Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail 31-29 & Forbes Trail Brewing

January 7, 2024hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Laurel Highlands, PA

We had a snowy first day hike on the Laurel Highlands Hiking trail! Despite how many times I’ve been hiking in the LH region, this is actually my first time on the 70 miles LHHT. While this short section didn’t have any major views or points of interest, it was incredibly peaceful walking through woods blanketed in fresh snow. After our group hike, we moseyed out to Forbes Trail Brewing in Stoystown for some delicious brews in a cozy taproom.

THE HIKE: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (31-29)

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours (due to snow)
Trail use: Foot traffic only
Parking: Space for about 30 cars at the Route 31 parking area. No facilities

Find the Parking lot: 40.06082620624829, -79.27375174542976. Turn right off Route 31 onto Fire Tower route, there will be a sign for Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park. The parking lot will be on the left just under a mile down the road. Be aware that this road is unpaved and likely won’t be maintained in the winter.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) is a 70.3 mile backpacking trail in western pa that stretches from Ohiopyle to Seward. This trail is known for its incredible beauty but also its challenging and rugged terrain. If you’re considering a thru hike, be sure to check out Tory’s awesome guide at Mytrailsaremany.com. However, this is also a fantastic trail for section day hikes too! There are many trailheads and access points along the 70 miles to pop on for a few miles.

The LHHT is maintained by the PA DCNR and the majority of the trail runs through Laurel Ridge State Park. If you’re looking for a full map of the trail, check out the PA DCNR website.

The Hike

For this group first day, we met at the Route 31 parking lot for the LHHT. Interestingly, this was also near mile 31 of the trail! There were at least 50 people on this delightful hike led by Kim, an educator at Laurel Ridge SP.

Especially in the winter, it can be easy to lose your way on trails. Be sure to look for the yellow blazes on the trees. This trail also has a stone mile marker every mile so you’ll always know how far you’ve gone! Many sections of the LHHT, including this one, cross over roads from large ones to wooded access roads. Always look for a band of yellow on the trees that indicates a road crossing!

Remember, the LHHT is point to point trail so make sure you have a game plan of when to turn around and head back to your car!

THE BEER: Forbes Trail Brewing

Address: 6108 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, PA 15563
Distance from Trail Head: 36 mins, 25 miles
Website: http://www.forbestrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food truck & BYOF
Details: Outdoor seating, pets outside

Forbes Trail Brewing opened on Lincoln Highway less than a mile from the Flight 93 memorial in 2022. One of the owners had been homebrewing for nearly a decade then working professionally as a brewer, before his dream of opening a taproom became a reality! Along with his wife and former homebrew supporters turned business partners, Forbes Trail Brewing has quickly become a staple in the Laurel Highlands region. Although it was cold and snowy when we visited, I was impressed with the huge outdoor space complete with firepits that complemented the cozy indoor taproom. We popped at a seat at the bar and instantly felt like part of a family as the owners and other drinkers looped us right into their conversation. Although it’s a bit of a drive from the Burgh I cannot recommend this brewery enough and I know we will definitely be back!

A fun history fact: the brewery’s name refers to the early road that linked forts Duquesne, Ligonier, and Bedford during the French and Indian War. This road was pioneered by British General John Forbes and eventually became the Lincoln Highway (Route 30).

Our Beer:

Taste the Rainbow – Sour – 5%
Haze Lawdy Mama – NEIPA – 6.5%
Edmunds Swamp: Peppermint – Oatmeal Stout – 5%
Trail Rider Pale Ale – Pale Ale – 6%

Loving the Laurel Highlands craft beverages? Be sure to get a Pour Tour Passport from the GO Laurel Highlands!

Looking for more hikes & hops in the Laurel Highlands? Check out Wolf Rocks & Helltown, Ohiopyle & Yough River , Duff Park & Devout, Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons, and Linn Run & Unity Brewing .

Linn Run State Park & Unity Brewing

December 17, 2023hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Westmoreland County, PA

Looking for a shorter hike that offers a taste of the incredible Laurel Highlands? Look no further than Linn Run State Park! This family friendly park has a 2.2 mile trail loop with views of a waterfall, natural water slides and more! Afterward, grab dinner at Unity Brewing in Latrobe which has a full kitchen menu in a laid-back taproom.

