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comment found in trail register
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This page contains the following information about the Quehanna Trail, please scroll down the page to read the information. Use the links at the bottom of the text for contact information, other Pennsylvania trails, and hiking information. Quehanna Trail Photos are below the contact information. Trail Description
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The Quehanna Trail is a 75-mile loop trail in the Moshannon and Elk State Forests. The Trail passes through some of the most wild and beautiful country Pennsylvania has to offer. The 9,790 feet of vertical rise may offer a real challenge to even experienced Backpackers. The main orange blazed trail begins on the western end at Parker Dam State Park. From Parker Dam the trail goes east into the Quehanna Wild Area toward Karthaus and Piper, then north toward Sinnemahoning and finally west through the Marion Brooks Natural Area back to Parker Dam.
There are two blue blazed cross-connector trails and numerous blue blazed side trails that add another 30 miles of trails so that the casual or avid hiker may spend a few hours or a few days enjoying the beauty of the Quehanna Wild Area. These additional 30 miles of blue blazed trails helps hikers to fashion shorter circuit hikes and enjoy many beautiful sights off the main orange trail.
Trail Location
Located in Clearfield, Cameron, and Elk Counties, the Quehanna Trail can be accessed by traveling north from the following exits of Interstate 80. Exit 111 to Rt. 153 North 5 miles to Parker Dam State Park ( Trailhead ), Exit 120 Clearfield follow Rt. 879 toward Karthaus and then Piper, and Exit 133 following Rollingstone Rd to Rt. 879 to Karthaus and then Piper.
Accommodations and restaurants can be found on the
Western end at Clearfield, Exit 120. On the Eastern side of the trail the
Quehanna Motor Hotel 814-263-4371, near Karthaus, has rooms and a restaurant.
Toward the northern side of the trail is the Medix Run Hotel, and the town of
St. Marys
( about 15 miles north of the trail ) has major hotels and restaurants.
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Cross Country Skiing In the Quehanna Wild Area there are over 50 miles of trails marked for cross-country skiing during the winter. The skiable parts of the orange-blazed trail are from Deible Rd east to the head of Porcupine Draft and from the head of Sanders Draft to the Wykoff Run Road. There are also a few miles out from Parker Dam that are skiable. Almost all the blue blazed trails are skiable with the exception of the Sevinsky Trail. Check the Quehanna Trail Map for access points and be sure to sign the register; your comments are always welcome. Snow conditions can be obtained at 814-765-0821. If you would like to discuss the skiable qualities of specific trails, call Ralph Seeley at 814-355-2933, or rsbb219@pennswoods.net
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GuidesThere are now 2 books for the Quehanna Trail. "Foot Trails of the Moshannon State Forest" This 68
page guide to the Quehanna trail (
8 1/2 X 11 soft bound ) describes the
complete Quehanna trail system and also the Allegheny Front Trail,
Rock Run Trail System and the Rockton Mountain Ski Trail. This guide
has been extracted from the larger "Greate
Buffaloe Swamp "omitting much of the
Regional History. However, the Trail information has been updated and
includes details such as camping spots and sources for water along the
trail. "Greate Buffaloe Swamp " A Trail Guide and Regional History of the Moshannon State Forest and nearby parts of Clearfield and Centre Counties. The third edition of this book has been expanded
to 129 pages.
This ( 8 1/2 X 11 spiral
bound ) edition now contains descriptions of
the Quehanna Trail,
Allegheny Front Trail, Rock Run Trail System and the Rockton Mountain
Ski Trails. There is a greatly expanded
history of the Quehanna Trail System as well as more regional history of
the areas surrounding the Trails. Ten black and white pictures have been
included that will aid the reader with the logging history of the area
and several pictures of areas on the current trails. Proceeds from the sale of the Trail Guides and any donations received are used to promote, improve and maintain the Trails. A map of the Quehanna Trail is included with each book. Orders should be sent to the following address with a check or money order payable to QATC. 882 Rollingstone Rd Morrisdale, PA 16858-8908
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Backpack camping is permitted. Primitive backpack campers spending no more than 1 night at a campsite do not need a camping permit However a camping permit is required if: 1. You desire an emergency point
of contact: Backpack camping is not permitted on State Game Lands, Marion Brooks Natural Area or within 100 yards of a road. Cell phones are always good to carry but be advised, you may not always have service in this remote area. Primitive Backpack Camping guidelines and a free map of the Moshannon State Forest and the Quehanna Trail is available by contacting. RR-1 Box 184 Penfield, PA 15849 814-765-0821 See the Contact information below for an online map of the Eastern and Western Sections of the trail that is printable online. This map has been provided by the DCNR website.
