Quehanna Trail: 71 Mile Solo Thru-Hike
The Quehanna Trail is a 71 mile loop trail located in Moshannon and Elk State Forests and is marked with orange blazes. The main trailhead is located at Parker Dam State Park on the western end of the trail. There is ample parking at this trailhead and park rangers on patrol to watch your vehicle. There are many other small parking areas located along the trail. They do ask that overnight hikers register in the park office so they can keep track of who is out on the trail. There are a multitude of smaller trails within the Quehanna Trail that allow hikers to make smaller loops.
The majority of the trail features rolling or level terrain with a few significant ascents and descents mixed in. This trail also travels through prime Pennsylvania elk habitat and is very scenic-especially in the fall. This trail is best hiked in the spring or fall as it doesn't see a ton of use and can become very overgrown with stinging nettle in the summer. Even in drought conditions, most significant water sources continue flowing pretty well but may require a scoop to get water to filter. Several sections of the trail can be quite wet in the spring or times with heavy rains. I highly recommend this trail for someone looking at doing a longer backpacking loop in the heart of the Quehanna Wilds. Let me know if you have any questions and I'd be happy to help!
Maps:
www.dcnr.pa.go...
Campsites (approx. mileage from Parker Dam CCW):
Mile 5
Lat: 41.178017
Lon: -78.428071
Mile 5.5
Lat: 41.177218
Lon: -78.424317
Mile 9
Lat: 41.178542
Lon: -78.376381
Mile 12.5
Lat: 41.168174
Lon: -78.321399
Mile 13.5
Lat: 41.176753
Lon: -78.320972
Mile 14.7
Lat: 41.187447
Lon: -78.310389
Mile 15.5
Lat: 41.186277
Lon: -78.300291
Mile 18
Lat: 41.192632
Lon: -78.271057
Mile 21
Lat: 41.195951
Lon: -78.238139
Mile 22.5
Lat: 41.166147
Lon: -78.219170
Mile 23
Lat: 41.165632
Lon: -78.213942
Mile 28.5
Lat: 41.190540
Lon: -78.157253
Mile 29.5
Lat: 41.190481
Lon: -78.139525
Mile 33.5
Lat: 41.221146
Lon: -78.116472
Mile 34
Lat: 41.227952
Lon: -78.110543
Mile 36
Lat: 41.254708
Lon: -78.115579
Mile 39
Lat: 41.276387
Lon: -78.139830
Mile 41
Lat: 41.293404
Lon: -78.168519
Mile 45.5
Lat: 41.281131
Lon: -78.212071
Mile 46.5
Lat: 41.275186
Lon: -78.235219
Mile 53
Lat: 41.278792
Lon: -78.319957
Mile 60.5
Lat: 41.259971
Lon: -78.409130
Mile 63
Lat: 41.235995
Lon: -78.426461
Mile 65
Lat: 41.243824
Lon: -78.458280
Mile 67
Lat: 41.221660
Lon: -78.474785
Mile 68.7
Lat: 41.203675
Lon: -78.474671
Пікірлер: 70
Omg I love this video!!! Thanks Tussey for sharing this with me. Thank you Caleb for a beautiful and very well put together video 🙏🩵🙏
@vistaventures1343
11 ай бұрын
Thanks a lot. Glad you enjoyed it! Happy hiking!
Funny story: I just finished up a 4 day trip in the Quehanna Wilds and on night #2 we set up camp at the site by the natural aqueduct. Soon after arriving a local, Frank, came through telling us about how his dad had built the aqueduct using trees and such. After a long day hiking I jokingly asked Frank if he had any beer at his cabin that was a mile or so away. “Of course!” He said, “come on down!”. I was too tired to go any farther. He soon left, but reappeared 45 minutes later with a pack full of beer! My first taste of trail magic!
@vistaventures1343
2 жыл бұрын
The trail provides haha 😆
@HiddenHollowOutoors
2 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 even if it was Coors Light!
