Date: August 3, 2011
Total Distance: 1.70 miles
Time: 50 minutes
Elevation Gain: 128 feet
Configuration: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Evansburg State Park was like finding a hidden gem right in our own backyard. Unfortunately, the hike was cut short by heavy rains which made it dangerous to continue on this mainly single-track hike.
|
|
|
Hiking Evansburg State Park's Single-Track Trail
We picked up the trailhead right on Anders Road. (Click here for map of Evansburg State Park) When looking at this very nicely rendered PDF map of Evansburg State Park, look for the parking lot icon on Anders Road - this is the trailhead which we used as the start of our aborted journey. At the parking lot, you will find paper copies of this map (grab one!) and a bulletin board sharing different community information. While the book 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Philadelphia is what led us to this park, we had decided to deviate from the planned hike laid out in the book and start from this parking lot. |
Using the PDF map as a reference, you can see the legend in the upper left corner of the map. Identify the hiking trails by the dashed line. This map has quite a few hiking trails and equestrian trails. The hiking trail we took leads directly on from the parking lot on Anders Road (indicated by a small, filled rectangle.
|
|
|
Footbridge |
The trail is not initially blazed, but is quite obvious as you begin your hike. After crossing through an open area underneath some power lines, you will feel like your entering another world. The first landmark of interest is this footbridge (see picture above). Now granted, we here at Hiking with Impunity, have an obsession with footbridges, so maybe you won't be as interested in photographing or lingering around every one you come across! It's generally a good idea when approaching a footbridge to check the sturdiness of the planks in front of you by using your hiking pole/walking stick to assess whether the plank is loose.
|
|
|
White Paint Blaze - Hiking Trail Evansburg State Park |
Eventually you will come to an area that is blazed.
Look at the picture on the right. This is a white paint blaze. Blazes are markings which indicate the trail you are on and are also used to indicate changes in direction. Painted blazes are the most common blazes that we have seen thus far on our hikes. Different trails in the same park are usually indicated using different paint colors. Interestingly enough, we did come across several medal blazes on trees on this trail as well. The distance between blazes can be variable, and certainly was variable along this trail. (We will return to the concept of blazes in a future article).
As we continued along the narrow single-track, we could see the Skippack Creek to our right.
This trail did require climbing over several fallen trees, and I must emphasize how narrow this trail can be. Don't expect to walk side-by-side for the majority of this hike.
|
|
|
A grouping of three trees that fell over, upheaving the roots below! |
In addition to the narrowness of the trail, the other aspect of this hike that should be emphasized is the sometimes dizzying heights you will climb. Now take the narrowness of the trail and have no room between the trail and a straight fall down, and you have yourself a situation where if you are afraid of heights, you may not be able to proceed (which is why this hike is rated moderate to difficult). It certainly became an unfathomable prospect as the day wore on because of heavy rains that moved into the area.
|
|
|
Another footbridge!!
|
