Mill Mountain Hike
Either done as a longer day hike or overnight backpack, this circuit includes Big Schloss, Mill Mountain, and Stony Creek. The views from Big Schloss are spectacular, and there are also nice views of Trout Run Valley from the Mill Mountain trail. On the hike down Stony Creek you pass the PATC Sugar Knob Cabin, then camping options abound with multiple large campsites along the banks of Stony Creek. If you're looking for more solitude check out the Little Schloss hike that also descends Stony Creek but follows the Little Sluice Mountain ridgeline instead of Mill Mountain.-
Mile 0.0 - Walk west on FS92 towards Big Schloss for 0.5 miles to reach the Big Schloss Cut-Off Trail (don't take the old faded trail but continue for 100 more yards.
-
Mile 0.5 - Turn right and ascend the Big Schloss Cut-Off Trail. Roughly 0.5 miles from the ridgeline the trail becomes much steeper and makes several switchbacks before arriving at the Mill Mountain Trail. The Big Schloss Cut-Off Trail gains over 1,100 feet in lest than 1.5 miles.
-
Mile 1.9 - At the ridge turn left on the orange blazed Mill Mountain Trail for 0.9 miles
-
Mile 2.8 - Turn left uphill on the white blazed lookout trail to go to the Big Schloss vista.
-
Mile 3.1 - Arrive at the Big Schloss overlook. There are 270° views of Tibbet Knob, Trout Run Valley, Halfmoon Mountain, Little Sluice Mountain, and Little Schloss. The overlook can be crowded as it is also accessible from the Wolf Gap Recreation are on the Big Schloss hike. From the Big Schloss overlook return to the Big Schloss Cut-Off trail intersection with the Mill Mountain Trail.
-
Mile 4.3 - Continue north along the ridgeline and orange blazed Mill Mountain Trail. There are views through the trees of Trout Valley to the west as well as campsites along the trail.
-
Mile 6.0 - Pass Sandstone Spring with good campsites and the top of Gutter Run. Continue for 1.4 miles passing over the high point of Mill Mountain to the intersection of the Tuscarora Trail and end of the Mill Mountain Trail.
-
Mile 7.4 - Turn right downhill onto the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail for 0.6 miles and arrive at the intersection of the yellow blazed Stony Creek Trail just past a great camping spot on the right.
-
Mile 8.0 - Turn right down the yellow blazed Little Stoney Creek Trail, and in 100 yards pass the PATC Sugar Knob Cabin, then 70 yards further down the trail is a seasonal spring. The yellow blazed Little Stoney Creek Trail will continue down the valley for 2.5 miles before reaching the next campsite along the banks of the creek. Pass several more campsites in the remaining 1.3 miles to FDR92, and Little Stoney Creek parking area.
-
Mile 11.8 - Arrive back at the parking area on FDR92.
