Hike of the Week 6/26/2003

Description:

Proceed to the northwest corner of the parking area and find the trailhead for the blue-blazed Three Lakes Trail. Follow this trail, which enters the woods and passes a swamp on the right. At the end of the swamp, the trail bears sharply left and begins to climb rather steeply. Near the top of the hill, the trail passes an interesting split rock to the right. Just beyond - at the top of the rise - the remains of the Denny Mine may be seen to the right of the trail. You'll first notice a long, narrow opening, surrounding by piles of tailings (waste rock removed from the mine). If you bushwhack a little further to the northeast, you will reach an even more impressive mine opening - about 100 feet long and 20 feet deep, with the bottom filled with water. Use caution if you wish to explore these mine openings, all of which are to the right (northeast) of the trail.

  Return to the trail and head north, descending through mountain laurel into a valley. Here, the trail turns right onto a woods road and soon reaches Sunk Mine Road, a rough dirt road. Turn right onto Sunk Mine Road and follow it for 0.2 mile, passing the southern end of John Allen Pond to the left. Just past the pond, follow the blue blazes as they turn left, leaving the road. The trail crosses the outlet of the pond just below its spillway and goes over a narrow concrete dam. After continuing parallel to the lake shore for a short distance, the trail bears right, away from the lake. It reaches an old mine railbed and turns left to parallel it. After crossing a stream on rocks (to the left, the stone abutments of the mine railway are visible, but the bridge is gone), the trail bears left and joins the mine railbed for a short distance. It then turns left, leaving the railbed, and passes the stone foundations of several buildings from John Allen's homestead.

  The Three Lakes Trail now climbs to reach a junction with the red-blazed Charcoal Burners Trail, which leaves to the left. Proceed ahead on the blue-blazed trail, which goes through mountain laurel thickets and continues through a grassy area, where it crosses a small stream. Just ahead, you'll reach a fork, where the yellow-blazed Old Mine Railroad Trail begins to the left. Bear right and continue along the blue-blazed Three Lakes Trail, which continues north on a relatively level footpath.

  About two and one-half miles from the start, you'll reach a junction (marked by a cairn) with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Turn sharply right and follow the A.T. as it descends rather steeply to a ravine, then ascends to the right of a cliff. After proceeding through a grassy clearing and an overgrown field, the trail bends sharply left and climbs steeply to the top of a hemlock-bordered ridge. It descends a rocky slope and continues along a ridge studded with pine and hemlock, with a steep drop to the right.

  After steeply descending from the ridge along a rocky slope covered with pine needles, the A.T. crosses the outlet of a swamp to the right of the trail on a one-log bridge. It turns right on Sunk Mine Road, but follows the road for only 60 feet before turning left and ascending on an old woods road, first rather steeply, then more gradually. After crossing a long, smooth rock, the trail narrows to a footpath and continues to climb. It reaches a high point, with very limited views through the trees to the west, and descends gradually.

  At the base of the descent, the A.T. skirts a swamp to the right, crossing its outlet stream on rocks. Soon, it reaches a junction with the red-blazed Catfish Loop Trail, which leaves to the left at a fork. Bear right, continuing on the white-blazed A.T., and in another 0.2 mile you'll reach the grassy field at Dennytown Road where the hike began.

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