Ricketts Glen

Ricketts Glen State Park A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Ricketts Glen TOP 10 ACTIVITIES Top 10 Activities at Ricketts Glen Pennsylvania State Parks Mission 1. Hike the Falls Trail System. Wear proper footwear. Sandals are prohibited. The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as 2. Cool off on a hot summer day at the swimming beach on Lake Jean and grab an ice cream at the concession. outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and historical values of parks should be given first consideration. Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current and future generations. visitPAparks Printed on recycled paper Directions Spend the Day The park is 30 miles north of Bloomsburg on PA 487. The section of PA 487 from the town of Red Rock to the Lake Jean area of the park is very steep. Heavy trailer units should avoid this hill and enter the park by taking PA 487 south from Dushore. PICNICKING: Picnic facilities are located in the Lake Jean area and in the lower area off PA 118. A limited number of charcoal grills and hot charcoal disposals are located in the picnic areas. SWIMMING: The 600-foot beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 AM to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please follow posted rules and regulations. A food and refreshment concession, boat rental, and picnic facilities are nearby. Swimming is permitted inside the designated area only. Reservations Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Scarlet tanager HISTORY OF RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Robert Bruce Ricketts enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. Fighting for the Grand Army of the Potomac, Ricketts led Battery F during the Battle of Gettysburg. Ricketts swiftly moved up in the ranks. When the war ended, he was discharged a colonel. Colonel Ricketts at one time owned or controlled over 80,000 acres of land in this area. His heirs, through the Central Penn Lumber Company, sold 48,000 acres to the Pennsylvania Game Commission from 1920-24. This left them with over 12,000 acres surrounding Ganoga Lake, Lake Jean, and the Glens Area. Although the area was approved as a national park site in the 1930s, World War II brought an end to this plan for development. In 1942, the heirs sold 1,261 acres, the Falls and Glens areas, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a state park. Additional purchases from Colonel Ricketts’ son, William Ricketts, in 1943 and 1949, resulted in a park consisting of approximately 10,000 acres. Purchases from other individuals have brought the park to its present size. Recreational facilities first opened in 1944. In 1950, the former Department of Forests and Waters replaced the Lake Jean Dam with a larger, earthen dam. This combined Lake Jean with Mud Pond, creating the current 245-acre lake. Other facility improvements and constructions have been completed over the years, including the beach house, restrooms, and cabins. FISHING: The 245-acre Lake Jean has warmwater game fish and panfish. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and laws apply. Fishing is prohibited in the Glens Natural Area. BOATING: electric motors only The 245-acre Lake Jean has dry mooring and two boat launches. A boat rental concession operates during the summer season and offers rowboats, paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launch permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. the waterfalls, which came to be known as the Glens Natural Area. A member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, Colonel Ricketts named many of the waterfalls after American Indian tribes. He also named waterfalls for his friends and family. The lower glen came to be called Ricketts Glen. Many of the magnificent trees in this area are over 300 years old. Diameters of almost four feet are common and many 3. Spend a winter weekend in one of the modern cabins. 8. Visit the park in winter to snowmobile, cross-country ski, and snowshoe. 