Description: This is a pretty moderate 10.7 mile circuit hike using a short section of FR 112, the Lumberjack Trail, Huckleberry Trail and Seneca Creek Trail. The Lumberjack trail is a rather mundane walk in the woods with the sole purpose of getting the hiker to the heart of this backcountry area quickly. Marc Shaffer of www.trailpixie.net described it quite aptly … “pedestrian”. The balance of the outing more than makes up for what is lacking in the Lumberjack Trail. You’ll be rewarded with expansive views from at least two High Meadows along the Huckleberry trail, even more if you care to explore the High Meadows Trail further north. Then there are all of the numerous waterfalls and chutes along Seneca Creek! If you wish to visit the main falls add an additional 1 mile onto the trip. It’s well worth it!

Warning: There are at least 5 creek crossings. Some will be over the boot tops. Be prepared.

The hike begins at a large gravel parking lost and kiosk.

Google Custom Directions

________________________________________

Printable/Downloadable Map

View 3-D Map!

Trail Notes: Walk up FR 112 retracing your drive a bit. In 0.6 miles arrive at the Lumberjack Trailhead (TR 534). Turn left onto the trail following the blue blazes. Parts of the trail might be wet. Look for side trails on top of the bearms that parallel the old RR grade.

At 3.6 miles reach the junction with the Huckleberry Trail (TR 533). Turn left proceeding downhill on Huckleberry Trail. Look out on the left for open High Meadows with great views of the mountains surrounding the valley. Judy Spring Trail will be on the left. Continue on Huckleberry Trail. Pass the junction of High Meadows Trail on the right. There are more expansive views up there.

In 0.7 miles from the High Meadows Trail junction, after crossing a small stream, arrive at Seneca Creek Trail (TR 515). To visit the main falls of Seneca Creek turn right and walk downstream for less than 0.5 miles. This is a great lunch spot!

Retrace your steps, passing Huckleberry Trail on the left and continue south walking up Seneca Creek. Soon come to the first of 5 crossings. (I’ll not describe the rest of the crossings but they are there and unavoidable.) Pass Bear Hunter Trail on the right and Judy Spring Trail on the left. There is a bridge that crosses the Creek at the southern end of Judy Spring Camp area. Do not cross. This leads to Judy Spring Trail. Continue straight following the Creek.

Continue up Seneca Creek, crossing it several times. Pass Swallow Rock and Tom’s Lick trail on the right. Towards the end the grade will increase a little and you will walk through an ever-encroaching Red Spruce thicket and cross a couple of small feeder streams. Soon arrive back at the cars

Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

Critique this outing!

________________________________________

Name: Teddy Hike: Lumberjack Trail/Seneca Creek Loop
Date: 8/4/2007 Rating: 5

Critique: A wonderful trail but very deceptively difficult. Once you get into far back-country the signage can get worse and worse and some of it looks decades old. The river crossings on Seneca can be tricky to keep on the trail path and I ended up on the lumberjack trail because I could not find my way easily to the Allegheny trail from the Horton trail area (there's a low ropes-setup around there). These trails are reasonably flat (beware that the Huckleberry trail can be a fairly steep ascent) but they are very rocky and the fording of the Seneca Creek can be difficult, but the scenery is worth it.

________________________________________

Name: mw Hike: Lumberjack/Seneca creek loop
Date: late July 2006 Rating: 5

Critique: awesome. Took my girlfriend out on this loop for her first ever overnight backpacking experience (my first time on this loop as well). Scenery on the Lumberjack trail was nice once you hit the meadows, but the Seneca Creek trail is magnificent. we camped out right above the big falls. wonderful scenery, easy hiking, nice people met along the way. ________________________________________