THE HIKE: Flat Rock & Adam Falls

Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 289 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hour
Trail use: Foot traffic only, Leashed pets welcome
Parking: Two large lots at trailhead with overflow parking across street. Vault toilet at upper lot.

Find the Parking lot: You can use 770 Linn Run Rd, Rector, PA 15677 or coordinates 40.16944, -79.23383

Linn Run is one of the several PA state parks tucked into the Laurel Highlands region of Western PA. This mountainous region lies about an hour to the west of Pittsburgh and is a beautiful area for hiking, skiing, fishing, and so much more! Linn Run is a small park but can be enjoyed as a day trip from Pittsburgh or as part of a larger Laurel Highlands itinerary.

The area that is now Linn Run was purchased by the PA Commonwealth from a logging company in 1909. Formerly an old growth forest, at the time of purchase it was completely deforested! The dried out husks of trees frequently caught fire from the steam engines that roared through the area during the height of the lumber industry. The damage was so devastating that the government had to import deer back into the area during revitalization efforts. Thankfully, Linn Run has undergone a complete transformation since those dark days and is now a flourishing second-growth forest. Linn Run also borders the 50,000 acre Forbes State Forest and is close to Laurel Ridge and Laurel Mountain State Parks.

Linn Run is a popular park for camping and picnicking, being tucked away along the Linn Run stream. While you may see many children playing in the stream and on the natural water slides by flat rock, it is technically not allowed by the park. There are just over 6 miles of trails, although some connect up to longer trails in Forbes State Forest. Note that the trails in Linn Run are hiking only, so save the mountain bikes for another park!

This hike offers a family friendly loop to see the Flat Rocks and Adam Falls. It’s a good idea to download the hiking route and driving directions before heading out because there is no cell service in the park! The hike starts from the Adam Fall parking lot off Linn Run Road. There is an upper and lower lot and overflow parking across the street. Be aware that it can get very busy here in the summer!

From the parking lot, follow signs for Flat Rocks Trail, a nice wide path that follows along the creek. ABout 0.3 miles in, you’ll come across some impressive stone ruins. According to the wonderful folks at PA Bucket List, these are the remains of an old hunting lodge that was destroyed by a fire in the 1940s. These ruins are pretty interesting to explore, especially how intact the enormous chimney still is! From here, it’s just a brief 0.2 more miles until you reach Flat Rocks. True to its name, this is a very shallow section of Linn Run where a large flat rock creates an interesting feature in the water. Although many use this as a natural water slide, please remember that swimming is prohibited in Linn Run State Park.

From Flat Rock, retrace your steps to just past the hunting lodge ruins and turn left to follow the signs for Adam Falls. Briefly walk through the upper park lot then turn slightly left up the gravel lot. You will see signs for Adam Falls Loop. Bear to the right and the trail places you directly on top of the falls. Please be aware that there are signs warning to stay on trail and the park would prefer hikers not venture to the bottom of the falls.

From the falls, continue straight on the trail for a pleasant loop through the park that encounters a few minor rocky spots. As of 2023, there are some large trees down in the park from some extreme storms that hit in July. Be aware that some sections have been rerouted because of this! After a pleasant mile in the woods, the loop finishes at the waterfall again and you can follow the gravel road back to the parking lot.

THE BEER: Unity Brewing

Address: 3862 US-30, Latrobe, PA 15650
Distance from Trail Head: 16 miles, 21 mins
Website: http://unitybrewingpa.com/
Food?: Full kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, no pets, live music

Unity Brewing is a colorful taproom located right on the main road through downtown Latrobe. With indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a full menu of sandwiches and pub snacks, this is a great spot to stay a while. The taproom is bright and features the Pittsburgh-themed art of local artist Cody Sabol. Take a seat at the bar and watch as the line cooks whip up a tasty meal right in front of your eyes! Unity also offers cider, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. They have a solid selection of traditional brews that make up of their year-round staples and switch up seasonally with more unique and experimental brews. My most recent visit was during a chilly November weekend so I was all about those dark brews. Thankfully, Unity was serving up a delightful roasty Oatmeal Stout. This is one of my favorite styles and this was a solid example. It was quite bitter, just how I like my coffee! There was also a vanilla porter on the list that I’ll definitely have to sample next time around!

