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Topic: Hamburg Reservoir Area Hike, A hike off the beaten path

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Post Number: 1

hoosier

Group: Members
Posts: 92
Joined: Feb. 2011

Posted on: Mar. 11 2013, 10:46 am

Saturday March 9, 2013
Hamburg Reservoir

A beautiful cool Saturday morning once again had me off for a hike close to home. Arrived at the large hikers parking area located at the end of Reservoir Road, adjacent to Hamburg Pennsylvania’s water treatment building. I figured with the temperatures forecast to be in the low 60’s the parking lot would fill up early. As this is the parking area most hikers use for the Pulpit/Pinnacle loop hike. At my 8:30 am arrival the parking area was already half filled.

I figured I would avoid the crowds by taking my hike on less beaten paths. Plus a bushwhack to the Port Clinton Fire Tower in the Weiser State Forest, and a few lesser known viewpoints I know of in SGL 106.

Followed the blue blazed dirt road to the junction of the Appalachian Trail at the site of the old Windsor Furnace. Were I veered left and followed to old route of the AT, which is a blue blazed side trail. Continued up past the left side of the Hamburg Reservoir to the height of land. And the junction with the faint red blazed trail to Stephanie Spring

Red Blazed Side Trail

Headed left onto the red blazed trail, The trail is easily followed with some minor blow downs, and mountain laurel encroachments for approximately .50 to Stephanie Spring. Stephanie Spring is a small piped spring, Surrounded by a few seeps enclosed in Rhododenron thickets. The red blazed trail ends here

Stephanie Spring

From here I headed north bush whacking the rocky open woods and crossing the Pinnacle Spur Trail (shown on AT Map sect 1-6) to a low ridge which runs east to west and ends at the Port Clinton Fire Tower. Once atop the flat ridge I turned westerly following the ridge which becomes narrower and very rocky at points. With some westerly views from atop talus fields. At points the fir trees become thick, mostly at the rockiest points making for some fun whacking at times.

Once I arrived at the fire tower I followed some dirt SGL roads towards a ridge which juts to the east, and is south of Owls Head. After approximately 1.5 miles following the woods roads I headed off into the woods for my second whack of the day. There are two viewpoints on the ridge this ridge. One on the northerly side from atop a rocky outcrop/talus field. The first viewpoint has a view of the ridge which the ends at the Pinnacle, along with a winter view of the route the AT takes up the west north side of the ridge.

The second viewpoint has to be one of my favorite viewpoints in the area. Just a spectacular as the view from the Pinnacle. The view looks out from atop a cliffy rock outcropping, eastward over the valley between the ridge to the north which the AT runs along, and the ridge to the south that ends at the pinnacle.

After spending time soaking in the great views from the viewpoint. I whacked down the steep nose of the ridge. Loosing 450 feet in .30 miles, and came out on the AT. Turned right onto the AT, which I followed south to Gold Spring. At Gold Spring I followed a faint blue blazed trail down to the junction with the blue blazed woods road which runs along Furnace Run, and ultimately to the Hamburg Reservoir. Continued down the dirt access road back to the parking area. Passing multitude of folks heading for the Pinnacle

As for being the less beaten path. From the time I left the AT at the Windsor Furnace Site. Till I arrived back at the AT I never saw another person. And got a bunch of great views to myself.