Backpacker taking in view from Smith's Knob on the Loyalsock Trail — Smith's knob

The Loyalscok Trail is a 59.2-mile point-to-point hiking trail located in Lycoming and Sullivan counties in north-central Pennsylvania. It’s considered one of the most beautiful yet rugged backpacking trails in Pennsylvania.

The trail was established in 1951 by Boy Scouts from Williamsport and later was expanded in length several times. Much of the trail follows old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades, and one section even follows the Towanda Path, once used by Native Americans.

On a backpacking trip in this region, you can expect to hike through diverse scenery, with many spectacular mountaintop views, cascading waterfalls, babbling brooks, hemlock forests, deep gorges, and a picturesque pond.

Trail Facts

Length: 59.2 Miles
Trail Blazes: Yellow Disks and Red LT
Duration: 3-5 Days
Elevation Gain: 11,919 Feet
Peak Elevation: 2,140 Feet
Best Season to Hike: Spring to Fall
Difficulty Level: Strenuous
Bear Canisters: Not Required
Permits: Not Required
Dogs: Allowed

Highlights

Spectacular Views
Cascading Waterfalls
Sones Pond
Deep Gorges
Abundance of Wildlife

Backpacker climbing down ladder next to Rode Falls on the Loyalsock Trail — rode Falls

Maps & Information

Loyalsock Trail Guide & Map: This book is a must-have when planning for this hike. The guidebook breaks down in great detail what you will encounter on the trail in the form of trail notes so you can prepare accordingly. You will find that the topographical maps included contain mileage points, elevation profiles, water sources, and points of interest.

Backpacking Pennsylvania: 37 Great Hikes: This guidebook is a great resource for familiarizing yourself with all the different backpacking trails in PA. It provides information on the terrain, degree of difficulty, maps, and features you’ll enjoy along the trail.

AllTrails App: For backpackers who prefer to navigate with digital maps, the AllTrails app is excellent. It uses your mobile phone’s GPS to track your position on the route. You’ll find the Loyalsock Trail along with over 400,000 other trails. The app provides you with elevation profiles, mileage, campsites, water sources, and points of interest.

try Alltrails for a week for free

Parking & Shuttle

Parking is available at either end of the Loyalsock Trail. At the western trailhead, a small parking lot along PA 87 can accommodate about eight cars. It is located at these coordinates: 41°21'41.1"N 76°52'37.5"W.

The eastern trailhead has a large parking area off Mead Road that can accommodate around 40 cars. It even has a public bathroom. It is located at these coordinates: 41°26'51.8"N 76°27'12.5"W.

Since this trail is a point-to-point hike, not a loop, you’ll most likely need a shuttle service. The shuttle will pick you up at one of the parking lots of your choosing and drop you off at the other end of the trail, and you can just hike back to your car. It costs about $100. Here is their contact info:

Allie McDonald Phone: 570-337-8913

Patrick McDonald Phone: 570-447-4899

Some locals may be able to assist in shuttling you to the other trailhead. Post when you need a ride on the Loyalsock Trail Public Facebook Group.

Backpacker enjoying view from canyon vista on the Loyalsock Trail — canyon vista

Terrain

The Loyalsock Trail traverses on top of the Allegheny Plateau and frequently dips down and up, following many valleys and ravines that break up the Plateau. Throughout the hike, you'll climb 11,919 feet of cumulative elevation gain and descend 10,877 feet of cumulative elevation loss.

This type of terrain is rough and challenging. In fact, the trail doesn’t even ease you in. If you’re going a west-to-east direction, it has the most difficult terrain in the beginning, with a 1237-foot climb to the Allegheny Ridgeline and another 1142-foot climb to Smith’s Knob.

Afterward, it will make you question your fitness level. However, going in this direction gets the hardest part of the trail out of the way first.

Trail Conditions

The Loyalsock Trail is generally well-marked and easy to follow, a testament to the hard work of the Alpine Club of Williamsport, which maintains it. Here are some trail conditions to be prepared for.

Rocky: The trail can get rocky in certain areas, where you’ll have to watch your footing, especially at the steep sections. However, no rock scrambling is required.

Muddy: On the eastern half of the trail, after you climb out of the valley where Worlds End State Park is, the trail starts to flatten out more, and you’ll have to deal with mud and marshy conditions that can slow you down a bit.

Creek Crossings: Lastly, there are many creek crossings, so your feet will inevitably get wet. Make sure to have good shoes and socks that dry quickly to avoid blisters. I recommend the Altra Lone Peak 8 for shoes and Vermont Darn Tough socks.

