A Pennsylvania Day Trip on Summer Vacation

One day during on summer vacation, I want to leave the Finger Lakes for a day trip down to Pennsylvania. Not just to see run down farms with blackened burn barrels, smelly goat and hog farms, or to get cheap smokes, but break up the scenery and same old of the Finger Lakes all week long. While I like driving the rural roads in farm country, I also want to spend some time in Pennsylvania Wilds. But I don’t want to necessarily do the Pine Creek Bike Trail or Leonard Harrison State Park, I feel like I’ve done them before, especially the later. So I asked Google Gemani for options:

Several scenic hikes and natural areas in the greater Mansfield and northern-central Pennsylvania region provide beautiful overlooks, lakes, and waterfalls without stepping foot onto the heavily trafficked Leonard Harrison, Colton Point, or Pine Creek Rail Trail paths.

• Hills Creek Lake Trail: Located right down the road in Hills Creek State Park, this easy, roughly 2.5- to 3-mile circuit wraps closely around the shoreline. It features excellent birdwatching, active beaver dams, and glassy morning water views. [1, 2, 3]
• Ives Run Nature Walk: Situated just north of Mansfield at the Tioga-Hammond Lakes Recreation Area, the Ives Run Nature Walk provides a flat, highly scenic 6.1-mile loop. It traces marshes and open water, making it a hotspot for spotting bald eagles and osprey. [1, 2]
• Sand Run Falls Trail: Tucked into the state forest lands south of Wellsboro, this Sand Run Falls Trail is a moderate 6.3-mile trek. It winds through peaceful northern hardwood stands and leads directly to a secluded, rushing 25-foot waterfall. [1, 2]
• Gillespie Point: Located slightly further south near Blackwell, this Gillespie Point trail is a short but steep 1.9-mile climb via the Mid-State Trail. Known locally as the “Matterhorn of the Northern Tier,” the peak yields an expansive 360-degree view of the surrounding endless mountains and river valleys. [1, 2]
• Green Monster Trail: For experienced hikers seeking a strenuous backcountry challenge, the Green Monster Trail is a rugged, highly technical 14.3-mile loop. It features brutal ridge climbs, rocky footpaths, and hidden vistas deeply isolated from public park roads. [1]
• Worlds End State Park – Located southeast of Mansfield in Sullivan County, Worlds End State Park features the Canyon Vista Trail (a moderate 4-mile loop) and the rugged Loyalsock Trail system. The park is famous for its wild, boulder-strewn topography, pristine cold-water streams, and sharp drop-offs.
• Rock Run & Spur Line Trail – Located west in Lyman Run State Park, this shorter 2.3-mile trail guides hikers through old-growth maples and massive fern-blanketed boulders up to the Lyman Lake Vista. It is a premier location for viewing autumn foliage and brilliant sunsets over the water.

Of those options, Gillespie Point in Blackwell seems to really capture my eye. I think that could be the basis for a really good day trip. Here is a potential agenda:

Drive down to Elmira then take NY 14 to PA 14 down to Troy, Penna. Then down to Canton, and over to Liberty on PA 414 and ultimately Morris to Blackwell. PA 414 is kind of a slow road with a lot of hills and speed zones, but the SuperDuty should handle it well and lots of chances to see rundown farmsteads with blackened burn barrels, enjoy the country air on a beautiful summer day.

Hike Gillespie Point in Blackwell. That looks like a great hike. Do some of the Pine Creek Gorge Rail Trail on a bike – maybe head further south along the Pine Creek Gorge as I turned around last time around Cedar Run. Might be fun to actually park further south at Cedar Run or even Hillborn / Slate Run and ride north from there on the east side on the Pine Creek George Trail. The section of PA 414 along Bull Run Point is narrow one laner up on the ledge that is pretty scenic, as is the old Hillborn Pine Creek Bridge. And it looks like that part of the Pine Creek Gorge Trial north of Hillborn is quite rural and scenic.

After that adventure, back track north almost to Blackwell but hop on West Ridge Road and wind my way up along the West Rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. There are a few scenic views, and a few sections that are a bit rough on the road, but I’m sure the SuperDuty will handle it all well. Get to Leonard Harrison Park, do the Balbour Rock Trail in the afternoon/evening.

From there, take Marsh Creek Road to the Wellsboro Junction, and PA 287 north to Tioga. Maybe stop at that park at Marsh Creek. Not along that road, open scenery (lots of mountains and not many farms), and a few slow hick towns but mostly on the southern end before reaching Tioga. But by then I expect dark to be rapidly approaching, so I might just hop on Interstate 99 to Painted Post, then take NY 414 Beaver Dams straight for Watkins Glen and then back to camp. I might get back after dark, but the SuperDuty has excellent headlights, and it even dims them automatically as other cars approach.