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Distance:
0.3 Miles / 0.5 km
Type:
Loop
Difficulty:
Easy
Time to Hike:
~9 minutes
Features:
PA Wilds
Surface Type:
Dirt
Park:
Susquehannock State Forest
Town:
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Directions:
41.758438, -77.875001
Added:
June 15, 2020
Updated:
February 23, 2021

The Potato City Airport Trail at Susquehannock State Forest in Coudersport, Pennsylvania is an easy 0.3-mile loop trail that features a peaceful walk through an abandoned airport. This area is now popular with night sky photography (astrophotography).

This old airport was once private land and according to a local, it was used up until or through the 1950's. The land is now owned and managed by the Susquehannock State Forest. There is no longer anything left in this field in regard to old abandoned buildings related to the airport; however, it's a beautiful place to take night sky photos.

Milky Way Astrophotography
During the warmer months (June - September), the Milky Way can be visible to the naked eye because of the lack of light pollution in this part of the state. Please note that while the Milky Way may be visible to the naked eye, the photos on MyHikes from this location are exposures of 30-seconds or more - so what you can see with your eye is vastly different from what the camera can pick up with exposure shots.

Parking
Visitors can find parking at the coordinates provided. There's a lot large enough to fit a half-dozen vehicles.

Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed.

Camping
Backpackers and campers will find that the Potato City Airport field may be a decent spot to setup a tent during Autumn or the Spring; however, you must follow all state forest rules and regulations when camping here. Also note that the state forest does not maintain trails that lead into the old airfield, so you may need to bushwhack through tall grass to find a good spot to setup a tent.

Explore 215 trails near Coudersport, PA
  1. Parking

    41.758438, -77.875001
  2. Main Trailhead

    41.758195, -77.874943
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)
Snakes

Seasons

All
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23 '

Total Change
23 '

Ascent
23 '

Descent

5 Trip Reports

No Star-Ratings
Write-up by:
Admin user profile picture
0.3 miles / 0.5 km
Trail added
June 15, 2020
Hiked on
June 13, 2020
Updated on
February 23, 2021
0.3 miles / 0.5 km
September 02, 2021
Hiking
0.1 miles / 0.2 km
July 31, 2021
Quick trip for some Milky Way photos. Summer 2021 has been extra rainy, so this clear sky moonless night was a nice change of pace.
Hiking
0.3 miles / 0.5 km
August 20, 2020
Another short trip to take night sky photos.
Dogs Hiking
0.3 miles / 0.5 km
June 16, 2020
Took some Milky Way photos and saw an unlimited number of fireflies.
Hiking

Weather Forecast

In Coudersport, PA

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Dave Miller
MyHikes Founder & Admin