Hiking at Denton Hill State Park
8 miles of trails
The mountainous trails of the park traverse Denton Hill and connect to many more miles of trails in Susquehannock State Forest, and to the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum's: Lumberman's, Crowell Hollow, and Commissioner Run trails.
Elm Hollow Loop and Ridge Trail connect to the Susquehannock Trail System, an 85-mile trail loop that traverses some of the most rugged, mountainous terrain in northcentral Pennsylvania. This trail system also passes through Patterson and Ole Bull state parks.
Denton Hill State Park Trail Map (PDF)
Trail Definitions
Difficulty Ratings
Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.
Trail Route Type
Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.
Black Bear Trail
0.3 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a connector trail between the Black Bear Haul Road and the Elm Hollow Trail.
Cross Cut Alley Trail
0.3 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a connector trail for the Denton Hill Cross Country Ski System Trail to the parking area at the Denton Hill Ski Lodge.
Denton Hill Cross-country Ski System
0.3 mile in the park | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a small portion of a larger cross country ski trail system maintained by Forestry. This is a connector for the Sidewinder, Doe Run, and Cross Cut Trails.
Doe Run Trail
0.4 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a connector trail for the Denton Hill Cross Country Ski System Trail to the parking area at the Denton Hill Ski Lodge.
Elm Hollow Spur Trail
0.3 mile | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a moderately difficult connector trail between the Denton Hill Cross Country Ski System Trail to the Elm Hollow Trail.
Elm Hollow Trail
3.0 miles | More difficult hiking | Loop trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail follows Elm Hollow to the top of the ridge and then loops to return to the parking area at the Denton Hill Ski Lodge. This is a moderately difficult cross country ski trail.
Ridge Trail
0.2 mile in the park, 43 miles total | More difficult hiking | Point-to-point trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, backpacking
Trailhead amenities: none
The Ridge Trail follows a small portion of the parks boarder as well as the Susquehannock Trail System. The entire Susquehannock Trail System is 43 miles.
Sidewinder Trail
1.2 miles | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a connector trail for the Denton Hill Cross Country Ski System Trail to the parking area at the Denton Hill Ski Lodge.