Length: About 1.5 miles one way (this hike is from the Jacoby Falls trailhead to the Pipeline Vista)
Blazes: Blue
Parking: 41.376762, -76.920109. Jacoby Falls trailhead.
Highlights: View, cascades, meadow, beaver pond, hemlock forests, unique rocks
Issues: The trail is lightly hiked and may not be well established. There is no bridge across Wallis Run, a sizeable creek. Blazes are hard to follow in places, particularly the meadow which will be overgrown in summer.
Difficultly: moderate
Description: Cheryl’s Trail goes from Rider Park to Jacoby Falls, but this hike is only at the northern end of that trail. While plenty of people hike to Jacoby Falls, most ignore the sign for Cheryl’s Trail. That’s too bad, because this is a fun hike with some challenges along the way. It is a true diamond in the rough. In fact, overall, I think this hike is more fun and diverse than Jacoby Falls.
From the parking area, cross the boardwalk and enter the woods. Turn left onto the blue Cheryl’s Trail. As you will immediately see, this trail is not well established and the blazes are far apart in places, but they are there. Hike under the pine trees and descend back to the road. Cross the road.
Now you are faced with the first challenge, crossing Wallis Run. Expect your feet to get wet as it is a sizeable creek. Do not attempt in high water. Reach the other side and notice some beaver ponds and dams to the left. Now is the second challenge, the meadow. There are blazes on posts, but expect this to be overgrown in summer. On the plus side, enjoy the wildflowers. To cross the meadow, stay on top of the bank above the floodplain; this might be an old grade. Enter the woods with some large ironwood trees and then enter a scenic pine and hemlock forest. Again, blazes are a bit hard to follow, but there is more of a tread here. The trail angles right and then turns left on an old grade.
Hike into a glen with a beautiful series of small falls and cascades over mossy bedrock. The trail crosses the creek and climbs. I did hike up this creek, off trail on an old grade, it was scenic with many cascades. There was also a large ledge with a porcupine cave.
Back on Cheryl’s Trail, climb until the trail levels in a hemlock forest. Notice rock outcrops to your right. These are what I call Cheryl’s Rocks and they are the highlight of the hike. Go off trail and explore them from the bottom. There are overhangs, chasms, grottos, and caves. The rocks are very colorful with moss and lichen. In one cave, there are springs dripping, it must be an amazing place when frozen. These are some of the most beautiful rock ledges in the Loyalsock State Forest.
Back on the trail, follow a grade in a beautiful hemlock forest. The trail is much easier to follow. Ascend gradually and then level again under hemlocks. Reach the pipeline swath and enjoy the view. A better view is further up the bank on the pipeline swath. Retrace your steps.
The trails on Blessing Mountain between Rider Park and Jacoby Falls can use more footsteps to help keep them open, so please hike there.
More photos:
Hike Pennsylvania with Jeff Mitchell 