The Cabin Place is public property in Forbes State Forest. It’s a
great place to enjoy solitude and a picnic lunch. In the summer
months there are just a few hikers and mountain bikers enjoying the
trails in this remote area. The Cabin Place is busier in the winter
whenever there is enough snow for cross country skiing. It is a
place for skiers to stop for a break and get warm.
Directions: The cache is on the north side of Route 31 between
Donegal and Somerset in the vicinity of Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
It can be accessed by hiking, biking, or skiing in on any one of
several trails from Route 31, Tunnel Road, or Shafer Run Road. The
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (yellow blazes) is a good route for
hikers. Skiers and mountain bikers will prefer the North Woods Ski
Touring Area trails (red blazes). Trail maps are sometimes
available at an official parking area located along Tunnel Road at
40° 4.350, -79° 15.340. Mountain bike and cross-country ski rentals
are available at the Hidden Valley Ski Barn on Route 31 at 40°
3.965, -79° 14.775. Hidden Valley charges a fee to use their ski
trails from Route 31 to the cache. Savvy locals park at the Tunnel
Road parking lot to avoid this gouge.
Note: The Tunnel Road parking area is closed in the summer. Park
somewhere along the road to get to get to the cache. As always,
take care not to block the road or any emergency access gates.
