Backpacking Minister Creek in Allegheny National Forest // One of the Best Trails in Pennsylvania

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2 жыл бұрын

Minister Creek in Allegheny National Forest is a favorite location for backpacking and one of the best trail systems in Pennsylvania. The hike features large boulders, slot canyons, and an incredible overlook of Minister Valley. There are many campsites along Minister Creek near Triple Forks where the North Country Trail intersects the Minister Creek Trail. You can also choose to camp at the trailhead at the Minister Creek Campground.
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Пікірлер: 57

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Minister Creek is a great trail system with some incredible features and views. It is a great place for an overnight backpacking trip. Great for the experienced and novice backpacker. There are so many great things to say about this hike and trip. I can't wait to go back!

@flipyour20 Жыл бұрын

Just did this as a beginner backpacking trip. Trail was in great shape. Boulders that size are always impressive! We prepared for our trip by watching your video...multiple times. Thank you🙂 We have a potential new video suggestion for you: "How to build and SUSTAIN a campfire with wood found at a campsite" b/c we need a solid tutorial!

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

Nice job, such a great hike. The wood at Minister Creek is really wet and picked through. Getting a good fire is tough. Best thing is to get the dry stuff going, split the semi-dry stuff and get it drying. I actually hiked in some dry kindling for my guided trip. Fire is sometimes hard.

@nanettemartin7585 24 күн бұрын

Wonderful video - LOVED the music! We're heading out here in a few weeks. Per your review we will be hiking counter clockwise. Thank you!

@OutsideChronicles 12 күн бұрын

Enjoy, it’s a beautiful area

@tamstergirl62 Жыл бұрын

Can't wait, looks beautifully peaceful.

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

It will be, weather looks perfect. See you at the trailhead!

@Creighster 10 ай бұрын

Definitely need to put this hike on my bucket list!

@OutsideChronicles 10 ай бұрын

Agreed, went in spring and will go back in fall. My clients love it there.

@ervinslens 2 жыл бұрын

Lovely shots and really majestic scenery.🎥🎞

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Thanks for watching, see you outside!

@anthonybeckman9665 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video, Mike. Going to add this trip to my list. Highlights of the video are the rock sections, the morning stretch scene, and the red salamander. Excited for more videos.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, you’ll love Minister Creek. See you outside!

@soaroutdoors 2 жыл бұрын

Looks like a beautiful hike. Thank you Mike for another great trip review. I’ll be there soon!! “Distinctive Tree”👍

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

You will love this hike

@BackcountryPaddler 2 жыл бұрын

I'm dying to camp overnight near a little creek like that! Reminds me a bit of Rock City. Fire starting is hard as heck when everything is wet!! Great video Mike.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, you will love Minister Creek. But you’d have to hike there, it’s not too navigable.

@Victory1981 2 жыл бұрын

Nice hike! It’s on my bucket list. Tracy Ridge is really cool around Bradford as well.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

PA has some great places. Love Tracey Ridge as well as Rimrock/Morrison. I have several more on my list! Thanks for watching, see you outside!

@HuskyHiker 2 жыл бұрын

It's going on my list, this just looks like a cool little loop.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I really enjoyed it and has been recommended to me by several people. Enjoy it, see you outside!

@systempatcher 11 ай бұрын

That's funny, I have the 2p version of that tent. It's great but a little on the heavy side for me and I just swapped it out for something lighter. Minister Creek was my first backpacking trip I ever did back in 2014 with my high school friends. At the time we were young, didn't know any better, and my friend carved his initials "TF" in one of the trees at the unmarked campsite just beyond the sign (he literally spent like two hours doing it). We were planning a trip back to this exact camp site the very week he died in a tragic accident... so instead a few of my friends went with me and I carved "RIP" above his initials. You can see it plain as day as long as no one has since tried to deface it. (fyi for the tree lovers -- I was grieving at the time. I will never carve into a tree again and I would hope none of you do either)

@OutsideChronicles 11 ай бұрын

The front entry at first was ok, but then became annoying. I ditched it for a Hubba Hubba. And my condolences for you friend. I lost an adventure buddy last year in a rafting accident, I think about home on every adventure. See you outside

@MedfordHills 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the video.

@OutsideChronicles 10 ай бұрын

My pleasure, see you outside!

@smidgen65 2 жыл бұрын

Mountain Laurel is the Pennsylvania state flower. It grows all over the state.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Ha, that is funny. I live in Western NY. We are just outside its northern range. Most of my adventuring has been in the Adirondacks. But friends convinced me to explore more of Allegheny National Forest. I am so glad they did. I am planning another trip this week. The big bonus is it is only 2.5 hours away, not 6 like ADK.

@silentlou4375 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been down there many times, there is something very special about that area. Regarding Mountain Laurel… it’s a big thing in PA. I recall reading that in the past, some of the hills were so covered with Mt Laurel that during bloom then hills looked snow topped from below. But I wanted to mention another trail not much further that might be the best that I’ve experienced in PA, Fred Woods Trail. It has maybe the best mix of isolation, scenic woods, overlooks, and rock formations that I’ve seen in such a short trail.

