier in the hike, pond on right, veer right uphill towards white building
[  4.55]    Turn right on path which is white trail (look behind you to see markers)
[  5.10]    Keep straight on white when unmarked crosses over
[  5.35]    Right on orange when white goes straight
[  5.70]    Pass chimney and fireplace ruins on right
[  5.75]    Keep left on orange when blue goes right
[  5.80]    Keep left on orange when unmarked goes right (not on map)
[  6.05]    Turn right on red 
[  6.15]    Turn right on red/blue, stay left on red when blue leaves to the right
[  6.20]    Straight on red when orange goes left
[  6.30]    At multi-trail intersection, left on red/orange briefly, then keep right on red when orange goes straight
[  6.55]    Cross footbridge over creek 
[  6.75]    Cross over paved Church Road and take path through field towards parking lot
[  6.80]    Parking lot at ponds

Goat Hill Overlook:
[  0.00]    Continue on gravel road from parking lot beyond closed metal gate
[  0.20]    Keep right on gravel road when trail goes left
[  0.30]    Keep right on gravel road when trail goes left
[  0.45]    Gravel road veers sharply left to overlook; retrace
[  0.90]    Back at car