Dangers

The Loyalsock Trail is a safe trail to hike. However, there are some things to be aware of.

Bears: They’re a common site along the trail. When I did this hike, I encountered a mama bear and her cubs. Fortunately, I was a good distance away. With bears, they will usually keep their distance. However, they’re opportunists, and if you don’t store your food properly at night, you will have a visitor at your camp.

So, be sure to pick up a Bear Hang Kit before your trip and make sure you know how to use it effectively. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out my blog post, How to Hang a Bear Bag the Right Way.

Rattlesnakes: Rattlesnakes are another thing to be mindful of. There's a healthy population of them in Pennsylvania. During the summer months, they love to sun themselves along the trail. Watch the terrain ahead of you and listen for that rattle.

High Water Crossings: Another thing to be aware of is if the area has been getting a lot of rain, the creeks can swell and make crossing them treacherous. Kettle Creek at mile 25.24 is one such crossing. It's about 20-30 feet across.

You can prepare for high water crossings by checking out my article on how to ford a river safely. Don’t attempt a crossing that’s past your comfort zone.

Backpacker hiking through the Ketchum Run gorge on the Loyalsock Trail — Ketchum run gorge

Bugs

The Loyalsock Trail has you hike along creeks, swamps, and a pond. So bugs can be a nuisance in spring and summer. Also, certain sections of this trail can be slightly overgrown at times, and other areas have tall grass that you have to hike through, so ticks are a potential problem, especially since Pennsylvania is the tick capital of North America.

So, make sure you take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself. To guard against these insects, use a combination of Permethrin Spray on your clothing and Picaridin Spray on any exposed skin.

To learn about additional precautions to guard against these insects, check out my article on How to protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes when hiking.

Water Sources

You’ll find that the Loyalsock Trail travels along or crosses many creeks and streams. So, water is generally plentiful throughout the trail. The longest dry stretch is a 6-mile road walk between mile 16.10 and mile 22.10.

Before any hike, I always recommend having a solid water carry plan. To help you out, I have marked many of the water sources on the interactive map below.

Also, make sure to filter your water. Protozoa and bacteria are concerns. One of the best water filters on the market is the Sawyer Squeeze because it's lightweight, affordable, and has a fast flow rate.

Backpacker looking out from Lower Alpine Vista on the Loyalsock Trail — Lower alpine view

Campsites

This trail is mainly located within the Loyalsock State Forest, which means you can camp almost anywhere you want as long as you follow the regulations below.

However, from mile 14.82 to mile 21.14, camping is off-limits due to being private property. Camping is also prohibited within Worlds Ends State Park boundaries.

Finding a place to camp along the trail conveniently located by a stream shouldn’t be a problem. There are many campsite options. The best campsites are found at mile 11.1 along Shingle Run, mile 14 along Hessler Branch, mile 34.16 along Ketchum Run, mile 50.23 along Big Run, and mile 53.46 along Sones Pond.

Here are the following Loyalsock State Forest-specific regulations.

Campsites must be at least 25 feet from the trail and not visible.
All camping should be 100 feet from any stream or water source. Some well-established campsites are exempt from this requirement due to steep topography.
Camping at waterfalls is strictly prohibited.
Camping is limited to one night at each location due to high use and limited places for suitable camping.
Groups of 10 or more people need a camping permit and a letter of authorization from the Forest District Manager.
Open fires are prohibited from March 1 through May 25, and any time the fire danger is posted as high. This prohibition does not apply to gas stoves.

I marked all the campsites throughout this trail on the interactive map below to help with your trip planning.

A tentsite in a spruce forest along Hessler Branch — a tentsite in a spruce forest along hessler Branch

Which Direction Should You Hike?

I chose to hike the Loyalsock Trail from a west-to-east direction, the same direction the guidebook and map have you go, which makes it easier to follow the guidebook. In addition, by going this way, you get the most challenging part of the trail over with in the beginning.

Possible Trip Itinerary

4 Day Trip (Eastbound)

Day 1:

Start at the western trailhead along PA87 (Check the map below for exact location)
Hike for 14 miles
Camp along the Hessler Branch

Day 2:

Hike for 20.16 miles
Camp along Ketchum Run

Day 3:

Hike for 16.5 miles
Camp along Big Run

Day 4:

Hike for 8.98 miles
Arrive at the eastern trailhead off Mead Road

Trail Guides

Loyalsock Trail Backpacking Guide