🏕️ Backpacking Oil Creek State Park — 3 Days on the Gerard Trail

🌲 Join us for a 3-day, 2-night backpacking adventure on the Gerard Hiking Trail!
We're heading to Oil Creek State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania to hike the full 36-mile Gerard Trail loop — one of the best backpacking trails in the state. Think deep forested hollows, four waterfalls, a swinging suspension bridge, historic oil boom ruins, and Adirondack shelters with stone fireplaces to end each day. This is a point-to-point loop, so we park once and return to the same spot — no shuttles, no hassle.

This trip is geared toward experienced hikers comfortable with multi-day backpacking and carrying a full pack over hilly terrain. The trail is rated "More Difficult" by the PA DCNR with steep climbs, rocky/rooty sections, and roughly 5,000 feet of total elevation gain across the loop.

📋 THE ITINERARY
Day 1 — Petroleum Centre → Wolfkiel Run Shelter (~11.6 miles) We start at the Petroleum Centre trailhead and head counterclockwise up the west side of the loop. We'll pass through Rynd Farm, explore remnants from the 1860s oil boom, and catch the west-side waterfalls before arriving at Wolfkiel Run shelter area for the night.
Day 2 — Wolfkiel Run → Cow Run Shelter (~14.2 miles) Our biggest day! We cross through Miller Farm, hike past the Boughton suspension bridge, and pass near the Drake Well Museum (birthplace of the commercial oil industry). Then we climb into the east-side ridgeline and descend to Cow Run shelter area. This is the longest day, but also the most rewarding — bring your camera.
Day 3 — Cow Run → Petroleum Centre (~10.7 miles) A shorter final day back along the east side with one more waterfall before we loop back to our cars at Petroleum Centre. We'll plan to finish by early-to-mid afternoon.

Park Map:
elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1737398&DocName=OICR_ParkMap.pdf

🏠 WHERE WE'RE SLEEPING
Both shelter areas (Wolfkiel Run and Cow Run) have six Adirondack-style shelters with stone fireplaces and chimneys, tent sites, pit toilets, firewood, critter boxes for food storage, and seasonal potable water.

• I have already reserved 3 shelters for each night. If you want to go but don't get a spot in one of the shelters, you will need to book your own tent site.
• Find Entrances - OIL CREEK STATE PARK, PA - Pennsylvania State Parks
• May 15th
• Wolfkiel Shelter #2 - David and Liz
• Wolfkiel Shelter #3
• Wolfkiel Shelter #4
• May 16th
• Cow Run Shelter #1
• Cow Run Shelter #2 - David and Liz
• Cow Run Shelter #3

💰 COST

• The per person will be determined once I have a head count and have determined who will stay in which shelter. It can be paid to Liz via Venmo or PayPal.

💧 WATER SOURCES

• Potable water is available at the trailhead (Petroleum Centre) and seasonally at both shelter areas — I'll confirm with the park office before the trip
• Oil Creek and several tributary streams cross the trail and can be filtered
• Bring a water filter (Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree, or similar) and backup purification tabs.

🚗 GETTING THERE & PARKING
Oil Creek State Park is about a 2.5–3 hour drive from the Northeast Ohio area. We'll meet at the Petroleum Centre trailhead (the main park office with restrooms, parking, and potable water).

Park address: Oil Creek State Park, 305 State Park Road, Oil City, PA 16301

⚠️ GOOD TO KNOW

• Difficulty: This is a "More Difficult" rated trail with sustained climbs and descents. You should be comfortable hiking 11–14 miles per day with a loaded pack.
• Ticks: Wear treated clothing, tuck pants into socks in tall grass, do a tick check.
• Wildlife: Black bears are present — use the critter boxes at camp and keep food safe.
• Bail-out options: If you need to cut the trip short, you can hike downhill to the valley-floor bike trail or Oil Creek and follow it back to Petroleum Centre or Drake Well.
• Connector trails: White-blazed crossover trails connect the east and west sides of the loop at multiple points — useful if the group needs to shorten the route.

❓ QUESTIONS?
Drop a comment below or message me! Looking forward to an amazing weekend in the woods! 🌿