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The Susquehannock Trail System is an 83.4 mile loop located in Potter County, Pennsylvania. The trail has "System" in its name because when it was first constructed, many pre-existing trails, old railroad grades, and new connectors were linked up to form the loop.

The trail pays homage to the area's rich heritage by taking its name from the Susquehannock Indian Tribe, who once called this place home during the late 1500s and early 1600s.

When you traverse the trail, you'll be exposed to a variety of landscapes like – steep hillsides and valleys, wetlands, diverse forest types, open meadows, cascading streams, and a few nice overlooks.

Also, as you venture further into this region's remote and unspoiled woodlands, you'll discover an abundance of wildlife - from majestic bears and graceful deer to elusive coyotes and prickly porcupines.

In this article, I will help you plan for this backpacking trip so you can avoid any mishaps and have the best time possible.

Trail Facts

• Length: 83.4 miles

• Trail Blazes: Orange

• Duration: 4-6 days

• Elevation Gain: 14,245 feet

• Peak Elevation: 2,545 feet

• Best Season to Hike: Spring & Fall

• Difficulty Level: Strenuous

• Bear Canisters: Not required

• Permits: Not required

• Dogs: Allowed

Highlights

• Cherry Springs Vista

• Diverse Landscapes

• Beautiful Streams

• Wildlife

• Solitude

• Great Shelters

Maps & Information

The Susquehannock Trail System Guide Book & Map: This book is a must-have when preparing for the hike. The guidebook breaks down in great detail what you will encounter on the trail in the form of trail notes. The included topographical map contains mileage points, elevation profiles, possible campsite locations, and areas with views.

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 digital maps to navigate with, the AllTrails app is great. It uses your mobile phone’s GPS to track your position on the route. You’ll find the Susquehannock Trail System there, along with over 400,000 other trails. The app provides you with elevation profiles, mileage, campsites, water sources, and points of interest.

Parking & Trailhead

The Susquehannock Trail System’s main starting point is at the Northern Gateway located at the Pennsylvania State Forest District Office along US Route 6, which can be found at these coordinates: 41.769194, -77.870111.

There’s a sign along Route 6 that marks the road leading to the district office. When you turn onto the road, the district office will be on the left, and a sizeable overnight parking area will be on your right. Make sure to register your vehicle at the district office.

Where the actual trailhead is from the parking lot can be confusing. To get there, turn right onto the road you came in on and walk past some state forestry buildings. You’ll come to a trail kiosk and forest gate.

Follow the forest road behind the gate for 0.2 miles, and then you’ll come to a sign telling you to turn right. You’ll be on the side trail for another 0.2 miles, taking you to Mile 0 of the Susquehannock Trail System, the actual starting point of the loop.

Another good starting point is at the Cross Fork Village, which sits along PA Route 144. You can park your car at the Susquehannock Forestry Maintenance Building located at these coordinates: 41.482110, -77.818396. The building sits behind the Kettle Creek Hose Company. You’ll find a trail kiosk and designated parking spaces there.

To get to the trail from the parking area is easy. It literally runs right through Cross Fork between miles 49 and 50. You’ll see orange blazes along the Main St.

To further help you understand where the parking areas and trailheads are, I also have the exact locations marked on the interactive map below.

Terrain

The Susquehannock Trail System travels along the top of the Allegheny Plateau and frequently dips down and up, following numerous ravines and valleys that break up the Plateau. This type of terrain is challenging and will test your fitness level. Throughout the hike, you'll climb 14,245 feet of cumulative elevation gain and descend 14,195 feet of cumulative elevation loss.

The most difficult section of the trail is at mile 36 when you descend Morgan Hollow, where you'll lose 600 feet of elevation in just 0.3 miles. Trekking Poles are a must here to navigate this steep decline safely. I recommend the Leki Makalu trekking poles because they have comfortable hand grips and a durable design.

Trail Conditions

The Susquehannock Trail System is generally well-marked and easy to follow. The trail has no significant rocky areas or scrambling. It's pretty much a very smooth trail to hike. 

However, the trail can get overgrown in certain sections in the summer months and require some bushwhacking. The main areas of concern are the Frazier Farm Trail at mile 19.25, the Scoval Branch Trail at mile 42.6, and the Hammersley Trail at mile 55.

With some of the undergrowth along the trail being stinging nettle and pricker bushes, make sure to protect yourself by wearing pants. When I did this trail, I mistakenly wore shorts, and my legs were cut up from these plants.  