Loving the Laurel Highlands craft beverages? Be sure to get a Pour Tour Passport from the GO Laurel Highlands!

I highly suggest visiting Linn Run State Park as part of a larger day or weekend trip to the Laurel Highlands! Also check out: Wolf Rocks & Helltown, Ohiopyle & Yough River , Duff Park & Devout, Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons

PA Grand Canyon & Wellsboro House

November 26, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Wellsboro, PA

The Pine Creek Gorge is one of the best places in the state for stunning vistas, especially in the fall! Also known as the PA Grand Canyon, Leonard Harrision State Park is one of the best places to view this beautiful natural area. The Turkey Path Trail switchbacks down the hillside from the overlook to Pine Creek for a unique experience of seeing both the top and bottom of the Gorge. This hike is difficult though so after your challenge, you’ve earned a beer at the Wellsboro House. This restaurant and brewery in the small town of Wellboro, packs charm and small-town hospitality into a surprisingly robust taplist and delicious kitchen menu.

THE HIKE: Leonard Harrison State Park: Turkey Path

Length: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 958 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at park office, facilities
H&H: 5/5

One of the must see areas in the state is the PA Grand Canyon. This deep gorge was carved out by a 47-mile section of Pine Creek. Several areas have been preserved as National Natural Landmarks, including the section encompassed by Leonard Harrison State Park. This park covered over 500 acres on the east side of the rim, with Colton State Park on the west side.

The canyon has long been an important spot for the region. In prehistoric times, it was used as a major travel route, much of which followed the same path as the modern Pine Creek Rail Trail. A logging boom led to the settling of the area where the creek was used to transport the felled trees. Later, train tracks replaced the old Native American paths along the creek and transported millions of tons of cargo along the rail lines. Like many areas in the state, this industry caused mass deforestation and a huge loss of habitat. It took many years before the deciduous forest began to recover and nature species like elk, otters, bald eagles, and beavers returned to the area. The park is named for businessman Leonard Harrison who built a career in the logging industry, but then protected the overlook areas of the gorge and eventually donated the land to the state in the 1920s for the building of a state park.

The park underwent renovations in 2023 and now sports a new visitor center. This hike starts with a steep trek along steps and natural paths down into the gorge to view waterfalls and get up close to Pine Creek. Afterward, be prepared for a heart pumping hike back up the hillside. From there, it’s an easy one mile loop to view the stunning overlook that peers deep down into the gorge.

THE BEER: Wellsboro House Restaurant & Brewery

Address: 34 Charleston St, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Distance from Trail Head: 11 miles, 19 mins
Website: http://thewellsborohouse.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Indoor and outdoor seating

The owners at Wellsboro House opened their popular restaurant back in 2008 after lovingly restoring the 1862 building it is housed in. Then in 2013, they began adding house- brewed beer to their menu, officially becoming the Wellsboro House Restaurant & Brewery. Demand quickly forced them to grow their operations and now they brew in a historic train depot just across the street from the main restaurant. This is fitting as Wellsboro has a long connection to the

A visit wouldn’t be complete without a taste of Dan Smith’s Chocolate Stout, made with real chocolates from the popular Dan Smith’s Chocolates in Brookeville, PA.

Our Beer:

Dan Smith’s Chocolate Stout – Stout – 5.5%
South of the Border Porter – Porter – 6.6%
Bavarian Steam Beer – Wheat Beer – 6.6%
Pumpkin Wheat – Wheat Beer – 5.6%
Juicy Lucy – NEIPA – 7.5%
Nessmuk Lager – Amber Lager – 6.6%

Smith’s Knob & New Trail Brewing Co.

October 7, 2023October 8, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Williamsport, PA

My first trip to Loyalsock State Forest took us to a beautiful but strenuous hike to Smith’s Knob Vista. The steep rocky ascent pays off for a beautiful view of Loyalsock creek and the surrounding valley. Definitely bring your trekking poles for this one! Afterward, drive back into Williamsport for a pint at the enormous New Trail Brewing, which is all about spending quality time outdoors and making great beer.

THE HIKE: Smith’s Knob via Loyalsock Trail

Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1312 ft
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 2.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, trail running, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at trailhead

Background

This day hike gives you just a taste of the 59 mile backpacking trail through Loyalsock State Forest. The trail, established in 1951, is a challenging trek through rugged terrain. It’s maintained by the Alpine Club of Williamsport which has a guide to the trail available for purchase on their website. If you’re interested in the backpacking trail, Endless Mountains has an excellent guide on their website.

