MST - Section 18

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Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

• Mid State Trail (MST)

From PA 287 (roadside parking for a few cars), climb the paved Sand Run Road, passing a sweeping roadside viewpoint down the Wilson Run valley to the old mining patch of Antrim. If you turn at the pretty little stone church (now closed), the Duncan Tavern two blocks away offers historical displays in this rural bar with food inside the former company store.

Continue on Antrim Main Rd out of town, passing a landfill with an interesting history described in the MST guide. Otherwise, head past both intersections with Hunters Lane before turning in what seems nondescript woods (public watershed land, look sharp for the turn, if you pass any houses after Antrim you've gone too far).

Step over several headwaters of Rock Run, following a land boundary closely until entering State Forest and the first legal campsite at Robinson Steele Run. Gently climb over a local summit then begin descending along Nickel Run, an Exceptional Value Wilderness Trout Stream. Look for a weirdly eroded boulder beside the trail after crossing the run, but before a yellow-blazed side trail descending to 35 ft Nickel Run Falls, the tallest near the section.

The main trail continues descending on old treadway to the ghost mining town of Landrus, where another yellow-blazed trail marks an always wet crossing of Babb Creek to the seasonal Landrus Road. Continue past old foundations, eventually rising a bit away from Babb Creek through woods to a sudden junction. In high water, you'll need to continue straight onto a bypass trail. Otherwise, descend toward the sound of rushing water, passing in quick succession falls on Rattlesnake Creek, a picturesque rock flume on Babb Creek, and the 30 ft Sand Run Falls, best known on the section.

Gently climb out in mixed hardwoods to the paved Arnot Rd and parking. Re-cross Sand Run on the road bridge, then parallel road on stony path to the last State Forest possible campsite at Dyke Creek. Tale the unblazed roads (follow guide) to the private timberland hosting Radar Cliff, where yellow-blazed gravel roads lead to an off-road path circling fields, fences, and old stone foundations in back woodlots.

One landowner allows camping at a designated site, one night only and not during hunting season when a yellow-blazed gravel road detour must be followed. Finally, cross US 6 (at milepost 228.5) into a church parking lot, signed "Hiker Parking Except Sunday."

Carpet of trout lilies in early spring north from Wimbrough Campsite to Mudge Rd.