Hiking Project Logo

With a moderate incline at the beginning and one to/from Smith's Knob, this is a beautiful series of trails and views!


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

6.0

Miles

9.7

KM

Loop

1,859' 567 m

High

786' 240 m

Low

1,804' 550 m

Up

1,802' 549 m

Down

11%

Avg Grade (6°)

32%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildlife

From PA DCNR: "Caution: Please be advised that hunting season is open and permitted in designated areas within state parks. For your protection, all visitors should take proper precautions such as wearing a fluorescent orange vest and hat while recreating in areas of the park that are open to hunting during your visit."

Overview

Overlook from Smith's Knob to Loyalsock Creek is spectacular and worth the climb, just be careful on the climb up and down via either direction. There is a steep drop-off at the vista, just use common sense and "mind your surroundings". Trails are well marked and easy to follow, overall very well maintained.

Need to Know

Large parking lot available.

Description

This trail is marked from where the Loyalsock Trail crosses over Little Bear Creek Road, however just up to the left from where it crosses, there is a large lot for parking with a map. Shortly after heading up this section of trail there is a register. Recommend you sign in and out even if just trail running or day hiking vs. doing the thru-hike of the Loyalsock Trail.

The first part of the Loyalsock Trail up from the lot is well marked, clear and easy to follow. The grade is somewhat steep and you'll certainly get winded and work up a good sweat. It's not as difficult of as the start of the Loyalsock Trail a few miles over directly off Route 87 if you've done that portion...no hand/foot climbing whatsoever.
This is a beautiful hike up in classic Pennsylvania hardwoods. You'll come to a trail coming up from the right (blue blazes) at about 0.6 from the lot. If you follow the route described here, you'll be coming back up that trail towards the finish.

Continue on the Loyalsock Trail, which is blazed with yellow disks having red LT letters in the center, or a yellow stripe with red mark. One you'd hit the plateau, it's very easy hiking, the trail is easy to follow like classic Central Pennsylvania trails.

You'll come to a junction at near 1.2 miles where you'll turn right. This section of the trail is very wide and could be used for horse travel as the portion you just came from is listed as no horse allowed so I would deduce the section you just arrived at allows horses. This is flat to slightly downhill.

Just ahead on your left at 1.3 miles approximately, you'll see the trailhead up to the left...this leads up to Smith's Knob. Heading up this way is slightly easier with less climbing over roots, rocks and it's less steep. It is still steep in sections so take your time and watch your footing. For the purposes of this route, pass this junction as you'll be coming back down that way in a few miles.

Continue on the Loyalsock Trail where it will soon open up to the left to a deer fence/management area on your right and it will become more of a logging or maintenance road. At approximately 2.2 miles, you'll see a trail coming off from the left. I believe that is the Loyalsock Trail proper as you'll note it goes back to a more traditional "singletrack" trail it parallels the section of "road" you just traveled. Again trail is in good condition here, well marked but does become more of a true trail.

At approximately 2.5 miles, it begins to steepen and you'll soon see Smith's Knob ahead in the distance. That's not the "summit" of it, a false one, once you reach that, the Knob itself is a little further up. This section up to the Knob is quite steep, uses switchbacks and has a fair amount of rocks, roots and the trail slopes down following the contour of the hill.

This is a lung burner but worth it. You'll arrive at the vista around 2.9 miles which overlooks to the Loyalsock Creek and nearby range. You can get a good view from here and it's flat, but you'll notice it drops off about 40' so just be careful as you catch the view. If someone is afraid of heights, they'll feel it here...but they can get a good view relatively far back from that outcropping itself.

Continue upwards and your'll reach a plateau which is actually Smith's Knob. You'll note there is a fire ring, logs cut for benches. A relatively easy hike in from the trailhead for an overnight stay. Pass through this area and you'll start down the backside. Not as steep as what you came up, but nonetheless, watch your footing and take your time. It still is relatively steep.

You'll rejoin Loyalsock Trail around mile 3.2, then shortly thereafter you'll pass the No Horses sign as you go straight and head down a very long, fairly steep but no rocks/roots trail that winds down towards Route 87 and parallels it as you make a slow/steady climb back up to the Loyalsock Trail. From there, head back down the trail you came.

Flora & Fauna

Classic Pennsylvania hardwoods, deer, small critters, birds.

Contacts

Shared By:

Joshua Brock

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#4200

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
100%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#83

in Pennsylvania

#4,200

Overall
11 Views Last Month
234 Since Nov 17, 2020
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%

Photos

End of a beautiful Fall trail run on the Loyalsock Trail.
Nov 17, 2020 near Montour…, PA
Vista heading up to Smith's Knob. Overlooking Loyalsock Creek.
Nov 17, 2020 near Montour…, PA
Looking up towards Smith's Knob.
Nov 17, 2020 near Montour…, PA
Smiths Knob
Mar 11, 2015 near Montour…, PA
Great trail conditions
Nov 17, 2020 near Montour…, PA
Loyalsock Trail below.
Nov 17, 2020 near Montour…, PA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.