Loyalsock State forest is one of the 20 state forests in the state of Pennsylvania. It spans over 114,000 acres across Bradford, Sullivan and Lycoming counties. It makes up part of the Endless Mountain region and is made up mostly of hardwood forests. It’s named for the scenic Loyalsock creek that runs through the center of the forest.

There’s more than 200 miles of hiking in the Loyalsock State forest but the most popular is probably the backpacking trail. Thankfully, there are several parking access points so it’s also accessible for day hikes!

The Hike

Parking: 41.3566320056887, -76.85942897194258

The day hike to Smith’s Knob starts near the Western terminus of the Loyalsock Trail. The parking lot can be found on Little Bear Creek Road, access off Route 87 just north of Williamsport. Little Bear Creek Road is quite narrow and not paved, so a car with a higher suspension is recommended. My little Honda Fit would not have made this trail! The parking lot is very large but there are no bathroom facilities so plan accordingly.

The trailhead can be found across the gravel road and is clearly marked with a “Loyalsock Trail” signpost. Throughout this hike, the trail is noted by small metal discs on trees with a red LT emblazoned on a yellow background. The trail ascends up a hillside and quickly encounters a clearing with a large industrial garage, likely for forestry equipment. Bear to the left and meet up with the trail again. The first mile or so is by far the most difficult hiking we’ve done in a while. We took many breaks and needed lots of water and fuel. And of course a pair of trail runners zoomed by us to really put us in our place! After about 0.5 miles of steady incline, you’ll reach the first of many viewpoints. This charming vista is known as Helen’s window and while not the most impressive view, it’s still a nice spot to catch your breath.

Continuing onward for another half mile brings you to a trail intersection. Stay straight on the Loyalsock Trail but note that the trail you’re crossing over is the Smith’s Bypass trail and it’s the one you’ll eventually be coming back along. Now comes the steepest and most difficult part of the trail. The last ascent to the Knob is incredibly rocky and there is no shame in needing all four limbs to get yourself up there! When you finally ascend to the top and catch your breath, there are a couple viewpoints. To the right is a grassy area that is lovely for a quick rest. The views aren’t spectacular but the grass is delightful to rest in. From there, a bit further along the trail is a large campsite used by backpackers. Just past the trail to the left is the Smith’s Knob overlook and it is by far one of my favorite vistas that we’ve encountered. I’m not sure if it was having the place to ourselves or the sheer effort it took to get there, but this place just really got to me. We stayed here for a while enjoying the view of the creek below and shockingly being able to hear a children’s soccer game somewhere in the distance.

From the overlook, continue along the LT as it descends from the Knob. Once again, it can get pretty steep so take your time! I definitely am known to go down steep sections on my butt. A tried and true technique! From here, the next mile is a lovely peaceful trek through soaring trees. We didn’t see another person the whole time! Eventually the trail meets up with the bypass trail and you’ll leave the Loyalsock trail. Be aware that the bypass trail is marked with a yellow circle and a red X. I didn’t know this before going and was worried that we weren’t supposed to be on the trail! But never fear this is the way to complete the loop back. This trail is much wider and flat, more like a rustic road. Because of this there are more sunny spots and it can get quite warm. Following the red x’s will bring you back to the intersection with the Loyalsock trail. Take the left turn to head back to the parking lot!

THE BEER: New Trail Brewing Company

Address: 240 Arch St building 18, Williamsport, PA 17701
Distance from Trail Head: 27 mins, 19 miles
Website: http://www.newtrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly

New Trail brewing company is pretty much the perfect brewery to pair with a hike because of their strong dedication to the outdoors. All of the original founders are avid outdoorspeople and established the brewery in order to make good beer and get people outdoors! New Trail Brewing is located in Williamsport, which is an access point for so many of PA’s fantastic state parks and forests. In fact, New Trail brewing has frequently worked with and supported conservation and trail organizations across PA. I love seeing breweries doing the good work!

