Cornplanter Loop, Allegheny Nat'l Forest/Allegany SP
Dec 15, 2019 15:29:45 GMT -5
Post by anfhiker on Dec 15, 2019 15:29:45 GMT -5
So I did this loop trail in July and hadn't had a chance to do any mapping until this point. I had seen that it was a proposed route on the Tuna Valley Trails site a while back and wanted to hike it but just didn't have the time.
I started the trail in the late morning on July 7th and finished in the afternoon on July 8th. This loop consists of several other trails...the Bullis Hollow Trail, Tracy Ridge Trail System, North Country Trail/Finger Lakes Trail (when it enters NY), Blacksnake Mountain Trail, Indian Pipe Trail and Marilla Bridges Trail.
I began on FR 176, where there is a camp site that is very popular and will almost always be occupied during the summer months. I headed west on the Bullis Hollow Trail, which is relatively new (laid out in 2012 I believe) and is not in very good condition. Following the white blazes wouldn't be difficult during the fall or spring, but with leaves on I had a tough time seeing where I was going. The track on this side was also pretty muddy thanks to a wet start to the summer. I made decent time and crossed several small drainages before ascending to the top of the plateau along the beautiful Indian Hollow. The trail eventually reaches the top and turns back toward Rt 321 along old roads. I then passed the west terminus of the Bullis Hollow Trail and found that I'd need to turn left and walk down the highway to the Tracy Ridge entrance. Here there is a nice parking lot and a pay campground. I headed down the trails toward the Allegheny Reservoir, utilizing this order of numbered sign posts: 1 to 2 to 15 to 14 to 12 to 11. At sign post 11, I reached the junction with the North Country National Scenic Trail, or NCT for short. I turned right onto it and made my way down to Tracy Run's mouth, where there is a very nice camp site and fresh water source. From here, I weaved up along the hillside and passed north over several seasonal springs and one more good water source, Williams Brook. It was getting later in the afternoon when I reached Rt 346 (West Washington Street), where the NCT has a parking lot before you begin the climb into New York State. The ANF's NCT chapter has created a camp site about a half mile into your walk, which is a solid place to stop if you're tent camping. I was trying to reach a further point, however. I climbed up to enter New York State and the junction with the Finger Lakes Trail. The FLT and NCT run concurrent across the state for most of its length. I was going to use this trail for about 10 miles. I made my way along the nice dry hilltop before dropping over onto the "north face," where the mud became an issue. It was a bit of a slog but I made it to Coon Run Road, then passed over the top of the next hill and arrived at Willis Creek Shelter, which was to be my home for the night. It was starting to get dark when I arrived so I didn't make a fire. I simply got some water from the spring behind the shelter and had some food, then settled in for the night.
The next morning, I woke up and wasn't looking too forward to the walk, as my feet were getting pretty sore from the boots I had on. I quickly made the miles to ASP 2 and the end of my time on the FLT/NCT as the sunshine started to dry the ground a bit. I followed the road for about a mile before I turned right at the parking lot for the Blacksnake Mountain Trail. I stopped and took a short break, having a snack, as a man walking his dog stopped to hike out in front of me. This trail is a loop that goes up the hill to the NY-PA before turning back. I followed the nicely groomed path to the top before making a right through the brush, emerging on an oil and gas well site in Pennsylvania. From here, I followed these roads and some off road trail hiking to the Indian Pipe Trail. This gravel road (snowmobile use in the winter) leads south to Rt 346 again at Marilla Reservoir. From here, the trail follows the Marilla Bridges Trail around the reservoir and up the Marilla Run drainage. This is a beautiful stream and well worth a walk, and the trail is in great shape. Near the top is an excellent spring for water fill ups, which I did. I followed a Forest Road for a short distance before I came upon the eastern end of the Bullis Hollow Trail. It was a little eventful to find the trail on this end in places as well, but luckily, a good part of it is an old railroad grade that follows the aptly named Railroad Run. The trail eventually crosses North Branch Sugar Run, a fine wild trout stream, and then follows another grade west to emerge on FR 176, where I found my vehicle still parked.