4. Camp overnight in the campground. Scouts and other groups can try the rustic Organized Group Tent Campground. 9. Enjoy 10,144 acres of hunting within the state park and additional acres in the surrounding state game lands. 5. Explore the waters of Lake Jean via boat. Boat rentals are available during the summer. 10. Enjoy the scenery from Grand View Trail, especially in mid-June when the mountain laurel blooms. HUNTING AND FIREARMS: About 10,144 acres are open to hunting, trapping, and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, grouse, bear, coyote, pheasant, and squirrel. Common furbearers are raccoon, mink, muskrat, beaver, coyote, and bobcat. About 83,000 acres of state game lands lie to the west and north of the park. Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner’s vehicle or enclosed trailer. Exceptions include: law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park. HIKING AND HORSEBACK RIDING: see TRAILS section on reverse side Environmental Education and Interpretation Natural wetlands, old growth forests, and majestic geological formations, which helped produce 22 beautiful waterfalls, make Ricketts Glen an excellent choice for outdoor studies. From March to November, the environmental education specialist conducts hands-on activities, guided walks, and presentations on the natural and historical resources for school groups, scouts, civic organizations, and the public. Call in advance to set up a program that will enhance classroom or group studies. Campers and visitors may check the bulletin boards and at the park office for a listing of scheduled programs. Birding Ricketts Glen is famous for its exceptional diversity of bird life, from 23 varieties of warblers to bald eagles. As a result, the park is part of the official Audubon Susquehanna River Birding and Wildlife Trail. This series of trails connects some of Pennsylvania’s finest birding and wildlife viewing sites, as well as important historical and natural areas. Enjoy the Winter The park offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing on Lake Jean, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and winter camping. Visit the website for ice and snow depths. Please contact the park office for additional information on winter sports. Visitors are encouraged to check in at the park office before heading out on the trails. Stay the Night Camping: flush toilets and showers There are 120 tent and trailer campsites, some available year round. The campground features hot showers, flush toilets, shaded sites, gravel parking spurs, and a sanitary dump station. Six campsites are ADA accessible. Cabins: Ten modern rental cabins are available year round. Cabins are furnished and have a living area, kitchen/ dining area, toilet/shower room, and two or three bedrooms. Linens and dishes are not provided. Cabins F and H are ADA accessible. Dogs are permitted in cabin H. Deluxe Camping Cottages: Five deluxe cottages are available from the second Friday in April until the third weekend in October. Deluxe cottages have minimal furnishings including a kitchen stove top, microwave oven, refrigerator, electric heat, lighting, and bunk beds. There is no running water in these deluxe cottages. However, there is a restroom and shower facility for shared use. All deluxe cottages are ADA accessible. Dogs are permitted in 3 of the deluxe cottages. Organized Group Tenting: Qualified adult and youth groups may use this 240-person capacity area that is equipped with picnic tables, water, and flush toilets. The area is open from the third Monday in April to the third Monday in October. Advance reservations are recommended. HISTORY OF THE GLENS NATURAL AREA In 1868, Colonel R. Bruce Ricketts bought land in northeast Pennsylvania to timber it. Fishermen exploring the lower reaches of Kitchen Creek discovered waterfalls. Explorations revealed that two branches of Kitchen Creek cut through deep gorges in a series of waterfalls, then united at Waters Meet and flowed through a glen among giant pines, hemlocks, and oaks. Colonel Ricketts built trails to the area of 7. Have a picnic by Lake Jean. RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK Ricketts Glen State Park harbors the Glens Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark. Hike the Falls Trail System and explore the Glens, which boasts a series of wild, freeflowing waterfalls, each cascading through rock-strewn clefts in this ancient hillside. The 94-foot Ganoga Falls is the highest of 22 named waterfalls. Old growth timber and diverse wildlife add to the beauty. Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania. This large park is comprised of 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties. 2018 6. Enjoy fishing on Lake Jean through all seasons. Ice fishing is very popular from November through March, conditions permitting HOW TO ACCESS THE WATERFALLS trees tower to 100 feet in height. Southern and northern hardwood species meet here, creating an extensive variety of trees. The Glens became a registered National Natural Landmark in 1969. In 1993, it became a State Park Natural Area and will be protected and maintained in a natural state. Mohawk 37’ Oneida 13’ Cayuga 11’ Ganoga 94’ Seneca 12’ Delaware 37’ Mohican 39’ Conestoga 17’ Tuscarora 47’ Twenty-one waterfalls are along the Falls Trail System within the Glens Natural Area, while one (Adams) is only a few hundred feet from the Evergreen Parking Lot off PA 118. To see most of the waterfalls, a 3.2-mile loop can be taken by linking the Highland Trail and the Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen sides of the trail. There are three parking lots that provide access to the Falls Trail System: THE GLENS NATURAL AREA Erie 47’ Harrison Wright 27’ Sheldon Reynolds 36’ Lake Rose Trailhead Parking – Lot provides the closest access (5-10 minutes) to the Falls Trail System, but fills up quickly during peak times. Beach Lot #2 Trailhead Parking – Follow the Falls Trail System signs leading out of the lot and down the trail adjacent to the Cabin Road for approximately 0.5 miles. Then you will turn right to head onto the Glen Leigh side of the Falls Trail System. It is an approximately 15-20-minute hike from the parking lot to the first waterfall. Evergreen Parking and Glens Lot Trailhead Parking (PA 118) – Located 1.5 miles (30-minute walk) from Murray Reynolds Falls, the first waterfall upstream along the Falls Trail System. The closest waterfall to these lots is Adams Falls, which is a short walk from the Evergreen Parking Lot. Onondaga 15’ F.L. Ricketts 38’ Shawnee 30’ Huron 41’ Ozone 60’ R.B. Ricketts 36’ Murray Reynolds 16’ B. Reynolds 40’ Wyandot 15’ 13 To US 220 & Dushore, 16 Mi Big Cherry Run Little Cherry Run Mountain Springs Red Yellow Red More Difficult More Difficult More Difficult 4.6 1.0 4.0 Visitor Center Old Beaver Dam Rd. Old Bulldozer Rd. Falls Trail System Yellow Red Not Blazed More Difficult More Difficult Most Difficult 4.0 2.9 7.2 n Ru 23 00 23 00 Springs Mountain 2000 190 0 Bo wm an s 0 15 00 00 13 20 00 00 Bo wm an s 1900 1800 18 00 1/4 140 0 0 140 1200 1/2 0 1 KILOMETER Cree k 0 1/4 1/2 MILE 17 00 18 Beth 00 el 1/4 To Wilkes-Barre, 25 Mi 17 STATE GAME LANDS 57 • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family are your responsibility. • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. 00 1900 0 Hill 20 00 00 00 Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. Wo lf PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION LAND If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit. Protect and Preserve our Parks 2100 18 17 16 0 220 • Because uncontrolled pets may chase wildlife or frighten visitors, pets must be physically controlled, attended at all times, and on a leash, caged, or crated. Electronic fences and leashes are prohibited. Pets are prohibited in swimming areas. • Do your part to keep wildlife wild! Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance and do not feed or approach wild animals. Nearby Attractions 200 118 CONTOURS ARE ON 100 FT. INTERVALS (Dry) 22 00 Road 13 No. 1 Access for People with Disabilities NEAREST HOSPITAL Bloomsburg Hospital 549 Fair Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 570-387-2100 No Hunting Lake, Water 00 Road ad State Park Hunting 00 Creek To Berwick State Park No Hunting an STATE GAME LANDS 57 2100 p 00 190 Trip d Run @RickettsGlenStateParkDCNR Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office. Gate 2000 00 00 oke 22 Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757) 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. In an Emergency Joint Use Road: Auto/ Snowmobiling/ Hiking 00 0 20 1300 Cro Run Parking Paved 20 1800 21 This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. Hunting Lake, Water 2000 le Ro Access to Falls Trail System, Old Bulldozer Road Trail. This trailhead area has the largest virgin timber, but is the longest access to the waterfalls. Horseback Riding Parking Unpaved 21 190 0 200 0  Waterfall 00 Ice Da m 220 Multi-use Trail: Hiking, Snowmobiling Unpaved Road 19 ple Ma Mossvil 1300 Boston Beech Lake 1100 1200 Glens Lot Trailhead Parking Access to Evergreen Trail and Overflow Parking for Falls Trail System. Shortest walk to a single waterfall. Hiking Trail Cr. Mt. Springs Lake (Dry) 2100 d Ol Evergreen Parking Sanitary Dump Station "The Meadows" Be a 0 2 Organized Group Tenting Run 00 16 21 00 00 20 ns wm Bo 2200 130 Adams, 36' Evergreen Trail ad Ro 2200 t le Ch err Che y Run rr y Tr Run . Cr. 210 0 1800 1700 Run 13 Road Camping 2100 SR 40 Bulldozer Beaver Pond 00 21 Trail 00 20 Deluxe Camping Cottage 6. Organized Group Tent 2200 Ro Br. 2100 Tr a i l 17 Cr. M s ing S pr 00 n Modern Cabins 41.337369, -76.296508 Fire Tower . tn 1 Ca bi ch n c Kit Ricketts Glen 0 40 ad 0 0 15 Bra 0 h gle 190 ut AREA Shin hen So gs NATURAL n rin Sp SEE ENLARGEMENT OF FALLS TRAIL SYSTEM ON REVERSE SIDE GLENS 00 14 0 Waters Meet 00 THE 0 ck Tr d 22 o a Maple Spring Run Li t 0 200 er 160 00 15 ni ta i M oun av 00 Ricketts Glen State Park 695 State Route 487 Benton, PA 17814-8900 570-477-5675 email: rickettsglensp@pa.gov GPS DD: Lat. 41.33517 Long. -76.30153 An Equal Opportunity Employer www.visitPAparks.com Boat Launch & Mooring 5. Camping Area 2200 22 Dam R Boat Rental 41.329880, -76.291092 Black bears have poor eyesight and fair hearing, but an excellent sense of smell. Aromatic scents coming from your personal items can attract a curious and hungry bear from a great distance. Bears are attracted to the smell of toothpaste, deodorants, air fresheners, food, and even the clothes worn while cooking. Store all items inside a vehicle. At primitive, walk-in campsites, suspend food between two trees, ten feet in the air, and three feet from either tree. Black bears normally avoid people, but bears can become dependent on eating human food. They can get aggressive when food is involved. If you come in contact with a black bear, try chasing it away by making loud noises like yelling, honking a car horn, or banging a pot. Notify a park employee if you have difficulties with bears. Never approach a bear and be especially wary of mother bears and cubs. INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS Swimming Beach 4. Lake Rose Trailhead Tr a il 22 Showerhouses/Restrooms 41.338121, -76.277772 y 00 Be 487 130 Che rr Dam Breast Trail Food Concession 3. Cabin Area n Ru O ld Public Phone 41.332859, -76.293312 Ganoga Glen 2100 Hy Lake Leigh (Dry) Glen Leigh 0 Modern Restrooms 2. Rt. 118 Trailhead 3 Midway Crevasse d 220 To Benton & I-80 (Exit 236) Old Tpk. ga Tio Hig hl Shale Pit Parking 0 RED ROCK l ai Tr an 2300 00 487 118 4 am Roa Beaver D d Old 130 12 Walk 0 ar Fire Tower (No Public Access) 2400 Falls Trail System users; park here if Lake Rose Trailhead Parking is full. This lot provides access to the Falls Trail System (1 mile to first waterfall), Cherry Run Trail (0.7 mile), Mountain Springs Trail (0.7 mile), and Old Bulldozer Road Trail (1.4 miles). Be Lake Rose (Dry) Amphitheater 41.300190, -76.272543 Beach Lot#2 Trailhead Parking ail Tr 140 Beach Trail Many Pennsylvania state parks are habitat