Your channel is so underrated I can’t believe it. Your content is fantastic. I love North Central PA and you have done a lot of wonderful recon work for some of the hikes I’ve taken. Lol. Glad you finally got a DCF tarp. They really score high points when it it rains. Even sil poly soaks water. At my age every ounce counts
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for the kind words Lisa! Feel free to like, share, and tell all your friends haha. It's a pretty low-budget operation here at Vista Ventures but I try to produce some helpful content for folks. North Central PA offers some terrific hiking. Yeah I certainly don't think I'll regret the DCF tarp. If you can get over the price tag, it certainly makes for some incredibly light and water resistant gear. Happy hiking!
Great video and thanks for posting. Did the Q a couple years ago. Saw more wildlife than people. Not quite as challenging as BFT bit tough enough. Snuck in and took a shower after the hike at the campground, one of the best showers ever! Favorite is still Loyalsock in PA but plan STS, CKT and others this summer. Keep the videos coming. Well done!
@vistaventures1343
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Rick! Yeah I really like the Quehanna Wilds. A lot of different options with all the trails and tons of wildlife. Happy hiking!
Thanks for pointing out the campsites. This is a great trail.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I try to point them out in my videos as I appreciate knowing about good campsites when I go somewhere new. Happy hiking!
Great video! Excellent detail and information thanks. Did the Q a few years ago, thought it more difficult than you described. Similar to BFT maybe not quite but everything either of up or down a draft. Great camping! Try to do one extended solo a year. BFT, Q, Loyalsock, LHHT, STS and hopefully this summer Donut Hole. Love hiking in PA as you see more wildlife than people! Think I saw 5 humans the whole Q trip and 3 of them were at a hunting cabin. I did see on elk though, lucky for sure!
@vistaventures1343
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy hiking!
Great video 👍. Planning on doing the eastern half in April. Thanks for calling out all those camp sites.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Enjoy your hike!
Great video. Good editing and very informative. Really appreciate the campsite info, which is most helpful to planning this hike. Thanks!!
@vistaventures1343
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Dave. I'm glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. Happy hiking!
That spot at 36:36 near the water i have camped there with a hammock
Another trail to add to the list thanks to VV!
Just completed the loop on Monday. Your video was one of those that helped me plan out my trip. Good content. What a challenging geing, very good trail in PA!
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Congrats Don! I'm really glad it helped you out! I hope you got to see some elk.
@donmatulevich9411
3 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately no elk, just bear, rattlesnakes and the usual critters. There is always next time! I’ll probably hit the QT again in the fall for the colors and a chance at the elk.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@donmatulevich9411 Awesome. Sounds like you had a great trip!
Great video as always Vista Ventures! Congrats on the DCF tarp, I have one and take even with a tent for extra cover when raining. The trail looks absolutely beautiful with a lot of great camp sites. Thanks
Great video. My wife and I loved our thru of that trail. Definitely would like to do it in fall sometime.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Yeah it was beautiful with the changing leaves. Only wish I'd seen some elk this time.
Thank you for your wonderful video in the Quehanna, as well as your other ones. The Quehanna is one of my favorite places! In a local book on the subject, it is said that evidently the proud hunter who killed the three wildcats killed a bobcat mother and her two cubs. I assume that is based on knowing bobcats are solitary animals, except for a mother taking care of her young. That's scant info, but that's all I know about it.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Terri! I got another comment that also matches your description. Still have yet to determine why this warranted a monument haha. I really enjoy the Quehanna Wilds. So many trails, neat terrain, and wild elk. Happy hiking!