All in all, it was a nice hike although I didn't take any photos as I'd hiked almost all of the trails before. The total mileage is about 37 miles.
Map of the trail, feel free to download/print (clicking the link may give you a better version)
Cornplanter Loop by J English, on Flickr
I started the trail in the late morning on July 7th and finished in the afternoon on July 8th. This loop consists of several other trails...the Bullis Hollow Trail, Tracy Ridge Trail System, North Country Trail/Finger Lakes Trail (when it enters NY), Blacksnake Mountain Trail, Indian Pipe Trail and Marilla Bridges Trail.
I began on FR 176, where there is a camp site that is very popular and will almost always be occupied during the summer months. I headed west on the Bullis Hollow Trail, which is relatively new (laid out in 2012 I believe) and is not in very good condition. Following the white blazes wouldn't be difficult during the fall or spring, but with leaves on I had a tough time seeing where I was going. The track on this side was also pretty muddy thanks to a wet start to the summer. I made decent time and crossed several small drainages before ascending to the top of the plateau along the beautiful Indian Hollow. The trail eventually reaches the top and turns back toward Rt 321 along old roads. I then passed the west terminus of the Bullis Hollow Trail and found that I'd need to turn left and walk down the highway to the Tracy Ridge entrance. Here there is a nice parking lot and a pay campground. I headed down the trails toward the Allegheny Reservoir, utilizing this order of numbered sign posts: 1 to 2 to 15 to 14 to 12 to 11. At sign post 11, I reached the junction with the North Country National Scenic Trail, or NCT for short. I turned right onto it and made my way down to Tracy Run's mouth, where there is a very nice camp site and fresh water source. From here, I weaved up along the hillside and passed north over several seasonal springs and one more good water source, Williams Brook. It was getting later in the afternoon when I reached Rt 346 (West Washington Street), where the NCT has a parking lot before you begin the climb into New York State. The ANF's NCT chapter has created a camp site about a half mile into your walk, which is a solid place to stop if you're tent camping. I was trying to reach a further point, however. I climbed up to enter New York State and the junction with the Finger Lakes Trail. The FLT and NCT run concurrent across the state for most of its length. I was going to use this trail for about 10 miles. I made my way along the nice dry hilltop before dropping over onto the "north face," where the mud became an issue. It was a bit of a slog but I made it to Coon Run Road, then passed over the top of the next hill and arrived at Willis Creek Shelter, which was to be my home for the night. It was starting to get dark when I arrived so I didn't make a fire. I simply got some water from the spring behind the shelter and had some food, then settled in for the night.
The next morning, I woke up and wasn't looking too forward to the walk, as my feet were getting pretty sore from the boots I had on. I quickly made the miles to ASP 2 and the end of my time on the FLT/NCT as the sunshine started to dry the ground a bit. I followed the road for about a mile before I turned right at the parking lot for the Blacksnake Mountain Trail. I stopped and took a short break, having a snack, as a man walking his dog stopped to hike out in front of me. This trail is a loop that goes up the hill to the NY-PA before turning back. I followed the nicely groomed path to the top before making a right through the brush, emerging on an oil and gas well site in Pennsylvania. From here, I followed these roads and some off road trail hiking to the Indian Pipe Trail. This gravel road (snowmobile use in the winter) leads south to Rt 346 again at Marilla Reservoir. From here, the trail follows the Marilla Bridges Trail around the reservoir and up the Marilla Run drainage. This is a beautiful stream and well worth a walk, and the trail is in great shape. Near the top is an excellent spring for water fill ups, which I did. I followed a Forest Road for a short distance before I came upon the eastern end of the Bullis Hollow Trail. It was a little eventful to find the trail on this end in places as well, but luckily, a good part of it is an old railroad grade that follows the aptly named Railroad Run. The trail eventually crosses North Branch Sugar Run, a fine wild trout stream, and then follows another grade west to emerge on FR 176, where I found my vehicle still parked.
All in all, it was a nice hike although I didn't take any photos as I'd hiked almost all of the trails before. The total mileage is about 37 miles.
Map of the trail, feel free to download/print (clicking the link may give you a better version)
Cornplanter Loop by J English, on Flickr
