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This 5 stage multi-cache was designed to combine two of Mountainfolk406's favorite activities...hiking and caching. This multi is located in the Cherry Run State Game Lands #295 outside of Lamar. The hike is a 10 mile loop so please plan at least 6 hours to complete it.
Important items to bring with you on this hike: Plenty of water, snacks, bug repellent, hiking boots (these are a must due to the many creek crossings and muddy conditions), headlamp (just in case), and your sense of adventure!!! Plan to do this hike early in the day so you don't run out of daylight.
Requirements for logging this cache: This cache is only to be completed by hiking, mountain biking or by horseback riding. These are the only accepted methods of travel on these Game Commission trails. Be advised this is a technical mountain bike ride with creek crossings and rock gardens. This multi-cache has two logs. The first log is at Stage Three and the other log is at the Final Stage. Both log books are required to be signed on the trail before getting your smiley on geocaching.com. This is to ensure all have done the hike. We love this trail and our hope is to bring others to this very serene and beautiful area.
Start this multi-cache from the small hunter’s parking lot along Narrows Road south of Lamar at Cherry Run. The coordinates for this parking lot are N 40* 59.466 - W 077* 29.552.
How to Get There: The Cherry Run Game Lands are accessed from the town of Lamar, about 25 miles northeast of State College in Clinton County, just inside the Centre County line. From the southern end of the town at the Lamar-Porter Township Recreation Park, take Washington Avenue (which later becomes Narrows Road) toward Tylersville. Take this road 3.7 miles and watch for a small parking lot hidden in the trees to the left of the road, just before a small bridge over Cherry Run.
From the Cherry Run Trail parking lot, it is necessary to first walk along the paved road south between two stream hollows, skirting the west side of Bear Mountain, which you will completely walk around during this hike. From the parking lot, walk out to the paved road, turn left (south) and follow the paved road to the Bear Run Trail parking lot about a half mile up the road.
Turn left (east) off the paved Narrows Road into the parking area for the Bear Run Trail. The coordinates for Stage One are N 40* 59.140 - W 077* 29.212 and is located near this parking area. In Stage One you will find a map of the entire trail to enable you to stay on course. You will also find the coordinates and hint for Stage Two attached to the map. PLEASE TAKE A MAP ALONG WITH YOU!
Stage Two, Three, and Four will contain business cards with the coordinates and hint for each following stage. At each stage, please take one of these business cards with you for reference.
From Stage One, head east on the Bear Run Trail. This is the first of several old logging roads you will follow during this hike. This easy trail along Bear Run is now less of a dirt road and more of a very pleasant tunnel through large hemlock trees and giant rhododendron bushes. The Bear Run Trail ascends very gently over a distance of about four miles, crossing the stream several times. The vegetation gradually changes from the water-loving trees and shrubs seen earlier to a drier ecosystem of oak and beech. Stage Two is located along this section of this circuit hike.
At the height of land, you will be surprised to find that you have climbed more than 900 feet into the mountains. At the top of the climb is an extensive meadow being operated by the State Game Commission as a wildlife feed lot. Here you are very likely to see deer and wild turkeys.
After the meadow, you start walking downhill and the trail reverts to an active Game Commission access road, where logging recently took place. Still going east for the time being, follow this access road downhill and around a gradual curve to the north toward Cherry Run. Stage Three will be located along this access road. Stage three also contains a log book that requires signing. The main bulk of Bear Mountain, which now appears to be just a low hill after your climb, has been to your left throughout the hike.
At the bottom of a steep hill, the Game Commission access road turns sharply right. Here you instead TURN LEFT (West) onto the Cherry Run Trail, another abandoned logging road that returns you to pleasant hiking. This trail leads back west, gently downhill along Cherry Run. The hike continues gently downhill with babbling Cherry Run to the right. This section of the trail offers several miles of hiking where you will observe in reverse the changes of forest type seen earlier, eventually finding yourself once again among hemlocks and rhododendron. Stage Four and the Final will be located along this section of the trail between here and the parking lot.
Near the bottom of the hollow and almost within sight of Narrows Road, the Cherry Run trail is cut off by a private hunting camp. Watch for a very visible arrow made out of metal and painted red, guiding you to turn right off the main trail. The side trail crosses two bridges over Cherry Run, then turns left through an area that is becoming a minor wetland as several small branches of the run have flowed over a flat, low-lying area. As you hop over many wet spots and streamlets, the side trail suddenly emerges in the parking lot where you began this ten mile hike.
For cachers that do not want to undertake such a long outing, there are two shorter distance caches located in the area. Please check out Bear Run (GC17QMV) and Cherry Run (GC17QM4).
Note: Do not hike in this or any other State Game Lands during the big game hunting seasons in November and December, except on Sundays during which hunting is not permitted in Pennsylvania. The State Game Lands also allow small game hunting during much of the rest of the year, which does not present a serious hazard to hikers, though it is advisable to wear at least one piece of “safety orange” clothing for visibility. Camping is not permitted on State Game Lands so this must be done as a day hike.
Congratulations to BoogieWoogieKing of the MountainTop for the "First to Find". Enjoy the gift card. You earned it!!!
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