Pennsylvania Route Description

For more information, visit Mike's excellent website:  www.midatlantichikes.com.  To go directly to the Allegheny Front Trail section:  www.midatlantichikes.com/id186.html.

Trail Notes: All trails are signed and blazed. There are a couple of woods roads (active and inactive) that are crossed and noted in this description. AFT sign posts with pertinent distances are installed at every road crossing.

Start at parking lot just South of the Route 504 and Black Moshannan Road Junction at Mooring Area #1 proceed north on Julian Pike.  Cross this junction by heading north for 0.42 miles on Black Moshannan Road. Turn left onto a gated service road. Cross Black Moshannan Creek on a bridge and immediately turn right onto blue blazed Shingle Mill Trail.

At 1.72 miles from joining the Shingle Mill Trail, cross Huckleberry Road. Although all of Shingle Mill Trail is beautiful the best part is the section north of Huckleberry Road. Note the campsites marked on the map. The largest area is actually on the other side of the creek at a dog leg just before the trail ascends steeply on a well-constructed piece of side-hill trail. In 1.83 miles from Huckleberry Road, join the orange blazed Allegheny Front Trail(AFT). Turn right.

In another 0.81 miles, the AFT crosses Black Moshannan Creek on a bridge and passes in front of a green cabin/cottage to cross Benner Run on yet another bridge. Turn left after crossing the bridge and follow Benner Run for 1.38 miles before re-crossing the run on another bridge. There are a couple of small campsites between the two crossings. It is possible that more sites might be found on a slight rise to the right of the trail if you can work through the thick Leatherleaf plants that seem to blanket the entire forest.

Shortly after the last crossing, pass an unsigned blue blazed trail on the right. This follows Benner Run further upstream and may provide yet more camping opportunities. Stay on the AFT and climb up and over the next ridge to Hull Run. There are two water sources here.

In 2.89 miles, after leaving Benner Run, cross a gravel woods road. In another 0.33 miles, join the blue blazed Rock Run Ski Trail. Turn left here. Turn left onto Rock Run Trail Ski Trail and follow the drainage for a feeder stream down to Rock Run. Look for a sharp right hand turn that follows Rock Run upstream. You will cross the Run at least once. Pass the Rock Run Connector Trail on the right. In about 4.8 miles from the last trail junction, rejoin the AFT. Turn left (south) here.

Soon find yourself walking along the headwaters of Benner Run. Cross Benner Run and walk across an open meadow to a Red Spruce plantation. At 1.26 miles from leaving the Rock Run Ski Trail, you will come to a grassy woods road. Turn left onto the road following the orange blazes. In another 0.3 miles, leave the road turning left onto a footpath. Reenter the meadow and cross a grassy maintenance road for a set of radio towers over your left shoulder. In another 0.15 miles arrive at Route 504.

Cross Route 504. In 0.13 miles, cross another woods road. The path itself will become a well rutted road as it descends steeply. In another 0.21 miles make an abrupt right turn up a rocky foot path, and in 0.51 miles, come to a partly obscured overlook.  Descend steeply and ascend several times visiting the vistas along the way. The last vista is signed “Ralph’s Magnificent Vista” in honor of Ralph Seeley, the main instigator of trail building effort. Leave the last vista and scramble through an area known, for obvious reasons, as “Rock City”.

At 0.60 miles from Ralph’s Magnificent Vista, cross Underwood road. In another 1.62 miles, cross Smay’s Run Trail. This is a good spot to call it a day.

Continue west on the AFT. In 1.1 miles, cross Julian Pike and join the Moss-Hanne Trail. It will be blazed with orange triangles and is a mix of foot path, old woods roads, rock bridges, and wonderful boardwalks. In 2.6 miles, pass a spur trail that leads out to Shirk’s Road on the left and continue on the AFT. Turn right to stay on the Moss-Hanne Trail with its orange triangles.

In another 1.02 miles, cross the apparently abandoned Airport Trail. In another 1.28 miles, cross a small backwater. Here the trail goes unblazed to the left into a Pine plantation and to the right (blazed) towards the lake. Turn right here.

In another 2.09 miles, join the Indian trail that comes in from the left. Turn right, following the duel blazes for 0.25 miles (orange triangle and red circle). The Indian trail will turn left. Continue on the Moss-Hanne Trail to its junction with the Bog Trail in another 0.43 miles.

Follow the boardwalk around to the launch ramp on West Side Road. Turn right onto West Side Road.  Shortly afterwards, turn left onto signed Hay Road Trail, and follow it out to Route 504.

Driving Directions

Plot a course to Philipsburg. There are two towns in PA by that name. You want the one just west of State College. From Philipsburg follow these directions:
 

To the Start

1. Take PA350 North to Philipsburg.

2. In about 13.7 miles, follow the signs to US322 (Right turn).

3. Turn (Bear left) onto PA504.

4. In about 8.6 miles, cross bridge over Black Moshannan Lake.

5. Immediately turn right onto Julian Pike. Mooring area #1 is immediately on the right. You can park there. 
 

The Finish

6. The finish exits the woods a few hundred yards back on Route 504 on the other side of the bridge.