Admin’s Trip Reports

Hiked the entire length of this trail with OliverPhineas (OP/original poster), but leaving report mileage at 0 to track mileage in the Summerson - Trout Ridge - Lock Branch Loop trail. The blazes along the John Summerson Trail are difficult to follow, even in the beginning where it splits with the Lock Branch Trail near the campsites 0.2 miles in from the parking area. We found a neat rock outcropping on the spine of the mountain, which we nicknamed "Hemlock Rock" on this hike. Also found a series of small waterfall cascades in the 2nd half of the trail. Hikers should note there is one very steep and potentially dangerous section of trail around mile 1.3 where the terrain becomes extremely narrow and slopes at a very steep grade. Last to note - if you hike this as an out-and-back, it might make sense to hike off-trail through the valley below along the creek to avoid the steep slopes - as OliverPhineas did in this trail data.