for black bears. Although they appear cute and cuddly like a teddy bear, black bears are wild animals. A black bear can scramble up a tree like a raccoon and sprint as fast as a race horse. Bears use their claws to tear apart rotting logs to find food, and those claws also work well to open garbage cans and coolers. A black bear’s size and strength are astonishing. Picnic Pavilion 41.335417, -76.301446 6 Distance to start of trails in parentheses - Access to Falls Trail System (0.4 mile to first waterfall), and the Old Beaver Dam Road Trail (0.5 mile). This is the shortest route to the waterfalls loop, but fills quickly on weekends. 00 18 Y NT Y U T CO UN O A BI E C UM RN L E CO LUZ 5 309 Mocanaqua Plymouth Picnicking 1. Park Office Jean Lake Rose Trailhead Parking 00 1600 Lake Frances Slocum Dallas Blue Symbols Mean 2100 ADA Accessible Decimal Degree Lat. Long. 1 29 11 Park Office Private Land GPS Coordinates 1.2 17 1500 l ai Tr 1.8 1.4 1.4 Grand View Trail 00 23 N. Branch • Rt. 118 to Waters Meet • Waters Meet to Lake Rose • Waters Meet to Mt. Springs Trail CO SUL LU LIV M AN BI A CO CO U • Highland Trail UN NTY TY 0 00 No Winter Maintenance Harveys Lake LUZERNE Huntington Mills 220 22 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.9 29 118 487 0 0 Easiest Easiest Easiest Easiest 150 230 Not Blazed Yellow Not Blazed Yellow Tra il 2000 Beach Trail Bear Walk Evergreen Grand View 00 1900 COLUMBIA W LU YOM ZE IN RN G E C CO OUN UN TY TY WYOMING Red Rock Berwick Hayfield Parking 22 Ru n Run Miles 00 t 00 TRAIL INFORMATION Blaze Color Difficulty 21 15 239 80 l Tr ou Trails 487 RICKETTS GLEN 2200 ai Run 0 TY UN CO NTY N COU VA LLI NE U S ZER LU 87 SULLIVAN Benton Che rry 1400 00 0 13 00 Red Rock Job Corps Center 00 20 Dushore 220 21 00 23 19 Bra nc h 0 180 BRADFORD N 00 21 st Ea L ead 14 487 Ru n N 0 230 Worlds End 118 Ridge 19 0 220 00 ng Cree STATE GAME LANDS 57 Cherry 00 k i Fish 2200 Wild Fowl Pond 2100 1500 1600 150 0 160 0 Run THE BEAR TRUTHS LYCOMING Pigeon RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK 230 0 GAME LANDS Ganog a Lak e STATE 22 To Noxen 00 21 00 Rev. 3/06/19 2000 Information on nearby attractions is available from the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, 800-769-8999. www.endlessmountains.org TRAILS: 28 miles Hiking trails vary from fairly level to steep hills. Over 28 miles of trails are a prime attraction of the park. CAUTION: Hikers using the Falls Trail System should be in good physical condition, wear sturdy boots, and use caution due to slippery/wet conditions and steep trail sections. The following guidelines will help ensure a safe and enjoyable hiking experience while at the park. • Always wear sturdy boots. Wearing sneakers, sandals, “water shoes,” and “street shoes” can lead to serious accidents in this park. • Be prepared. Have proper clothing and equipment (i.e. compass, map, matches, water, food, flashlight, etc.) available in case of an emergency. This is especially important when traveling remote trails or when hiking during non-summer seasons. • Give yourself plenty of time for your hike. The weather changes quickly in the park. Plan to be off the trails well before dark. • Let someone know where you are hiking and when you should return. • Stay on the trails. Leaving the trail causes damage to unique natural resources, promotes erosion, and can be dangerous. • Don’t take shortcuts from one trail section to another. Taking shortcuts down switchbacks is dangerous and causes trail damage. • Double blazes indicate a change in the trail’s direction. Falls Trail System: 7.2 miles, most difficult hiking The full loop of this trail is 7.2 miles. To see most of the waterfalls, a 3.2-mile loop can be taken by joining the Highland Trail and the Glen Leigh and Ganoga Glen sides of the trail. The trails follow along 21 beautiful waterfalls ranging in heights from 11 feet to 94 feet. The scenery is well worth the effort, but be careful. The terrain is rocky, can be slippery, and descends steeply on both the Ganoga and Glen Leigh