Allegheny Trail

Section III Trail Conditions

Trail report for a portion of Section III of the Allegheny Trail             

            As of October 8, 2007 the trail conditions on Section III between Marlin Mtn. MP 17.52 and Watoga State Park’s Beaver Creek Campground (MP 41.41) are described below.  MPs 17.52-21.56 are well blazed and brushed.  MPs 21.56-41.11 have fading blazes.  The turns at MPs 22.77 and 22.89 are easily missed.  In addition, there is another turn southward of MP 22.89, that has been rendered easy to miss with the addition of an illegal ATV trail that continues straight down the spur while traveling N-S, while the ALT turns 90 degrees to the Right.  The remainder of the descent off of the southern end of Marlin Mtn. is fairly clear of brush and blowdowns, but the tread is sloughing.

            Between Gilden Hollow (MP 26.84) and MP 32.57 on Buckley Mtn. the trail is fairly clear of brush and blowdowns.  However, the addition of a new gate near the old gate near the top of the mountain at MP 28.44, may cause confusion based upon the description in the guidebook.  You must pass through the first gate, but not the second gate before you turn Left off of the gravel road. 

            At MP 32.57, the trail leaves a woods road in a fork, and ascends the ridgeline.  There are 15-year old clear cuts along each of the forks, but the Allegheny Trail between the forks is well timbered.  From MP 32.57 to MP 34.34 the trail follows the main ridgeline, but there are several blowdowns there, which combined with the fading blazes, may cause you to miss the trail at a few locations.  The descent into Beaver Creek gorge (MPs 34.34-35.04) is rough going with blowdowns, numerous switchbacks, overhanging brush, and sloughing tread.  Take your time to avoid accidentally following a deer trail or the original route of the old Buckley Mtn. Trail.  The trees in the vicinity of the bridge (MP 35.44) have grown enough to provide nice cover for a pleasant campsite near the bridge.  There is a nice hole of water in Beaver Creek just 300 yards or so downstream of the bridge.  Even in low flow periods the bedrock water hole is waist deep.  The ascent southward out of Beaver Creek is also a bit rough due to sloughing tread and overhanging great laurel, but it is relatively short, perhaps ¾ mile. 

            At MP 37.64, the guidebook mistakenly identifies USFS Road #748 as Chicken House Run Road.  At MP 38.05 is where the trail almost reaches Chicken House Run Road, which becomes the North Boundary Road identified in the guidebook.  There are a very few, easily negotiable blowdowns between MP 38.05 and Beaver Creek Campground (MP 41.41), with a little encroachment of white pine branches between the Park North Entrance Road (MP 39.31) and the campground.  Be careful at MP 40.11 where the ALT leaves Laurel Ridge Trail when you are traveling N-S.  Faded blazes here may cause you to miss the Left turn.