History
Masten, PA opened up its sawmills around 1905. The town was filled with lumberjacks, railroad workers, and mill workers bringing the hemlock and maple tress from the forests to the rest of America. The loggers moved away in 1930 and the land that had formerly belonged to the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Co. was bought by the state. The trail follows a lot of the same paths and railroad grades used by the loggers and railroad workers.
Philosophy
The OLP is not a destination trail - it's a loop, bringing you back to your vehicle at the trailhead. If one has to make time due to bad weather, injury, fatigue, etc. one can BAIL OUT. This route will get you back to your car faster than finishing the rest of the trail.
Character
This trail is easy to moderate with a few rough spots. Two hard climbs stick out as well as a few slippery descents. If this is your first backpacking trip, bring someone with experience in hiking/camping.
Best Times to Hike
Spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom or fall, when the leaves are changing colors. 3-Day weekends are when the trails get the most traffic, don't go during this time if you're looking to be alone. Winter travel is all about snowshoes and skis.
Camping Permits
You need a permit, call or write these folks, they're here to help. Permits and map are both free anyway.
Tiadaghton State Forest
423 E. Central Avenue
S. Williamsport, PA 17701
(717) 327-3450 or (570) 327-3450
Water
OLP has so many springs and runs that I didn't bother to take note of them. You should always boil, filter, or chemically treat your water.
Fires
As far as I know, small camp fires are permitted at campsites and only near water. Open fires are probably not permitted when the forest fire danger is high or extreme. Remember, when you do get a fire going, leave your testosterone at home and keep the fire small.
Emergencies
Know some first aid. Get to a phone and dial 911. There's a hospital in Williamsport.
Groups
The more people you take, the more complicated things get, and the slower you go. However, sometimes, the more the merrier. I wouldn't take less than 2 nor more than 8, and I think Tiadaghton State Forest suggests you keep it to 10 or less. Also, try to stay together. Nothing worse than a hike interupted by a search mission.
Area
The OLP is contained in the Tiadaghton State Forest around Masten, PA and Kettle Creek in Lyoming County. Trail is covered by the Grover, Barbours, Bodines and Ralston 7.5" U.S.G.S. quadrangles.
Trail Registers
There are boxes along the trails, they are for your protection, read a bit and sign them.
Trail Description - This is from the DCNR map and my memory, so descriptions are approximate.
Trail is blazed with orange rectangles. Two rectangles signify a change in direction.
Mile 0.0 - at the Old Loggers Path trailhead. Elev. 1550' Masten Ghost Town is actually downhill a hundred feet or so. To get to the start of the trail (with your back to the trailhead) go uphill to the left on Pleasant Stream Rd. Trail will be on your right heading North.
Mile 1 - trail makes a sharp left and heads uphill. 400 ft. climb and a campsite at the top. I believe there's a Register somewhere along here.
Mile 1.67 - OLP merges with the Cherry Ridge trail for about half a mile.
Mile 2.43 - OLP heads West
Mile 3 - merges with Sharp Shinned Trail
Mile 4 - small campsite along stream
Mile 4.5 - start an easy descent - trail stays along Rock Run.
Mile 6.37 - Yellow Dog Run merges with Rock Run in beautiful cascading waterfalls, deep pools, and a small chasm. Good camping on both sides of Yellow Dog Run. Elev. 1400' Trail heads uphill SE, eventually curving around to the NW.
Mile 8 - Elev. 1900', a campsite, and Yellow Dog Rd.
*To Bail Out (about 5.5 miles) back to the trailhead - make a left on Yellow Dog Rd. heading S for about 1 mile, make a left at the T on Ellenton Ridge Rd. heading NE for about 2.5 miles, make a right (onto the OLP) heading S where the trail crosses the road for about 2 miles. Trail should look familiar at this point.*
Mile 8.1 - Register
Mile 9 - Blue blazed trail on the right. Follow this trail a hundred ft. to a decent Vista with another Register. Trail heads S from here.
Mile 10.05 - Doe Run, Elev. 1800', good camping on both sides of stream.
Mile 10.59, the map says BIG ROCKS, but all I saw was a big rattlesnake.
Mile 11.5 - Here's where I saw some big rocks. Crosses Buck Run, campsite. OLP continues SW and starts a climb up Sullivan Mountain
Mile 12 - two Vistas, eventually trail heads E
Mile 12.5 - Vista at the summit - Elev. 2144'.
Mile 12.75 - Campsite
Mile 14 - start descending S
Mile 14.75 - Long Run, Elev. 1600' ok camping here. Trail continues S and eventually descends to Elev. 1200'
Mile 15.94 - crosses Pleasant Stream Rd. - trail heads E
*To Bail Out (about 4.5 miles back to trailhead) make a left on Pleasant Stream Rd. heading E*
Mile 16.25 - There's a campsite down the slope towards Pleasant Stream
Mile 16.9 - crosses Pleasant Stream, Elev. 1300'. This crossing can be easy to difficult depending on the water level and temperature. The toughest climb of the trail (850') starts here heading S along Butternut Run.
Mile 18.25 - Crosses Merrell Rd. in a couple places and continues E
Mile 19.09 - Sharp Top Vista (great panoramic view) Elev. 2123'. Trail eventually winds E descending to Elev. 1600' and crosses some streams.
Mile 20 - Good camping on both sides of Wallis Run. This is the last good campsite for 6 miles.
Mile 21 - Register and campsite, trail crosses Cascade Rd.
Mile 21.75 - trail heads uphill, Elev. 1750'
Mile 22.5 - Sprout Point Vista (1/10th mile blue blazed side trail leads to it), Elev. 2100', campsite here. Trail heads NE
Mile 23 - camping. Crosses a couple roads and goes by a hunting lodge.
Mile 24.5 - trail heads NW. There's a nice spring (might be the start of Bear Run) running under the trail somewhere along here.
Mile 25.16 - trail starts descent
Mile 26.17 - end of downhill, the trail does a 180 and there is good camping to the right of the trail about 200' towards Pleasant Stream. There's a little over a mile left of the trail at this point.
Mile 26.5 - Register
Mile 27.31 - End of trail.