Allegheny Front Trail along Sixmile Run in Moshannon State Forest

This 3-4+ mile, out-and-back, moderate hike will follow Sixmile Run along a short segment of the Allegheny Front Trail (AFT) where it crosses SR 504 in the Moshannon State Forest, close to Black Moshannon State Park. It's a pleasant trail passing through beautiful forest stands, a lovely creek, and some thick rhododendron patches. I expect the hike to last 2-3 hours, give or take.

We will meet at 1 p.m. at the parking lot at the intersection of Beaver Road (Rte. 3032) and Underwood Rd., an unpaved (gravel) forest road. (We have met here many times before.) Participants can carpool from here about 10 minutes to the AFT trail crossing (where parking is more limited), from which we will begin our hike, or drive directly to the point of departure (see maps).

To reach the parking area and trail crossing from State College, take the same route you would to reach Black Moshannon State Park. Take Fox Hollow and Fox Hill roads, headed toward the University Park Airport. Turn left on Bernel Road (1/2 mile before the airport) and follow it down into the Buffalo Run valley to Rte. 550. Turn left on 550 and follow it for 2-3 miles to Julian Pike on the right. Follow Julian Pike as it winds up and over Bald Eagle Mountain and down into the village of Julian.

Cross Bald Eagle Creek and Alt Rte 220 in Julian proper, get onto Beaver Rd (Rte. 3032), and gradually start heading up the mountainside (the Allegheny Front) toward Black Moshannon State Park. Just after reaching the crest, on the right you will see a large parking area at the Intersection of Beaver Rd and Underwood Rd.

We will meet here at 1 p.m., and ten minutes later will proceed (still in vehicles) along to and along Black Moshannon Lake (reservoir), turning left on SR 504, heading towards Philipsburg. It’s less than a 5-minute drive to the trail crossing and parking spot from this intersection.

Here are the GPS coordinates of our initial meeting place:

40.883005, -78.020965