Why would you want to hike the Quehanna Trail? This is a short narrative from Andy Nilts's web page, 5 days on the Quehanna Trail. Was Pennsylvania worthy of an extended backpacking trip? My review of the Pennsylvania Hiking Trails guide as I was putting together the PATC online store only reinforced what I already knew. The beauty of Pennsylvania trails is one of the best kept secrets on the East Coast. Our five days on the Quehanna also convinced me that the spectacular beauty in the Pennsylvania backcountry is known mostly to local users - which means particularly good opportunities for solitude and more of a "wilderness" experience. Oh, and the area certainly lived up to those expectations. In five days covering 50+ miles (most of which was on the Quehanna proper), we didn't see a soul on the trail. In return, the Quehanna offered up its greatest jewels - healthy hemlock forests thriving in gentle hollows, open woods where you expected moose to appear at any moment, open parks ringed in deciduous and evergreen, and noble oak forests unravaged by the pestilence of the gypsy moth. And was it reminiscent of Dolly Sods? In spots, it most certainly was. But the variety was much greater. See the links below to read more about Andy's hike and all the pictures he has from along the trail.
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The Quehanna Trail goes through the largest wild area in Pennsylvania, and some very remote areas of the Moshannon State Forest. You should be aware that there are Rattle Snakes in this region. They are seldom seen and they generally warn you of their presence. It is a fact that most people are bitten when trying to pick up or handle a snake. In the Kunes Camp Photo below, there is a yellow rattle snake on the rock at the bottom corner of the camp. It peacefully crawled away as several pictures were taken. |
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Hikers and Backpackers should be aware that there are Ticks on the Quehanna Plateau, as there are throughout the Northeast. The prudent Hiker should check at the end of each day for ticks.. The best prevention is to spray your clothing with Duranon tick repellent , Permanone tick spray, or any repellent containing Permethrin. These products can be purchased at most Wal Mart, K-Mart, and sporting good stores. It may also be prudent to spray the exterior of your sleeping bag . |
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Pennsylvania's Wild Elk occupy our trails. The Quehanna Trail System is one of the few trails that you can hike in Pennsylvania and see wild Elk. The Elk Range has been expanded from Benezette up into the Quehanna Plateau and increasing numbers of Elk are being seen. Early morning and late evenings are the best times to catch a glimpse of these majestic animals. Late August and early September make finding them easier, if you listen for bugling in the following areas: the food plots at the intersection of the Lincoln and Hoover Roads (Sanders, Old Hoover, and Bailey Log Trails); the food plots around the Beaver Run Impoundment near mile marker 9 on the Quehanna Highway, (eastern cross connector); the Duck Marshes just off the Ardell Road; and the Parker Dam Area. In the early morning and late evening you may
also hear Coyotes howling as they get together for a hunt. A multitude
of wildlife awaits the careful and observant hiker. You may also see
fox, beaver, deer, and bear along the trail.  |
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The Quehanna Area Trails Club is an informal network of trail maintainers, hikers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts concerned about the appreciation; enjoyment and care of the Quehanna and Allegheny Front trail systems in the Elk and Moshannon State Forests. The club was started in 1994 as a volunteer organization. Our only source of income is from the sale of the trail guides "Foot Trails of the Moshannon State Forest" and "Greate Buffaloe Swamp"that was written and donated to the club by Ralph Seeley, our trails overseer. There are no set dues, but donations are gratefully accepted for communication expenses involved (newsletter) as well as materials needed for special work projects. We would like to thank all the individuals and businesses that have made donations. These donations make it possible for the QATC to continue to maintain and improve the Quehanna trail system. Club activities, with the guidance of the District Forestry office and Ralph Seeley, include occasional workdays and hikes on the second Saturday of each month, April through October. A planning committee meets once a year to set workdays and the hike schedule for the year. This information is shared with our members through a newsletter sent out in March of each year.