@imaginedmountains2311 2 жыл бұрын

Shhhhhhh! Leave that hidden gem hidden.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion. I had not heard about that one. The Hickory Creek Loop and Loyalsock-Haystack Loop among others are on my list.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

The mountain laurel was really nice to see. I live in Western NY and have not done a ton in Allegheny NF, mostly in the Adirondacks and Whites. We are too far north for it. It is amazing what a 2 hour drive does for species range. I saw a ton of mountain laurel in Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains.

@silentlou4375 2 жыл бұрын

@@OutsideChronicles It is amazing, especially considering the western twin tiers area is actually a colder climate than the rest of NY (outside the Adks). I have a lot of hiking experience in PA (the north-central area my fav) but I am soon to be regularly exploring the Adks and I’d like to become a 46er, and using your channel as a ref.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

@@silentlou4375 feel free to reach out about the Adirondacks. I look forward to exploring more of PA.

@bernielamont825 2 жыл бұрын

glad that you found the overlook, it was a little bit of a buttpucker moment for me towards the edge of it, eventually i would like to do the whole loop, foot injury kept me from doing more than dayhikes though.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

Ever hear of l'appel du vide (call of the void)? Thanks for the comment, see you outside!

@marybethhealy6236 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful video. I’m going to try and do the full trail on a Sunday this fall. Hiking aside, what is the song/artist at the 3:20 mark. I instantly fell in love with it, but can’t seem to find it on Google. Thanks!

@areaone3813 2 жыл бұрын

Love the video. That is my back yard. I camp there often, and hike. When was your visit? Thursday night the 16th hosted a huge storm with widespread tree damage. Have not heard of anyone hurt. Very lucky. Glad you had a great visit.

@OutsideChronicles 2 жыл бұрын

I was there the week before, thank goodness. Do you know how busy the Triple Forks campsites are on the weekends in July and August (non-holiday)?

@Sportsbreak149 Жыл бұрын

I am coming tomorrow for the weekend from Toledo. Where would you recommend going for the first time?

@mradomski Жыл бұрын

@@Sportsbreak149 To Minister Creek or ANF? If Minister Creek, then definitely the overlook. If ANF, then I would check out Rimrock.

@Sportsbreak149 Жыл бұрын

@@mradomski we are going to ANF.

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

@@Sportsbreak149 I would definitely check out the Rimrock overlook. And depending on how close Kinua Bridge State Park

@HanzgohFilms 9 ай бұрын

Hey - Great video. I am trying to complete my NCT100 and planning to head to the allegheny Mountains (I am in ohio and this year, I have hiked the NCT in Vt, Ohio, and Michigan. I need about 29 more miles. Looking at Minister area and the other option is Red Bridge to the NY border. Your thoughts? Also , could you tell me your cook kit pieces? I liked that wide mouth cup... curious what your cook kit is comprised of... mine is pretty makeshift.

@OutsideChronicles 9 ай бұрын

The Allegheny National Forest section is great from Red Bridge to NY. I just did 16 miles through Tracy Ridge. The campsites are all pretty nice, some right in the reservoir. Send me an e-mail mike@outsidechronicles.com if you want more details. As for my cook system, it’s the JetBoil MiniMo. I really like the wide mouth. My other top pick in that category is the MSR Windburner.

@TheEriegpman Жыл бұрын

Didn't expect to see Mountain Laurel? It is our (pa) state flower lol

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

I guess I thought they would be more in southern PA. It’s amazing the flora difference even from Allegany State Park in NY and ANF.

@deerless999 Жыл бұрын

Hi, new subscriber and fellow WNY backpacker. Found your channel researching a 3 day, 2 night loop for this Oct. I’d love a chance to chat sometime, swap trail info. Heading to ADK to do CL50 in two weeks, and NPT in Sept. Loved this video, I’ll check out your others also.

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

Very cool, thanks got subscribing. Since you are in WNY, check out our hiking challenges at outsidechronicles.com/challenges. We also have a public Facebook group called HikeWNY. And finally, feel free to reach out to me directly either via DM on FB or IG or via e-mail on my website contact page. See you outside!

@kckrye Жыл бұрын

Why are you surprised to see mountain laurel in PA? Its all over the place in PA. We have a ton of it. Where are you from? I really want to get out and hike that trail.

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

I am from Western NY, 2 hours away. We do not have it. The other times I have seen it was more south than PA. Just did not expect it. Even at Allegany State Park on the boarder, I have not seen it.

@kckrye Жыл бұрын

@@OutsideChronicles Have you ever hiked on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail?

@OutsideChronicles Жыл бұрын

@@kckrye I have not. I will look into it.

@streamlinetreecare182 Жыл бұрын

Mountain laurel is native as far north as southern Maine. I suspect it has been migrating north since the last ice age and will continue to as the climate warms.