Loyalsock Trail

Infobox Hiking trail
Name=Loyalsock Trail
Photo=Haystackslt.jpg
Caption=The Haystacks, a Loyalsock Trail landmark.
Location=Pennsylvania, United States
Length=59.3 mi; 95.4 km
Start/End Points=West: Pennsylvania Route 87, 10 mi (16 km) north of Montoursville
East: Meade Road, 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from U.S. Route 220, just north of Laporte
Use=Hiking
ElevChange=
HighPoint= 2140 ft (652 m)
LowPoint= 665 ft (203 m)
Difficulty=Moderate
Season=Spring to Fall
Sights=Vistas, Haystacks
Hazards=Severe Weather, Poison ivy, BearsThe Loyalsock Trail (LT) is a 59.3 mi (95.4 km) hiking trail along Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming and Sullivan counties in north central Pennsylvania in the United States.

Geography

The western terminus of the trail is on Pennsylvania Route 87, 10 mi (16 km) north of Montoursville and 9 mi (14.5 km) north of
I-180. The eastern terminus of the trail is on Meade Road, 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from U.S. Route 220, north of Laporte.

Most of the trail is on Pennsylvania State Forest lands, in the Loyalsock State Forest. Prior to the state forest reorganization on July 1, 2005 the trail ran through the eastern Tiadaghton State Forest in Lycoming County and the Wyoming State Forest in Sullivan County.

The trail has many climbs and offer many vistas. The lowest point on the trail is at 665 ft (203 m) above sea level, while the highest point is at 2140 ft (652 m).

History

The trail was first laid out in 1951 by Troop 10 of the Explorer Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America from Williamsport. The original trail was 30.4 mi (48.9 km) long. In 1953, the Alpine Club of Williamsport was formed to maintain the trail, and still does so today. It also publishes a guide to the trail, which was updated in 2005. The trail reached its present length by 1962, although sections of the trail have been moved five times since, along with many changes in and relocations of side- and link-trails.

The trail is named for the Loyalsock Creek, whose name comes from the Native American name "Lawi-saquick" or "middle creek', as it is between Lycoming Creek and Muncy Creek. A section of the trail follows part of the Towanda path, a Native American trail. Other portions follow old abandoned logging roads and railroad grades. These are left over from the 19th and early 20th century when the lumber industry cut down almost all the trees in the area.

Blazes

The trail is blazed using red metal disks with the yellow letters "LT" painted in the center. An abrupt direction change is marked with double blazes. In addition to the metal disks (which are can lids), 2 in by 6 in (5 cm by 15 cm) painted yellow rectangles with a 1 in (2.5 cm) horizontal red stripe are also used as blazes. A yellow area in the proper direction is used to mark turns.

The three kinds of side trails are:
* "Red X" trails, which are bypasses or alternate routes and boith begin and end on the main Loyalsock Trail. These are blazed with a yellow metal disk with a large red X on it.
* "White" trails, which are unmaintained and blazed with white metal discs (with solid color, no other mark).
* "Blue" trails, which either lead to the Loyalsock trail or to "Red X" trails or interesting sites, and are blazed with blue metal disks. Numbers on the disks identify "Blue" trails leading to the Loyalsock Trail or "Red X' trails. are described in the guide available from the Alpine Club.

References

* [http://www.lycoming.org/alpine/Index.htm The Alpine Club of Williamsport and Loyalsock Trail Official Website]
* [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/loyalsock.aspx Pennsylvania DCNR's Loyalsock Trail Page]

External links

* [http://www.kta-hike.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=151&Itemid=65 Keystone Trails Association Page on the Loyalsock Trail]
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~ammisov/loyals00.htm A mile by mile description of hiking thetrail, with photos by Mike, Aimee, & Maria]