sides. Hikers should take extra precautions with trail conditions, wear proper footwear, stay on the trail, and be in good physical condition. Evergreen Trail: 1-mile loop, easiest hiking This self-guided tour takes visitors into an old growth forest, one of the few stands remaining in all of Pennsylvania. Hikers can also see Adams Falls. Little Cherry Run Trail: 1 mile, more difficult hiking This connector between Mountain Springs and Cherry Run trails travels along a small picturesque stream, making a great loop for day hiking. Grand View Trail: 1.9-mile loop, more difficult hiking This trail takes hikers to the highest point on Red Rock Mountain (elevation 2,449 feet). This trail is a pleasant hike at any time of the year. In mid-June, the beautiful mountain laurel is in bloom. In mid-July, the high bush blueberries bear fruit. In the fall, there are awe-inspiring views of the fall foliage encompassing the area. Mountain Springs Trail: 4 miles, more difficult hiking Heading off the beaten path, this trail takes hikers on a 4-mile hike past the old Lake Leigh Dam and down the south branch of Bowmans Creek to the former Mountain Springs Lake, which is now a dry lakebed. Hikers can take Mountain Springs Road to Cherry Run Trail to make a 13.5-mile loop. Access Mountain Springs Road from Beach Lot #2 Trailhead. Old Beaver Dam Road Trail: 4 miles, more difficult hiking Named for the old beaver dam, once located just off the trail, this trail makes an excellent loop for hikers and cross-country skiers. Ganoga Falls can be accessed via a short connector trail. Although the connector is easy to moderate hiking, use caution where it meets the Falls Trail System due to switchbacks and drop-offs. Access the trail from a small pulloff on PA 487, or from the Lake Rose parking lot. The Falls Trail System is closed in the winter except for properly equipped ice climbers and hikers. Beach Trail: 0.8 mile, easiest hiking Campers in both camping areas can access the Lake Jean day-use and swimming areas without having to travel on a road. Bear Walk Trail: 1 mile, easiest hiking Walk the trail of the bears. This short trail accesses other trails for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and hiking. It runs from the entrance of the cabin area to Lake Rose. Cherry Run Trail: 4.6 miles, more difficult hiking Access to Cherry Run Trail is near the Lake Leigh Dam. Hikers pass through groves of cherry trees and view evidence of the old logging railroads that passed through this area over 100 years ago. Starting from Beach Lot #2 Trailhead, hikers can connect to Mountain Springs Trail by walking 3.5 miles on Mountain Springs Road to make a 13.5mile loop. Highland Trail: 1.2 miles, more difficult hiking The trail cuts across the top of the Falls Trail System and crosses through Midway Crevasse, a narrow passageway between large blocks of Pocono sandstone conglomerates that were deposited throughout this area by glacial movements. Continental glaciers buried this land under hundreds of feet of ice at least three times in the last one million years. This trail makes an excellent area for geological study groups. Old Bulldozer Road Trail: 2.9 miles, most difficult hiking With its unique name (once used by a bulldozer to get to the top of the mountain to build the park), comes quite an elevation change. Accessed from the parking lot on PA 118, this trail is used by hikers and snowmobilers to access Mountain Springs Trail. Although most of the trail is easy to moderate hiking, a short section climbs 700 feet in approximately 0.5 mile. Tell us about your hike at: www.explorepatrails.com HORSEBACK RIDING: Equestrian riders may enjoy taking a 13.5-mile loop by riding the Cherry Run Trail, Mountain Springs Road, and Mountain Springs Trail. Sights to see include: old railroad grades, the dry lakebed of Mountain Springs Lake (formerly used to make ice), and an old concrete dam once used to hold back Lake Leigh, now a dry lake. Riders must bring their own mounts. Horses cannot be rented. Harrison Wright Falls