The Alpine Club of Williamsport, PA, organized in 1953, maintains the 59.71 mile Loyalsock Trail (LT) and has trail care hikes and other outings. Hike offerings will appear on the Activity Schedule page of this web site. Alpine Club membership is open to anyone over the age of 18.
The Alpine Club invites you to hike the Loyalsock Trail in hopes that you will enjoy, explore, and protect the wild lands and places of natural beauty!
Announcement — New 21st Edition of LT Guide!!
The new 21st Edition of the Guide to the Loyalsock Trail and Side Trails is now available. Go to the Order LT Guides webpage for where to purchase this newest LT Guide with the accompanying Maps.
As more and more major changes and re-routings are made to the LT, as a result of Gas Well activity, PennDot requirements, Park and Forestry recommendations, extreme Weather resolutions, etc., it is recommended that you use this most current 21st Edition of the LT Guide. However, always keep in mind that whichever Edition of the LT Guide and Maps you use, whether something you printed off the Internet or a previous Edition you acquired, you should always follow the Red-Lettered Yellow LT Blazes, to ensure you are on the correct path. We update these Blazes on the Trail as soon as changes are made and before we publish any announcements, addendums or Trail Sign Postings.
You are not lost if you are following this Blaze:
A few somewhat major route changes are now in this Edition. First is the reroute due to Gas Well activity on the Allegheny Front, between Miles 3.03 and 3.83. The second is the reroute near Worlds End State Park, between Miles 45.57 and 46.58. Both these reroutes are still listed on this Website’s Alerts and Home Pages, for redundancy and for anyone not using this new Guide.
We invite you to acquire this new 21st Edition and use it to enjoy arguably the best Hiking Trail in Pennsylvania!
Trail Reroute Near World’s End
PennDot has determined they don’t want the LT crossing Route 154 at a blind crossing. That LT crossing had been at Mile 45.94, a few hundred feet before meeting the World’s End State Park Visitors Center. The Trail will now detour toward the beach and snack stand. The new route is longer, but far more scenic. The hiker will now get a good tour of the park.
This reroute has been added to our new 21st Edition of our trail guide, but now that the park has finally made changes to the route, we are also mentioning it here and on the Facebook page.The LT no longer passes WESP Visitors Center or meets with the Link Trail. About 100 feet of road separates the two Trails and we hope to post some signage on both sides of this short road walk.
Trail Reroute on Allegheny Front
Due to ongoing Gas Well excavation activity on the Allegheny Front, the LT has been rerouted not far after the vista at Mile 3.03 and near the beginning of the Pete’s Hollow descent at Mile 3.83. This reroute is permanent, and it will slightly change the total Trail mileage, including the Mile Markers. The Map image and link below show the new route. (Future LT Guides and MAP 1 will document and show this updated Trail change.). As always recommended, follow the Red-lettered, Yellow LT Blazes and not the original LT Guide text, during this reroute.
The solid orange line, in the image below from LT Guide Map 1, approximates the new route. To view and/or print a supplement to pp. 11-12 of the LT Guide and Map 1, use the following link: Guide Supplement – Reroute Allegheny Front
Solid Line is reroute:
Gas Well and Pipeline Activity on Allegheny Front
In addition to the above-mentioned Trail reroute, due to Gas Well activity, a few other waypoints should be noted as having some potential hiking disruption:
- At roughly Mile 1.3, the LT crosses a wide clearing that is for water pipes coming up from the Loyalsock Creek.
- At roughly Mile 1.8, the LT, which is going uphilll on Bryan Hay Trail, crosses a new gas road where Forest had previously existed. Gas traffic can possibly pass through here.
- At roughly Mile 3.41, the LT crosses the above-mentioned gas road again, this time going downhill. Also, be aware of gas traffic. This area has also been a trouble spot for Hikers, because of ditches. Eventually, pipes will be all buried, and traffic should become Hikers’ main alert.
You may encounter mud and some Trail disturbance, while the Trail and Forest recover.
Remember, trucks and equipment always have the right of way!
Be safe and enjoy your hike.
The Alpine Club of Williamsport
Reporting Storm or Other Trail Damage or Issues
Please report any Storm Damage here
Current Alerts
Standing Alerts
NO FIRES are permitted anywhere on the LT from March 1 to May 25 and at other times when the fire danger is posted as High, Very High or Extremely High. This fire alert applies to the entire Loyalsock Forest and not just the LT.
NO FIRES are permitted in the Haystacks Area at any time.
You should carry a backpack stove.
Blazes used on the Loyalsock Trail
The LT is blazed with yellow disks having red LT letters in the center. Double blazes warn of an upcoming change in direction of the trail.
Still visible are old 2″ X 6″ rectangular yellow paint blazes with a 1″ horizontal red stripe. Turns were marked with a yellow directional arrow.
Loyalsock Trail
Alpine Club of Williamsport
The Alpine Club invites you to hike the Loyalsock Trail in hopes that you will enjoy, explore, and protect the wild lands and places of natural beauty!