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Distance:
2.9 Miles / 4.7 km
Type:
Loop
Difficulty:
Moderate
Time to Hike:
1 hour, ~27 minutes
Features:
PA Wilds
Surface Type:
Dirt
Park:
Rider Park
Town:
Trout Run, Pennsylvania
Directions:
41.347291, -76.93645
Added:
June 24, 2020
Updated:
June 25, 2020

The Katy Jane Trail at Rider Park in Trout Run, Pennsylvania is a moderate 2.9-mile loop trail that leads to two stunning vista points - Katy Jane East Vista and the Katy Jane West Vista - along with a seasonal Winter Vista called Sunset Point.

The trailhead can be found just south of the parking area at the main parking lot at Rider Park. This trail follows yellow dot blazes and some regular yellow paint rectangle blazes - the blazes are easy to follow. The hike starts off heading clockwise around the loop, by first ascending Katy Jane Mountain, which is not the easiest hike for everyone.

Katy Jane East Vista
After approximately 0.7-miles, hikers will reach the first vista point along the trail - Katy Jane East Vista. Here, you can take in stunning views heading eastward looking down the Loyalsock Creek Gorge. The noticeable sights here are the Allegheny Mountains which mark the edge of the Allegheny Plateau to your right-hand side, Smith Knob straight ahead down the gorge, and Wallis Run to your left-hand side.

After taking in the views at the Katy Jane East Vista, the remainder of the hike is much easier than the initial climb since the trail follows the Katy Jane Mountain ridge.

Katy Jane West Vista
Not long after hiking along the mostly-flat Katy Jane Mountain ridge, hikers will come across the second vista point - the Katy Jane West Vista. This stunning vista point gives hikers a view of Loyalsock Creek, farm lands within the valley below, and mountains in the distance - including Bald Eagle Mountain.

Around mile 1.27, hikers will reach a junction with the Saddle Trail (red blazes), which bisects this trail making for a shorter loop hike if desired. Continuing west along the Katy Jane Trail from here will have a slight amount of elevation gain before the trail flattens out once again before its descent.

Sunset Point (Winter Vista)
The last vista and point of interest along this trail is a seasonal vista named Sunset Point, only worth checking out during the winter.

After visiting Sunset Point, the remainder of the hike is downhill and easy hiking. Follow the yellow blazes to reach the parking lot.

Difficulty
Hiking this trail in a clockwise direction, as shown in the data provided, will be a more difficult hike than counterclockwise; hence the difficulty rating is Moderate.

Parking
Hikers will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided - large enough to fit about dozen cars. Just down the road, as you drive in, there will be an equally-sized parking lot about 100-feet away as well.

History
Katy Jane Mountain has been long associated with the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of individuals, routes and safe shelters that helped people escape slavery before the Civil War. It's not entirely clear who Katy Jane was - some say she was an escaped slave who climbed the mountain each night holding lanterns to signal to other runaways if it was safe to cross Loyalsock Creek or if slave catchers were in pursuit. Others  say that Katy Jane was Katy Jane Chapman, a Quaker woman whose home was at the base of the mountain. She may have left some of the escaping slaves over the old stagecoach road to Trout Run, where they were hidden on baggage cars northbound on the Williamsport-Elmira Railroad.

Facilities
There is a portable-toilet at the trailhead, but there are no running water restrooms available.

Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed.

Biking
Biking is permitted along this trail and the other trails at Rider Park.

Explore 112 trails near Trout Run, PA
  1. Parking

    41.347291, -76.93645
  2. Main Trailhead

    41.347109, -76.936381
  3. Katy Jane East Vista

    41.340985, -76.927185
    Katy Jane East Vista
  4. Katy Jane West Vista

    41.341164, -76.933411
    Katy Jane West Vista
  5. Sunset Point winter vista

    41.343988, -76.948965
    Sunset Point winter vista
Explore other trail routes for this hike, added by the MyHikes Community via Trip Reports.
No community routes found. To add your own route as a Community Route for this Trail guide, please leave a Trip Report with a GPX file on this Trail.

Hazards

Ticks - Lyme Disease More Info (CDC)
Poison Ivy/Oak

Seasons

All

Blaze Color

Yellow

Blaze Dot

Yellow
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358 '

Total Change
699 '

Ascent
665 '

Descent

Photo Albums

1 Trip Report

No Star-Ratings
Write-up by:
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2.9 miles / 4.7 km
Trail added
June 24, 2020
Hiked on
June 20, 2020
Updated on
June 25, 2020

Weather Forecast

In Trout Run, PA

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Dave Miller
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