Also, the trail has some marshy areas and stream 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

Bears are something to be aware of in this region. There's a very large population of them. When I did this hike, I saw a ton of bear footprints on the trail. Keep in mind black bears are not a direct threat to you but would love nothing more than to steal your food. So, make sure to hang your food bag properly at night. If you need help with this, check out my blog post, How to Hang a Bear Bag the Right Way. 

There's also a healthy population of rattlesnakes in this part of Pennsylvania. During the summer months, they love to sun themselves along the trail. Without being too paranoid, watch the trail ahead of you and listen for that rattle.   

Also, while many creeks have footbridges, some don't, like Hammersley Fork. If the area has been getting a lot of rain, the creeks can swell up and make stream crossings very treacherous. In the event flooding occurs, do not attempt high water crossings.

Bugs

In early spring, bugs can be a nuisance on the trail. However, as summer comes along, the bugs tend to taper off slightly. When I did this hike in the summer, I noticed some mosquitoes around the wet, swampy areas, but that's pretty much it.

As mentioned earlier, certain sections of the trail can be overgrown and require hiking through long grass and weedy areas, so ticks are a concern. 

To protect yourself from these bugs, use a combination of Picaridin Spray on any exposed skin and Permethrin Spray to your clothes.

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

When hiking the Susquehannock Trail System, you'll find that the footpath travels along or crosses many creeks and streams. So, finding water is never an issue, even in drought conditions. However, no matter the conditions, I always recommend that you have a solid water carry plan, so I have many of the water sources marked on the interactive map below to help you out.

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.

Campsites & Shelters

This loop is mostly located within the Susquehannock State Forest, which means backpackers can camp almost anywhere they want as long as they follow the regulations below. 

Throughout the trail, you’ll find many preexisting campsites. They’re easy to pick out because of their stone fire rings. Most of them are conveniently located by a stream. The best campsites can be found at mile 6.7 along Lyman Run, mile 19.55 along Cross Fork Creek, mile 54.5 along Hammersley Creek, and mile 71.7 along Prouty Lick Run.

One thing to be careful of is that a few sections of the Susquehannock Trail System pass through private property and State Parks. Primitive camping isn’t permitted in these areas. 

There’s also an extensive network of shelters throughout the loop. Most of them are the typical Adirondack-style lean-tos, with one being a fully enclosed repurposed dynamite shed.

Overall, they’re some of the nicest shelters I’ve seen on trail. About half are near a water source, while the other half are at dry locations. At the shelters without a water source, the Susquehannock Trail Club tries to cache water there. Here is a list of all the shelters.

Dynamite House: No water source. Historical interest. Very dark inside.

Bolich Run Shelter: My favorite shelter on the trail. Located in an open meadow with a hemlock-shaded creek nearby. There is even an open-air privy.

Spook Hollow Shelter: No water source. 

Scoval Branch Shelter: There is water, but it’s swampy. Nice location.

Gravel Lick Shelter: No water source. A short walk down McConnell Road, heading east, is the beautiful Hammersley Vista, great for sunrises.

Wild Boy Shelter: Another great shelter. Located in an isolated area with creeks nearby.

Ford Hollow Shelter: One of the newest shelters on the trail. Located near a creek. Isolated feel. You can see meadows through the trees.

Sunken Branch Shelter: No water source. Nice location on an old, grassy forest road.

Here are the following Susquehannock State Forest-specific regulations.

• Camp at least 200 feet from a forest road.

• Camp at least 25 feet from the trail.

• Camp at least 100 feet from a stream or any open water.

• Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them for the next person to enjoy.

• Pack out all debris, garbage, or other waste.

• Bury human waste by digging a cathole six inches deep and at least 200 feet away from any water source.

I have marked all the campsites and shelters throughout this loop on the interactive map below to help with your trip planning.

Which Direction Should You Hike?

Hiking this loop clockwise from the Northern Gateway would be the most ideal direction. That way, it's easy to follow the guidebook and map for this trail. Also, the mileage markers on the trees every 10 miles or so will match what you've actually hiked.    

Possible Trip Itinerary

5-Day Trip (clockwise)

Day 1:

• Start at the Northern Gateway Trailhead (Check the map below for exact location)

• Hike for 17.8 miles 

• Camp at the Bolich Run Shelter

Day 2:

• Hike for 19.2 miles

• Camp along young women's creek and Ted's Truss bridge

Day 3:

• Hike for 17.5 miles

• Camp along Hammersly Creek

Day 4:

• Hike for 17.2 miles

• Camp along Prouty Lick Run

Day 5:

• Hike for 11.7 miles

• Arrive back at Northern Gateway Trailhead

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