Susquehannock Trail

Susquehannock Trail System is a long-distance backpacking loop in Susquehannock State Forest, assembled by linking older foot trails, logging roads, and abandoned railroad grades into one continuous route. The system is marked with orange blazes (rectangular paint blazes), and volunteers maintain the tread and wayfinding.

At this exact mapped point, the trail follows a footway corridor and is described with a dirt surface. As a long-distance route, expect sustained hiking rather than a short out-and-back; the mapped segment length here is 7.39 km.

The loop is traditionally described clockwise, starting from the “Northern Gateway” at the Susquehannock State Forest headquarters on U.S. Route 6 and continuing south into Clinton County to form the full circuit.

Route character across the loop is repeatedly shaped by steep ascents/descents and drainage crossings: hikers pass through forested hills and valleys and encounter stream/creek crossings as well as wet, uneven footing in places.

Plan for remote conditions and animal activity typical of north-central Pennsylvania forest backcountry: black bears are a concern around food storage, and ticks and mosquitoes can be active, especially in wetter ground.

If you’re hiking when it’s been raining or during shoulder-season storms, conditions can turn sloppy quickly at crossings and in wet sections; scout the exact crossing points and avoid high-water attempts rather than committing blindly.

This system is managed for long-distance hiking with backcountry rules: dispersed camping is allowed in the forest area only where regulations are met (distance buffers from roads/trail and open water), and human waste should be buried in a cathole placed well away from water sources.

More information: Wikipedia, Susquehannock Trail System Backpacking Guide, Hiking in Susquehannock State Forest