Mifflin County Highpoint Trip Report

Date: November 23, 2005
Author: Chip Clark

My family and I used Mike Schwartz's directions to start. Note that Stone Creek Road is paved and in very good condition. We thought the Indian Trail marker (which you will see on the south/left though you will be hiking north/right) comes a bit earlier than the 1.7 mile mark. A little farther up the road there are better pullover points for your vehicle.

The Indian Trail is in poor condition, heavily overgrown with mountain laurel, with fallen trees and branches. With snow cover, the trail is probably invisible. I'm tempted at some point to return with a folding saw and loppers to reopen the trail. There are also steep sections with loose rocks under the fallen leaves. If you have small children with you, be prepared to carry them! Note that all of us were wearing Day-Glo orange hats or vests as it as turkey season and there were pickup trucks parked in a number of places. On the plus side, it was very cold and the ticks were absent.

Very close to the summit, you'll some across a sign where the Mid-State Trail joins the Indian Trail. The Mid-State Trail is relatively new and not on the topo. Left will take you west, and we started that way, though it quickly began to descend and turn from the ridge. We reversed and took the other branch which is now Indian Trail/Mid-State trail. After a few hundred yards, past a signed campsite area, you'll come upon the highest point in the trail. Bushwhack left/west to your heart's content through the thick laurel.

I agree with Mike that the very flat true summit is close to the trail. I'm surprised there is even that last contour on the map. Did the mappers give up in the laurel and just draw another contour? I recorded 2,341 feet on the GPS. We descended the way we came.

As an alternative to this short, steep trail, we noticed that the Mid-State Trail emerges at the top of Seven Mountains near the rest area. There is a dirt road on the west side of Route 322 across from the rest area that could make a good place to park. This could be a longer, though more level hike. That's one for another day.