Today I made my second visit to Little Pine State Park. My goals for this trip were to hike another trail and to eat at another restaurant. It only takes me 30 minutes to reach Little Pine State Park since it is in Lycoming County. The Pine Creek Rail Trail runs along the highway to Little Pine State Park. This is the same rail trail I saw up in Tioga County, sixty miles north. I’ll have to hike a stretch of the Pine Creek Rail Trail soon. Unfortunately I don’t have a bike but I should probably buy one to get more exercise. I have no intention of riding a bike sixty miles though!
Little Pine State Park Sign
Today was sunnier than Saturday and the drive through the woods along Little Pine Creek Road was very beautiful. A flock of wild turkeys flew across the road ahead of me. I slowed down and took a photo through my car window as the wild turkeys entered the woods. That was the first time I’ve seen that particular wildlife.
My first goal was to hike the Carsontown Trail, an easier hiking trail farther north in the park. I found a place to park along the road and a trail which I thought was the Carsontown Trail, but it was probably the Bluebird Trail. There were plenty of bird houses along the trail. The trail was just a mowed path through a field and it was fairly short.
I drove back to the Eagle Watch Area and took some photos. I examined my park map and realized that the Carsontown Trail should be pass the Shooting Range so I definitely had not found the right trail. I drove back up Little Pine Creek Road but I did park at the same spot as before because I noticed a car from New York State was gone. This was my chance to walk down to the creek and get some photos of a stone column in the middle of the creek. I saw some fishermen there earlier. After that I drove pass the Shooting Range and found the Carsontown Trail trailhead which is clearly marked with a trail sign.
I wasn’t always sure I was following this trail because parts of the trail were incredibly wide, like a two lane highway, and could have been an access road or dried out creek bed. There was also a creek I had to cross using some stepping stones. I wasn’t sure I could cross it at first. Towards the far end of the trail I saw the back of some houses along the road. There were a few side trails up to the houses. I’m not sure if these were private residences or cabins for rent, but they looked more like private residences.
After completing the trail I drove back to the lake. I took photos of the lake and walked down a short path to the shore. I sat at a picnic table and finished a chapter of a book I’ve been reading, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer. This seemed an appropriate book because it is about the tragic story of a young man who sought escape in the outdoors. I tried to just chill for a half hour and enjoy the scenery but it did get a little boring. I had to change out of my hiking boots because they did not prove to be genuinely water proof. My socks were wet. Fortunately I also had my trail runners and spare socks.
Happy Acres Restaurant
At around 11:30 I left the park and stopped in at Happy Acres Restaurant which is right at the park entrance. Happy Acres Restaurant is part of the Happy Acres Resort which rents cabins. I think this is the only resort in Lycoming County. I had to order from the breakfast menu so I had scrambled eggs and toast. It was a fairly bland meal but I just wanted to check out the resort. After eating I visited the Happy Acres Store were I bought a furred winter cap.
Woolrich Outlet Store
My final goal for this trip was to revisit the Woolrich Outlet Store and buy a classic Woolrich overcoat. The town of Woolrich was a short drive further into Clinton County. I bought a Woolrich Men’s Wool Stag Shirt for $111.00. I’m not sure if this was exactly what I wanted. I wanted a coat. But it was in the classic read and black plaid Buffalo woolen shirt design. It is too thick and stiff for a shirt and should be worn as a jacket. It was pretty expensive, but a Woolrich jacket lasts forever and is the ultimate in outdoor chic. But for me, the deciding factor was Woolrich being part of our local outdoor recreational tradition here in North Central Pennsylvania.
I don’t think there is anything else in Little Pine State Park for me to see or do but I may attend a fall festival event next month which will be held in the park. There are still many more state parks I could visit in Clinton County or other surrounding counties. I would like to resume my trips to the Poconos but I’m not sure it is safe right now. I could go back to Jim Thorpe which is far south of the manhunt.