From the hiking boot print in their logo to the enormous map of the state forests surrounding WIlliamsport, I loved how much of this brewery was dedicated to the great outdoors. You can tell how much the owners care about their town and introducing people to the great outdoors. It also helps that the beer is pretty dang good too! In fact, New Trail has been working with the PA Parks and Forests foundation to put out a series of PA State Park themed beers which is not only super cool but proceeds are also going right back into the parks. I hope to see more partnerships like this with breweries across PA and beyond!

Our Beer:

Blackberry Lemonade – Sour – 5%
Rocksylvania – Hazy IPA – 7%
Broken Heels – Hazy IPA – 7%
White Ale – Wheat Beer – 5.5%

Duff Park & Devout Brewing

September 17, 2023September 16, 2023hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

Murrysville, PA

Despite having driven down Route 22 many times, I never knew a beautiful park was tucked in the woods just off this major road. Duff Park is a peaceful natural area with bike trails along a stream and single track trails meandering through the woods. It’s a designated plant sanctuary and the fall wildflowers are beautiful right now! After a walk through the woods, check out Devout Brewing just up the road. They have a delicious Marzen on right now and a sweet potato beer coming soon!

THE HIKE: Duff Park Outer Loop

Length: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 525 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Running, some sections open to bikes
Parking: Large lot off School Rd

Duff Park is a 220 acre wooded park east of Pittsburgh and is located just off Route 22. It is owned and managed by the Municipality of Murrysville with help from the volunteers at Murrysville Trail Alliance and the Friends of Murrysville Parks.

The park includes 1.5 miles of flat bike trail along Turtle Creek. There is also a bridge connecting this trail to the large Westmoreland Heritage Trail, so this is a great place for biking, running, and for those with limited mobility. The rest of the park features hilly single track trails that meander up the hillside. There are about 7.5 miles of trails in the woods, so there’s plenty of space to get a nice long hike in! Duff park is also connected by a trail to Pleasant Valley Park. I haven’t been to Pleasant Valley Park but from what I’ve read, it’s very peaceful but a bit more remote feeling than Duff Park. I’ll have to check it out for myself though!

We visited Duff Park on a Friday after work as part of the Oboz Trail Experience to do this 3.4 loop. I was blown away by how beautiful the place was despite being so close to a major road. Of course, this does mean that the road noises can be quite loud. But frankly, they faded to the background for me as we hiked along Turtle Creek, admiring the clear water and reading the signs identifying the trees along the way. This part of the trail was flat and very easy to follow. Eventually the outer loop leaves the Funk Bikeway trail to switchback up the hillside on the Forbes trail. This was definitely a section that got our hearts pounding! The trail continues to be moderate difficulty as you turn onto the Sumac trail. We hardly saw anyone else on these sections and being further away from the traffic noises really made for a peaceful hike. The trails were all very clearly labeled and we had no problem eventually completing the loop and finding ourselves back at the parking lot.

I would definitely visit this park again! It does seem to be pretty popular so parking could be an issue on the weekends. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot and also picnic tables under the pavilion. I also really appreciated the large interpretive signs discussing the local flora and fauna. We will definitely have to visit in the spring as this park is a designated wild plant sanctuary! Perhaps it will be a new favorite place for spring wildflowers.

THE BEER: Devout Brewery

Address: 1301 Pontiac Ct #101, Export, PA 15632
Distance from Trail Head: 4.4 miles, 9 mins
Website: http://www.devoutbrewingco.com/
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor Seating, Pet Friendly

Devout Brewing has been pouring beers at their Export location since 2018. Nestled in the back of an industrial park, Devout feels like a hidden gem. With outdoor seating covered by a sunshade and a large indoor taproom, there’s plenty of space to relax here! When we visited, there was a surprisingly large selection, up to 16 taps! They also offer locally made cider, wine, and mead if that’s more your speed. While they don’t have a kitchen of their own, Devout frequently has a rotating food truck schedule or you can bring your own food! Your four legged friends are also welcome on the outdoor patio. We had such a good time at this brewery because it felt like having a beer with new friends! Everyone, customers and staff alike, were so friendly and eager to make conversation. It was an all around great place to spend a Saturday night.

I was pretty excited to check out Devout Brewing because I finally remembered to bring my Laurel Highlands Pour Tour booklet! Although I’ve been to several of the breweries listed, it was the first time I got an official stamp. Will this start a new obsession? Just wait and see!

Our Beer: