Cascades on Straight Run

Length: About 16 miles

Parking: pull off at about 41.789883, -77.403146

Blazes: yellow, but are often faded and infrequent.

Trail conditions: The trails are in pretty good shape and are generally easy to follow. Most trail junctures have signs, but you do need to keep an eye out for turns.

Highlights: Scenic streams with cascades and small falls, hemlock gorges, mountain laurel blooms.

Issues: Stream crossings in high water. Need to keep an eye out for turns. Extensive logged area along Plantation Trail. Drill pad.

Difficulty: Moderate with some steep slopes. Similar to the Susquehannock Trail.

Direction of description: Loop is described counterclockwise.

Description: The Green Monster Trail is a 30+ mile loop that is beloved by trail runners and hosts a trail race in October. In March, I hiked the west loop and I returned to hike the east. The east loop may be the more popular of the two.

From the parking area, follow the Straight Run Trail and veer right onto the Deer Trail. Reach a road; do not follow the grassy grade behind a gate (Point A). The trail is a hundred feet or so to the right, just down the road. Climb up the Deer Trail, which levels off for a bit and then climbs more steeply. The woods are scenic. The top levels off and reaches a road. Across the road is Horse Lane Trail (if I remember correctly), this might be a better bypass around a gas well pad that you will soon cross, but I did not hike it.

The loop turns right on the road and then veers right into the woods. The trail goes along a giant drill pad and then returns to the woods with laurel. Turn left at a trail juncture and descend into a glen. An obvious trail joins from the left, this might be the other end of the Horse Lane Trail bypass. Descend the glen with cascades on your left. Reach a road and turn left. Turn right on Canada Run Road and then turn right onto Oil Well Hollow Trail. This is a highlight with a scenic gorge. There are hemlock and pine trees. As you hike, you can look down on the tumbling creek below. I skipped Bark Slide and Lost Trails as I didn’t see the point. The hike along the creek was probably much more scenic anyways. The climb steepened with cascades, leveled, crossed a road, and then I descended Carpenter Trail. Here, there was a pretty glen with small cascades. I reached the bottom, crossed a creek, and reached Spoor Hollow Road. Turn left and walk up the road.

Reach Stinger Trail. Here you have a decision. I recommend you skip Stinger and Plantation Trails. Stinger is quite steep, but that’s not the problem. When you reach the top, Plantation Trail passes extensive areas that have been logged. The trail was in good shape, but on one side you have clearcuts, and the other are no trespassing signs. Not exactly the most scenic hiking. Hiking Spoor Hollow Road might be the better option.

Things improve with the Jim Close Trail as it winds through scenic woodlands and along hemlocks with potential camping. Hike down a glen with pine and hemlocks, cross a road, and follow Birch Still Trail down into glens with cascading creeks, another fine spot. Climb to the top of the plateau. Reach Broad Ridge Trail and make a steep, eroded descent with loose gravel the trail runners call Frankenstein’s Forehead.

Turn left onto Left Straight Run Trail. This is a highlight, a sublime creekside hike with an assortment of small falls and cascades. It’s beautiful. There are also several water crossings, so expect wet feet and avoid in high water. Sidestreams tumble down with waterfalls. There is potential camping in places. The scenery improves as you head downstream with some larger falls and bedrock grottos. Complete the loop and retrace your steps.

I enjoyed this loop and suspect it would be even better with the two possible bypasses. It’s a fun, scenic hike with some challenge. Overall, I think the Green Monster Trail-West Loop is a better and more beautiful loop, but this one is worth doing as well.

Yellow highlight is my route. Blue highlight is a possible bypass around a drill pad, but I did not hike it. Red highlight is a bypass on Spoor Hollow Rd. Blue dots are cascades and small falls. PC is potential camping. Locations are approximate.

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