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If you would like to get our
2003 Newsletter, please click on the adjacent file to open or save the
newsletter in Adobe Acrobat. |
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George Lockey
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Edith Hebel
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Maintainer Information
Quehanna Trail Maintainers are from throughout the Keystone State and as far away as Ohio. We are always in need of maintainers. If you enjoy hiking and backpacking and would like to make a difference in the trail systems in Pennsylvania, please consider volunteering to be a trail maintainer by contacting Ralph Seeley at 814-355-2933 or by e-mail rsbb219@pennswoods.net.
Maintainers need to check their section of trail at least once a year to remove blowdowns, limbs and brush. The blazes will only need to be painted about every 3 to 5 years. If you have problems with your section you may contact the Quehanna Area Trails Club for assistance. There are several members that live close to the trail that are glad to help with maintenance. If you have a larger project, a work party can also be scheduled by the club to assist you.
A brushwacker is provided by the club for removing brush and bushes that encroach on the trail. Paint can also be provided by contacting the Club. Becoming a maintainer will give you a reason to get in the woods and enjoy yourself. Please consider becoming part of the group of volunteers that help make the Quehanna Trail one of the best hiking trails in Pennsylvania.
Every hiker on the Quehanna Trail can assist in maintaining the trail. If you would, please, throw small sticks and limbs off the trail as you are hiking. If it is possible for you to move a small blow down, try to do so. If there is a problem in an area, let us know. Use a trail map to pinpoint the area and notify us using the email address in the contact information below. If you have a GPS send us the location of the problem and if you have a digital camera a picture would also help.
Kunes Camp Trail The Kunes Camp Trail, which starts at Mile
Marker 3 on the Quehanna Highway, was extended in 2001. The trail now
connects to the Bellefonte Posse Trail at the Chipper Road. The new
trail is marked on the 2000 Quehanna Trail Maps. This trail is also
designated as a cross country ski trail. Pictured is the remains of Kunes Camp that was
built between 2 large boulders that nature split apart. In the bottom
corner of the camp is a yellow rattlesnake on the rock. Due to the many requests from hikers for day hiking
trails the Bureau of Forestry and the Quehanna Area Trials Club has
provided such a trail. The new trail, with 2 vistas, uses the Eastern
Cross Connector for the basis of these new loops. You may make loops
from 2 to about 5 miles using a combination of new and old trails. The new trail will begin at the Beaver Run
Impoundment parking lot. From there it will go Northeast out an old
road, across the Quehanna Highway to the first Vista overlooking Paige
Run. The trail then goes west up Paige Run before turning north to the
top of a small hill where it will split. Going left or west , for about
a quarter of a mile, the trail will take you to the Eastern Cross
Connector. If you turn right the trail will take you northeast toward
the second vista overlooking Red Run. From there the trail will turn
westerly and connect to the Eastern Cross Connector again. This longer
leg of the trail being about a mile and a half. There are plans for a display board at the Beaver Run
Parking Lot showing hikers their options for hiking this new trail. The
trail will be open in the summer of 2003.
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We welcome your comments about the trail. Please advise us of any problems that you may have found on the trail also. |
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Visit these other links for more hiking information on Pennsylvania Trails |
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Five days on the Quehanna Trail |
Trailhead- Parker Dam State Park
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All Photos by George Lockey
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Mountain Laurel blooms usually, about the first week in June followed by the large white blooms of Rhododendron about the middle of June. |
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Chicken Mushroom or Sulfur Shelf. This brightly colored mushroom is also excellent to eat. |
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Pennsylvania Elk in Winter |
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Marion Brooks Birches near Mile Marker 10 on the Quehanna Highway. |
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Hikers crossing the Beaver Run Bridge, about 1 mile south of the Beaver Run Shallow Water Impoundment, on the Eastern Cross Connector. There are many Beaver dams throughout this drainage system. Stop and enjoy natures engineers. Please notify us if the beavers decide to use the bridge for their next dam |
| More Trail Photos sights_along_the_trail.htm |
