|
 This
hike is rated 5 because of the distance. Taking just over
7 hours you will definitely feel tired when you're done! There
are great wooded areas with two different rivers the Thornton
and Piney.
With only two close parking spots near the end of RT 612 make
sure to get an early start. Enter the park on yellow-blazed
Thornton River Trail and climb gently for 1.4 miles where
you reach the intersection
of the Hull School Trail.
Turn Right on the Hull School Trail ascending
more steeply to the ridge line in another 0.7 miles. Turn
left onto the blue blazed Fork Mountain Trail and ascend
the ridge line for 1.2 miles before coming to the junction
of the Piney Ridge Trail that comes in from the right.
Continue straight on what is now called the Piney Ridge Trail
for another 2.0 miles before coming to a service
road junction. Continue straight another 100 yards to
the
junction of the white
blazed Appalachian Trail where you will turn right. Take
the Appalachian Trail for 0.5 miles before it meets
back up with the service road for 50 yards then veers
to the right. Stay on the Appalachian Trail for another 0.5
miles until you get to the intersection
of the Pole Bridge Link Trail.
Turn right downhill on the Pole Bridge Link Trail crossing
a stream in 0.7 miles and arriving at the junction
of the Piney Branch Trail in 1.2 miles.
Turn right downhill on the Piney Branch Trail for 1.2 miles
crossing the Piney River and passing the junction
of the Piney Ridge Trail at 1.8 miles. Continue downhill
on the Piney Branch Trail crossing Piney River again in
0.3 miles and coming to the junction of the Hull School
Trail 0.5 miles further. Continue downhill and re-cross
Piney River for the last time 100 yards from the last
intersection. 25 yards after crossing Piney River you
will come to the intersection
of the Hull School Trail where you will turn right
uphill for 1.0 miles to the Piney Ridge line junction
that began the loop earlier.
Continue straight downhill, retracing your steps from earlier
turn right on the Thornton River Trail and return to the parking
area in another 1.2 miles. |
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