@tetonterri
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 You're welcome VV. I see now Bill's description matches mine cause we have similar books by the same author! :-) I have what Bill has, plus the 2001 "Greate Buffaloe Swamp, A Trail Guide and Regional History for the Moshannon State Forest and Nearby Parts of Clearfield and Centre Counties", which is a spiral-bound book, out of print, but may still be found in local historical libraries. Ralph has written a 2018 hardback book entitled "Greate Buffaloe Swamp" which is an added in-depth history of northcentral PA, including the topic of native Indians and their trails. That book can be obtained on the internet. I received mine from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. ~~~ Anyway, I agree; there are many beautiful district trails in Moshannon and Elk State Forests. The Q is a unique place. However, have been hearing that the Quehanna is getting crowded! Also have heard that trail registers are disappearing there.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@tetonterri I only saw 4 backpackers on my trip and yes all the trail registers were gone. I assumed they were pulled due to COVID-19 but maybe not.
@tetonterri
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 Oh, didn't think of covid. That's prolly it.
@donmatulevich9411
3 жыл бұрын
On my thru hike this last weekend I met a volunteer who maintains the trails. Amazing person and had a very long talk. She told me they were removing the registers because of risk of covid with the flood of visitors from all over.
Good stuff man!! Thanks for posting . I just did the Loyalsock trail thru hike about 3 weeks ago, posted a short video on my page.. Think I'm gonna hit this trip up next time I go to PA!!! I have already done West Rim trail, Black Forest trail, Allegheny Front trail and Loyalsock trail.. So this will definitely be next PA trip!!
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome! I've got my eye on the Loyalsock next year. How was the camping/water situation on the Loyalsock?
@dirtbagoutside
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 we did 14 miles day 1, 20 miles day 2, 17 miles day 3 and 8 miles day 4. We hiked West to East.. definitely go that direction and save the BEST for last day!! Camping was fine.. we both use hammocks.. no issues at all.. plenty of sweet spots for hanging or tents. Water was fine also.. 32 vistas and waterfalls!! Plenty of water slides and flumes. It was definitely low water levels when we went, but not dry.. You can see it in the video. Spring time the water is much higher and the falls would be gushing.. but October is perfect weather and plenty of colors popping!!
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@dirtbagoutside Excellent. Thanks for the information! I had hoped to do both the Quehanna and Loyalsock this fall but just ran out of time.
@dirtbagoutside
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 yes. Definitely do it. It was tough, not easy but well worth it. And like i said, after watching your post of Quehanna trail, I am going to hit this up next year for sure.. now that winter is coming, I will mostly be doing my trips in the Catskills.
The Quehanna Trail can be addicting ! Alot of history along that trail. Wish i could answer the question about the monument at Wildcat Rock, i grew up in Emporium, not far away but never heard much more about it other than 3 Panthers were killed there. The Bucktail Path is a decent Hike, only about a 34 mile Trail but has some nice vistas. Let me know if you would like to try the Bucktail Path, i live a few miiles from one of the Trail Heads and would enjoy hiking with you guys.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
I agree. I really like the diverse scenery of the Quehanna wilds. So you heard they were cougars? That's interesting. Never really heard of cougars being called wildcats before. I just assumed bobcats. Would love to know the whole story.. I was aware of the Bucktail Path but had avoided it so far just due to the logistics of getting shuttled from one trailhead to the other. Certainly may take you up on your offer if you live that close. Thanks!
@checker2194
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 Howdy.... in this part of PA we used to have Panthers.....in the old days Folks used the term " wildcats" simply because they didnt know what species of cat they saw. Its possible that Bobcats may have been killed since we do have Bobcats still around the area but considering the date on the monument i wouldnt be surprised if they were Panthers. I ran into 2 cougars when i hiked the PCT in 1998 and lucky for me i was able to scare them off with bear spray and threw rocks at them. As for the Bucktail Path, logistically, i can get someone to do the shuttle thing. get in touch with me - checker at gmail ..... and we work things out from there.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@checker2194 yeah I was under the impression mountain lions were pretty much wiped out in PA in the 1800s which is why I figured they had to be bobcats. I'm going to do a little more digging and see what I can find. Congrats on hiking the PCT. That's awesome! Scary cougar encounter 😳. I'll reach out to you in the future about the Bucktail Path. Thanks!
