Muddy in places, but still passable. Overgrown in places, but passable. Flat trail. For more than half of the hike, the view of Rock Run is obstructed. One nice campsite with fire-pit by the stream with some cascades.
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Gorgeous and varied hiking through all sorts of different kinds of ecosystems. Sort of a “dolly sods light”. Think: high meadows, blueberries, bogs, passing into fern covered forests, creek valleys with Rhodedendron thickets and mountain laurel, and switching terrain every couple miles.
Really enjoyable 20 mile, 2 day hike! Lots of locations to fill up water, very easy hiking except for one section that has one ~800 foot elevation gain and one steep downhill (if hiking clockwise), very low crowd factor, and a few already established camp sites with fire rings that area really very nice.
No real views except one of a pipeline right-of-way that is one giant scar running up a ridge, which is disappointing, but the views from the meadows and rolling fern covered hills and creek valleys well make up for not having an epic vista.
If you camp at the top of the only climb of the hike, make sure to fill up on water first, there’s no water source at that camp site.
Backcountry camping is permitted if you follow the rules set out by PA DNR (25 ft from trail, 200 ft from water, have a bear bag/canister or hang your food, dig a hole 200+ ft from water to poo, so on and so forth).
Also keep in mind you are in black bear (and elk!!!!) country.
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