Shawn GrenningerExplorer

The Pinchot Trail, built by the Sierra Club's Northeast Pennsylvania Group and located in the southern corner of Lackawanna County, is an excellent warmup or beginner backpacking trail.  The trail systems totals 22 miles but can be broken up by the North or South Loops. The North loop is mostly flat hiking and the South loop provides some elevation change.   The trail system can be a little tr...

The Black Forest Trail is an orange blazed horseshoe loop with many options for a starting point which over the years due to reroutes may make the trail a little longer than 42 miles . I started at the traditional trailhead on Slate Run Road and hiked counter clockwise. Many consider this trail the best backpacking trail in Pennsylvania and for good reason.  The trail includes many steep climbs...

The start of this trip is at the Blackwell boat launch.  Get some friends together and organize a trip, leave a car at Black Walnut Bottom for the take out.  Pine Creek can be very low in summer, check this water gauge, I recommend a minimum level of 1.8 feet.  Optimal would be 2.5-3.5 feet.  If you run it at lower levels, prepare to have to get out at some points to walk the boat.  This is a r...

Park at the end of Naval Run Road, at the end of the road to the right, follow the sign for Lance Raisch Trail marked with yellow blazes.  This is the first of three trails that this loop will use.  The Lance Raisch Trail climbs in elevation along Naval Run and after about a quarter mile will instersect with the orange blazes of the the Black Forest Trail.  Take the sharp right onto the Black F...

The Cascadilla Creek Gorge is the perfect retreat from Cornell campus or downtown Ithaca into serene natural surroundings. This short trail will take you down 400 feet past multiple waterfalls, through lush, green forest and 400 million year old bedrock. It will be tough to believe you didn't have to drive or take the train to reach this destination. You should also feel lucky to even be on thi...

There are multiple ways to access and start the trail, there is a small parking area near the intersection of McCall Dam Road and Route 192 or you can access from the other end near the beach at Halfway Lake.  The trail is well marked with yellow blazes and easy to fall.  This is a simple hike, but very interesting as you stroll through the shade of the old growth forest, along Rapid Run Natura...

The Ithaca area is known for waterfalls, this waterfall is maybe lesser known but still a great place to visit and photograph and is easy to reach. Ludlowville Falls is located in a small park called Ludlowville Park.  It is a beautiful and unique waterfall.  

Barnegat Lighthouse is located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island and offers some great views and awesome photography opportunities!   Explore the area, take in the beach views and get some photos!  This is also a lighthouse that you can climb to the top! 

The trail starts where Naval Run Road ends. Follow the the blue blazes into Naval Run. After crossing Naval Run continue right up an old logging skid trail along the run. The trail will intersect with the Black Forest Trail at Naval Run Falls.The trail will follow the orange blazes of Black Forest Trail for the next 3.9 miles. The BFT will leave the skid trail at Naval Run and switchback to...

Their is a large gravel parking area about 12 miles north of Haneyville on route 44.  Parking is on the east side of route 44.The trailhead is on the opposite side of the road, follow the trails blue blazes right to hike the loop counter clockwise.  The trail initially parallels route 44.The trail will then pass by the Pump Station Fire Tower which was manned by Ruth Will for many years.  The s...

In order to access Campbells Run, park at the Tiadaghton Pine Creek Rail Trail parking. There are restrooms at this parking lot. The road in does not have winter maintenance and is steep in places. From the parking walk back the rail trail to Campbells Run which comes out between two cabins, a small tract of land on the right side of the run is state land, follow that back into the woods where ...

This is a quick and easy hike leading to an incredible 214 foot waterfall that is beautiful in all four seasons. Bring the whole family and hangout by the falls for the afternoon, weather permitting. During the winter, the falls transform the surrounding cliffs into a wall of ice and snow, but in the warmer months, the mist and shade near the falls provide the perfect retreat. To reach the fal...

Gipson Falls is the other waterfall on Falls Run just off the Loyalsock Trail.  There is a parking area for the Loyalsock Trail on Brunnerdale Road just off of Ogdonia Road.  From the parking follow the Loyalsock Trail along the run for about .5 miles, once the Loyalsock Trail turns right and heads uphill, break away from the trail and continue along the run on an unblazed but well worn trail....

Hyner View State Park is located in North Central Pennsylvania Between Lock Haven and Renovo on Route 120 along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The park has plenty of parking, picnic areas and spectacular views.  What makes this State Park unique is the foot launch for hang gliders and paragliders.   In order to increase your chances of witnessing hang gliders, check the Hyner Hang ...

This adventure can be started from the boat launch at Susquehanna State Park in Williamsport, PA.   The river is slow moving and calm in this section.   Since the river is slow you can easily paddle up river and then return to the same boat launch. A short round trip can be made by paddling west up river.  You will paddle by the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat dock and along Susquehanna State Pa...

The Golden Eagle Trail, otherwise known as the GET, is a challenging day hike north of Cammal, Pennsylvania. Hikers have the option of taking the loop clockwise although most would say counter-clockwise is the best. The climb to the first summit, which is the most challenging, brings hikers through forest and alongside grassy meadows. Shortly after cresting the first summit, hikers will reach R...

Mineral Springs is a roadside waterfall near Worlds End State Park. It is worth the stop to photograph and fairly easy to move around on either side of the run to get different angles.   This is a run not far from Canyon Vista which is another popular spot. The waterfall sits just off Mineral Springs Road, there is a small bridge over the run and small pull-offs on either side. This is a grave...

The access to this trail is from a mountain road, Clay Mine Road. From Stony Fork, follow Dibble Hill Road to Clay Mine Road, once on Clay Mine Road, follow into the forest and park at the first gravel parking area on the right. You will see the unmarked trail at the rear of the parking starting as a large grassy path. This path will descend into Pine Island Run in just over a mile. Hiking t...

The 1000 Steps Trail is part of the Standing Stone Trail as it travels up Jack's Mountain in State Game Lands Number 112.  There happens to be 1,037 steps but who's counting!  This is a great workout hike with many great views and an interesting piece of history if you hang a left at the top and check out the Dinky Shed which was a maintenance facility for dinky trains built 1938. This trail is...

Unlike many other springs you'll find, this pool has basically no barriers to entry – it is accessible via a short hike, has no fee, and is available year-round. While the temperature is less than 100 degrees, the scenic surroundings make up for the slightly less than hot water.

This waterfall can be seen directly from the road but can also easily be missed when driving route 14.   There is a small parking lot across the street to stop and enjoy the falls and take a few photos.  It sits right on the border of Montour Falls just south of Watkins Glen.   Aunt Sarah's Falls is a seasonal waterfall, so it is best to visit in the spring or after a rainfall.  However,  it i...

The trail is marked as #19 on Letchworth State Park maps also known as Gibsonville Trail. The trailhead is located in the northern section of the park between the Highbanks Recreation area and the Highbanks Tent and Trailer camping. There is parking just north of the bridge that crosses the Silver Lake Outlet.Follow trail #19 to the east of the road and explore the remains of what was once th...

The Quehanna Wild Area is an amazing place and Table Falls is one of the easy to get to spots to explore. There is a small parking for a couple cars on the forest road, Red Run Road. The road will have a U bend over Paige Run and parking is just after the bridge. There is a sign and some blazes that lead you on a short hike to the falls.   Paige Run is beautiful and photogenic, take time to e...

The parking can be found along Colton Road heading toward Colton Point State Park. There is a large sign opposite the parking and the trail is a wide gravel path through the woods. It is 0.7 miles walk on the path to the vista suitable for anyone. You then have the option to head back or create a small loop to return to the parking area. The trail intersects with the West Rim Trail and in the...