@checker2194
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 Thanks young man ! i hope you and your buddy get to hike at least one of those long trails, it will change your life. BTW i only need to get the CDT done for Triple Crown..... now that im retired its looking brighter ! i just need to get these old legs up a few more levels for that kind of abuse :-)))
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@checker2194 That's awesome! Completing the Triple Crown is a huge accomplishment. I'd like to complete a two week long section hike in the next few years and see how that goes. Looking at the Colorado Trail as a potential option.
Another great video. I was probably out doing the Allegheny Front Trail when you were filming this. It was prime leaf color time. Want to do this one too soon. Would love to see a "What's in your pack" and how much it weighs video soon. How do you like the Garmin InReach? It is very expensive but it would put my minds wife at ease when I go on a hike and there is no cell service. Cheers!
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
That's awesome! I plan on doing a gear load out video soon. The InReach mini has been okay so far. Definitely compact and lightweight. Makes me and my family feel better with me doing solo trips. I basically only use it to send preset messages and mark campsites. It can take awhile to get my location at times. Their software is a little quirky but overall it gets the job done for what I wanted it for.
hi. i enjoyed ur video. I am 56 years old and my husband and I would like to go on a overnite backpack/camping trip for 2 nites/3 days max maybe 15 mile? Ive been researching and just keep getting confused. Can u recommend a loop in eastern PA? or point me in the right direction... ? could also be a straight thru. as we would be able to have 2 cars or a ride back
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Hello Lisa. The Loyalsock-Link loop could be a decent option. It's a 17 mile loop made up of the Loyalsock Trail and the Link Trail. Nice parking available at Worlds End State Park. Check it out and see what you think!
Wildcat Rocks. The story that Ralph Seeley wrote in the "Foot Trails of the Moshannon and Southern Elk State Forest" book. "..was a mother and two cubs, and these were bobcats rather than panthers, as wildcat has been the historic term for bobcats..." pg13.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
Well that's helpful Bill. I figured the story was along those lines. Any description as to why this was significant and warranted a monument?
@hikingbill
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 in the book, he doesn't say anything else about it except, ".. the date for that memorial stone probably also represents roughly the date for the power line, because there was no Trail there then."
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@hikingbill well we are getting closer to understanding this trail puzzle. Appreciate your information!
@hikingbill
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 anytime, it's my home trail, usually hiking a part of it most weekends, but never tried to find out the true meaning of it. If your ever back in the area, want some company or even trail conditions send a message.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@hikingbill Will do. Appreciate the offer!
On this trail, would a tent or a hammock be the better choice?
@vistaventures1343
2 жыл бұрын
You could certainly make either work but a hammock would give you the most flexibility in my opinion. Most of the terrain lends itself to stealth hammocking in case you end up between established campsites. Hope this helps!
@bikhills
2 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 Thank you. Are the trails this area of PA really rocky or mostly dirt?
@vistaventures1343
2 жыл бұрын
@@bikhills On the Quehanna the trail is pretty decent for most of it. Some sections are rocky but nothing bad. You won't be boulder hopping or anything.
Did you happen to see any rattlers?
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
I didn't see any snakes at all.
@lostwithlobes1410
3 жыл бұрын
Vista Ventures kool thanks. Heading there this weekend with the dog....
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@lostwithlobes1410 Excellent. Have fun!
Opinions on the Garmin InReach Mini?
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
For what I use it for it works well. My primary use is just logging waypoints and as an emergency communicator. I wouldn't be a huge fan if I was relying on it for GPS as the interface is somewhat finicky.
@HiddenHollowOutoors
3 жыл бұрын
@@vistaventures1343 I’ll mainly use it to give my wife peace of mind! I’m planning on more solo and secluded hikes this year and just wondering if it’s worth the cost and hassle of the subscription.
@vistaventures1343
3 жыл бұрын
@@HiddenHollowOutoors for that it's fine since that's my primary use. I believe they've come down in price some as well. Pausing/canceling the plans are pretty easy. I'd buy one again.