Black Forest Trail
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Located in the Tiadaghton State Forest, the Black Forest Trail and it's many side trails reside in Lycoming and Potter counites. The Black Forest Tail is a loop of 42 miles begining and ending just north of Slate Run, PA. The Black Forest Trail gets its name from the dense hemlocks that once grew here, keeping the forest floor in an everlasting darkness. The trail is challenging with many steep ascents and descents. However, the vistas make it worth the effort.
The Black Forest Trail is routed in a way that you don't have to hike the entire trail. There are many places where the trail crosses forest roads so that a shuttle hike can be arranged. You can also hike numerous loops using some of the side trails as well as road hiking. My most favorite trail in all of Pennsylvania, you will find the views breath taking, numerous camping site, plenty of water, and beautiful woods full of wildlife.
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My Hikes @ Black Forest Trail
Topo Map - Black Forest Trail and Side Trails
Trail Ratings
 Reviewed by Ironboots of Landenberg, PA 06/14/2009 |
| Hiked 23 miles of this trail starting at Slate Run parking lot and up the Lemon Squeeze to Little Slate Run (camped at this site) and then the next day continued on to Naval Run and as we were hiking just above Naval Run a bear above me (at a higher elavation) on the right side of the trail popped his head up and stared at me (we were about 100 feet apart). I called my dog Harley (a.ka. Ironpaws) back to me and grabbed her leash. I moved back down the trail and the bear crossed the trail and then crossed Naval Run. We proceeded to move forward and here comes another bear down the mountain towards us. We moved back down the trail again to let this bear pass. The whole event was awesome to witness, without any confrontation. Keep your bear spray ready to fire when hiking this trail. Hiked about 16 miles back to the starting point. It was a good work out and we will be back this fall to hike the whole loop. |
Reviewed by Dave Doyle of Erie, PA 04/20/2009 |
| After two section hikes, completed a circuit hike 4/16-4/18. Used the new guide and map (10/08) by Chuck Dillion of Pine Creek Outfitters. Great vistas, bio-diversity, water falls, scenic streams and camping. Has pretty much everything some PA hikes have only one or two of. Difficult, but well worth the effort. I do have some hints for those thinking of doing this trail. Practice every ultra light technique you know of. The pounds can really be felt on the frequent ascents/descents. I found hiking poles to be indispensable aids on this trail. The high water routes are there for a reason, use them if it has been wet. Skip the leisurely lunch and take shorter and more frequent stops. This will allow you to enjoy the many vistas. Plan on 4 days to really appreciate the trail. Highly Recommended. |
Reviewed by luke truelove of Warrington, PA 04/17/2009 |
| Two of my brothers, my uncle and three friends of ours hiked the bft on the weekend of 4/11. We did 10 miles the first day and let me say that this trail is pretty awesome and chllenging. we hiked for three days and ended up cutting down the sentiero de shay to get back because two in our group were having knee problems. Amazing vistas and some beautiful and changing scenery. i will definetly be doing this in the fall with all of the leaves in color. |
Reviewed by Jamon Andrus of Lock Haven, PA 04/14/2009 |
| I have hiked a little over half of the BFT in the last year over three hikes. I love the BFT. It is a challening trail with some of the best vistas I've ever seen. The last hike was early January 2009, and there was snow on top the moutain 8" deep with some areas of drifts above the knee. It was the toughest hike to date. I am looking forward to completing the hike this year, and I'm considering rehiking sections to complete the entire loop in the fall! The BFT is PA's best trail!!!! |
 Reviewed by rl2000 of Providence, RI 03/26/2009 |
| Just did the whole loop in 2.5 days. Sub-freezing night temperatures surely scared-off other hikers, so I was alone the whole time. Views were also amazing because of this: leaves do not obscure views and there is no haze. On the other hand, water freezing in the bottle is annoying. Saw a bear from a distance of about 300 yards (are they more dangerous in spring, when they are hungry? Fortunately, didn't have to figure it out). Again, because of the temperature, there were no other predators, especially the most bloodthirsty one, the mosquito. What is special about this trail is that it has a LOT of escape trails, but probably because of this BFT is crowded in season. |
Reviewed by Brian Swehla of Lebanon, PA 03/21/2009 |
| I just finished hiking this trail with a good friend of mine. We hiked the entire trail in 3.5 days (3/17-3/20/2009). It was rugged and challenging but extremely rewarding with a variety of terrain and amazing vistas. We also had some interesting weather, including a 70 degree day on 3/18 and a snowy 19 degree morning on 3/20 (the first day of spring). I agree with the advice that this should not be your first backpacking trip. If you're looking for a great place to eat after your hike, I recommend Birdhouse Restaurant in Montoursville. |
Reviewed by Melanie of Cleveland, OH 02/23/2009 |
| My dad and I have been backpacking since I was ten. I'm 15 now, and we just backpacked the Black Forest Trail in early November. By far my favorite- we saw a black bear out there, despite the winter. Be warned! Don't go to late in the fall or you'll get trapped in snow. Definitely a physical effort, requires some serious athleticism. Some places were so steep they were practically a technical climb. I'm a long distance runner and it was still pretty difficult. We did it in three days. Best trail, most beautiful scenery. Definitely hike this trail, but make sure you're in shape for it! |
Reviewed by Tom Van Etten of Latham, NY 01/21/2009 |
| I hiked the BFT in two overnight trips (combined with some other of the connector trails) a few years ago. It has all the ingredients needed for a classic backpacking experience. Even with its popularity I saw very few people on the trail. The many other trails in this area just add to the possibilities for alternate adventures for every skill level and amounts of time. Don't just concentrate on the BFT, the other trails here have even fewer people and many of the same advantages. |
Reviewed by Alex Rovnan of Lancaster, PA 01/13/2009 |
| I Parked at the Slate Run Access Area and Hiked the first 14 miles of the trail from Slate Run to PA 44 on 1/2-1/3, camping just shy of the road. I had planned for a 3 day hike of the entire trail, but deep snow accumulations slowed me down to less than 1.5mph. On the 2nd day I cut my losses and looped back to Slate Run using the Ski path along PA 44 and Slate Run Road to make a ~20mi total loop. The trail is rugged in winter, with deep snow accumulations making even the flat areas difficult. However, the mountain tops still afford great views. This is a superb trail, however I still think I prefer the Tioga regions of the Mid State trail in terms of scenery. I plan to get out for another 2 days and finish up the BFT before spring. Happy Hiking. |
Reviewed by mark uhland of Williamsport, PA 01/08/2009 |
| I love this trail iv done about 20 miles so far and cant wait to finish it up. The side trails are great if i want to take my w ife for a short overnight. The views are great. I cant wait to see it in the spring. Last week was cold(1/3/2009- 1/4/2009. Finetouch01@hotmail.com |
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