Billy Lewis Trail
I did another day-hike over the Labor Day weekend. Because I was in Pa at the time I chose something close, the Billy Lewis Trail. Thus trail intrigued me on my short hike on it in July. I decided to do as much of it as I could reasonably do on a day-hike. I had/have no map of the trail so I looked it up on the internet. It did not seem to exist at the time I did my last STS backpacking trip (2011) so it had to be a recent work. Anyway, I found a map on-line and decided to hike from the northern end to Patterson State Park, about 7 miles one-way for a 14 mile round trip. I started out in the morning from the forestry headquarters parking area. The trail starts from the back of the lot (unlike the STS itself) and heads in the direction of the duck pond loop. At the junction with the duck pond loop I headed south on the Billy Lewis trail.
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| Start of Billy Lewis Trail |
The trail is apparently named that because it runs near the Billy Lewis
road (a dirt road). The day was cloudy and a bit misty rain.That is less
than ideal hiking weather, but also not overly hot which I appreciated. I
kept up a decent pace because I wanted to do all 14 miles in a
reasonable amount of time. Did I say it is laid out for cross-country
skiing? Because it serves as a cross-country ski trail it does not have
any tough grades.
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| Trail junction with road |
On the other hand it also is permitted to ride horses on it and some
locations had noticeable horse damage (torn up trail, manure and wet
spots). I do not know if the riders do anything about the damage, but
they do make the trail less than ideal to walk on. I did notice one bad
spot that seemed to be undergoing repairs (state performed or an
equestrian organization I do not know). Like I said it was misting, but I
did see some remaining blackberries along the trail which were tasty.
However, at one point I got a surprise. Right by the trail was a large
bird with what appeared to be a bent wing. I was a bit nervous not
knowing how it would react. I worried it might get upset by my presence.
I tried to walk by it but it kept hopping down the trail, half trying
to fly (but obviously could not). I felt bad for its injury. After about
a hundred yards of this it eventually let me by.
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| Bird on trail |
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| Another road-trail junction |
After some more hiking I reached an intersection with an ATV trail and
wouldn't you know it some ATVs came up just then just narrowly missing
me. This co-joining of trails was short lived and I reached a junction
with the STS. I stayed on the Billy Lewis trail and kept hiking south.
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| One Junction of Billy Lewis trail and STS |
After some more walking I reached a point where I could hear cars on
state route 44. This indicated I was getting closer to my destination
(Patterson State park is on state route 44), After crossing along a
lumber cut area I reached another wooded area. The trail came out of the
woods again, but the way was not obvious, i.e., there were no blazes.
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| Billy Lewis trail near state park |
I walked along the obvious trail (unblazed as it was) for a bit when I
noticed the junction with the STS. Knowing the STS also crossed the
state park I took it rather than trusting an unblazed trail.
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| STS near state park |
Five minutes on the STS brought me out to state route 44 across from the
state park, I crossed the road and sat down on a bench in the pavilion
to stay pout of the misty rain to eat my lunch. After about 5 minutes or
so I could hear voices coming from across the road and soon saw two
female trail runners coming towards me. They stopped for water, said
hello and nothing more and then kept on running on the STS in the
southerly direction.
After my lunch I hiked back in the direction I came, but this time I was looking for the Billy Lewis trail both going north and its extension past the state park (for future reference).
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| A junction going north of Billy Lewis trail and Gibbs trail that goes along rt 44 |
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| Billy Lewis trail junction with another trail that heads towards Cherry Springs |
When I reached the junction with the STS again, I stayed on the STS as it appeared to be a more pleasant walk at least as far as the ATV trail. And indeed it was, the trail took me to the below trail junction that heads off to the West Branch Trail.
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| Junction with West Branch Trail |
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| Just another trail sign - note the printing on the back |
After reaching the ATV trail I again got on the Billy Lewis trail, fortunately no ATVs came along, but they did soon after I left the ATV trail. There seemed to be a lot of ATV traffic. I started thinking about the bird on the trail again, wondering if it would still be on the trail when returned on that particular stretch. I worried it would be hungry so when I reached the blackberry patch I picked some berries. And the bird was still on the trail. I tried to throw it some berries but it ignored them. And, like earlier, it hopped down the trail ahead of me until it finally let me by. After another 20 minutes of walking I reached the junction with the Billy Lewis road. And right after that I met a group of horse riders. It appeared to be a guided ride of about a dozen riders. I kept my opinion to myself about the trail damage. Most of them seemed friendly. I kept walking and after another hour I reached the start of the trail again and then my vehicle.
Despite the dampness and gray it was a decent hike and I hope to hike more of the Billy Lewis trail south from the state park to Cherry Springs.
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