Cornhead
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
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Date(s) Hiked:8/31/2012
Trails(s) Hiked:Turkey Path, Overlook Trail
Total Distance:2.6 miles
Difficulty:moderate
Conditions:Sunny, high 80's
Special Required Equipment:
Trip Report:
My local PBS station plays video clips of scenic local parks between shows. One of these is of Leonard Harrison State Park near Wellsboro PA. I had Friday off, so I decided to take a trip to check it out. First let me say, I hope fracking does not come to NY state. I've never seen so many trucks on rural routes in my life, they were everywhere. I can only attribute the traffic to fracking.There are only two trails to hike at the park, Turkey Path, a switchback mile long 800ft drop to Pine Creek at the base of the canyon, and Overlook Trail, a .6 mile loop on the southern end of the park. There is 62 miles of multi-use rail trail that runs along the Pine Creek, basically a dirt road. I came across several cyclist on this trail.
I started down the Turkey Path first. This trail switchbacks until almost reaching the bottom. There it runs along a creek gorge, the trail at that point consists of wooden walkways and numerous stairs. There is a similar park on the opposite side of the canyon, Colton Point, as I began my hike, I spoke with a couple who had hiked across the creek, and up to the rim of Colton Point. There is no crossing at the creek, but it is easily traversed. The climb back up to the base would really get your heart pumping if you hiked it all at once. I took advantage of the many built in benches along the way, this made it a rather easy climb.After completing the Turkey Path, I hiked the Overlook Trail. This trail heads east into the woods, hits another creek, runs along the creek until you hit the Otter View overlook, which looks south down the canyon. From the Otterview overlook, it is a short steep climb along the rim, back to the base of the park.I would recommend Leonard Harrison for anyone nearby that is interested in a fairly easy, short, day hike. There is some camping available, but I didn't check the sites.
![IMG_20120831_184955.jpg IMG_20120831_184955.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/259-7bcc8ebed4dbf5a046941ac1e0e3caf2.jpg)
View from Otter View overlook
![IMG_20120831_183833.jpg IMG_20120831_183833.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/260-a59c6ccdadf8851400342749293130fd.jpg)
CCC statue
![IMG_20120831_180529.jpg IMG_20120831_180529.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/261-777cb4d9577b70bf63a70b63302e5ce2.jpg)
Wooden walkway on lower portion of the Turkey Path
![IMG_20120831_173553.jpg IMG_20120831_173553.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/262-71d695dc00c04f28735aa7f4eaae77ee.jpg)
Pine Creek
![IMG_20120831_184914.jpg IMG_20120831_184914.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/263-134d6eea73b4ab71fba5af3f988b604e.jpg)
Otter View overlook
Trails(s) Hiked:Turkey Path, Overlook Trail
Total Distance:2.6 miles
Difficulty:moderate
Conditions:Sunny, high 80's
Special Required Equipment:
Trip Report:
My local PBS station plays video clips of scenic local parks between shows. One of these is of Leonard Harrison State Park near Wellsboro PA. I had Friday off, so I decided to take a trip to check it out. First let me say, I hope fracking does not come to NY state. I've never seen so many trucks on rural routes in my life, they were everywhere. I can only attribute the traffic to fracking.There are only two trails to hike at the park, Turkey Path, a switchback mile long 800ft drop to Pine Creek at the base of the canyon, and Overlook Trail, a .6 mile loop on the southern end of the park. There is 62 miles of multi-use rail trail that runs along the Pine Creek, basically a dirt road. I came across several cyclist on this trail.
I started down the Turkey Path first. This trail switchbacks until almost reaching the bottom. There it runs along a creek gorge, the trail at that point consists of wooden walkways and numerous stairs. There is a similar park on the opposite side of the canyon, Colton Point, as I began my hike, I spoke with a couple who had hiked across the creek, and up to the rim of Colton Point. There is no crossing at the creek, but it is easily traversed. The climb back up to the base would really get your heart pumping if you hiked it all at once. I took advantage of the many built in benches along the way, this made it a rather easy climb.After completing the Turkey Path, I hiked the Overlook Trail. This trail heads east into the woods, hits another creek, runs along the creek until you hit the Otter View overlook, which looks south down the canyon. From the Otterview overlook, it is a short steep climb along the rim, back to the base of the park.I would recommend Leonard Harrison for anyone nearby that is interested in a fairly easy, short, day hike. There is some camping available, but I didn't check the sites.
![IMG_20120831_184955.jpg IMG_20120831_184955.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/259-7bcc8ebed4dbf5a046941ac1e0e3caf2.jpg)
View from Otter View overlook
![IMG_20120831_183833.jpg IMG_20120831_183833.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/260-a59c6ccdadf8851400342749293130fd.jpg)
CCC statue
![IMG_20120831_180529.jpg IMG_20120831_180529.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/261-777cb4d9577b70bf63a70b63302e5ce2.jpg)
Wooden walkway on lower portion of the Turkey Path
![IMG_20120831_173553.jpg IMG_20120831_173553.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/262-71d695dc00c04f28735aa7f4eaae77ee.jpg)
Pine Creek
![IMG_20120831_184914.jpg IMG_20120831_184914.jpg](https://forums.alpinezone.com/data/attachments/0/263-134d6eea73b4ab71fba5af3f988b604e.jpg)
Otter View overlook
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