The Fred Woods Tail in Elk State Forest of Cameron County is an outstanding hike on a mountain plateau featuring an incredible city-like boulder maze.
One of most thrilling things about outdoor adventuring is when we find a treasure like the Fred Woods Trail. It has one of the most fantastic and fun rock formations we’ve encountered in Pennsylvania. The Fred Woods Trail is a 4.4 mile loop on a plateau atop the mountains of Elk State Forest in Cameron County, PA. There is a parking area off Mason Hill Road at 41.36278, -78.18322. The Fred Woods trial begins just across the road. There is an information kiosk at the trailhead where you can snap a picture of the trail before you head out.
Follow the easy, yellow-blazed trail for just under 0.8 miles until you reach the loop portion. Be on the lookout for stone wall ruins along the way. At the beginning of the loop we encountered the Fred Woods dedication sign shown below.
We opted to travel the Fred Woods trail counter-clockwise, which is the shortest route to the amazing boulder city and rock labyrinth. Upon entering the loop, the trail narrows, but is still easily discernable and clearly blazed. At the time we visited the air was full of the sweet fragrance of summer ferns.
As we progressed on the Fred Woods Trail, boulders began appearing and sporadically increased in frequency and size. Numerous bouldering spots are scattered throughout the area.
The amazing boulder city begins at approximately 41.35424, -78.20079. We turned the corner around the large triangular formation shown below and entered what looked like the outer courtyard of a natural castle.
We strolled down the outer courtyard in wonder at the fantastic formations. The cubic boulders formed sheer walls adorned with a mossy veneer and tentacle-like tree toots.
The landscape formed a natural mansion of corridors and suites winding through the awesome formation.
So many paths and passages to explore.
The adventure grew more thrilling as we penetrated more deeply into the formation’s inner courtyards and maze-like corridors. Some paths lead to dead ends, some looped back on themselves, and some led to holes and crevices we could crawl through to the other side of the castle-like walls.
One of our favorite parts was exploring the long narrow secret passage-like crevasses. We could just squeeze through in spots. After navigating the interior of the boulder labyrinth we returned to the outer wall and found trails leading to the top of the formation. From there we could look down on the passages and courtyards we passed through below.
After reveling in the truly wonderful boulder maze we continued west on the Fred Woods Trail. We encountered several small boulder clusters, but the boulders thinned out as we approached the western rim of the mountain. Water Plug Vista, the first of two scenic overlooks, is located at the northwestern tip of the trail (41.35409, -78.20424).
After the Water Plug Vista, the trail turns south. This stretch is a pleasant walk through the woods, leading to the second scenic view the southwestern tip of the trail. On the way, the character of the landscape thickens from open trees and ferns to denser woods and brush but not overgrowing the trial. The terrain in this section is rocky in spots. This overlook is the aptly named Huckleberry Vista at 41.34565, -78.20259 amid a large patch of huckleberry bushes. There is a short spur down the hill that gives a little better view than the clearing at the top.
From the Huckleberry Vista, the trail turns left (north), closely following the rim of the plateau. We enjoyed the walk near the edge of the steep slope, but there were no clear overlooks on account of the trees. We heard what sounded like a bear tramping through the woods below but didn’t see it. In any case, the trail becomes quite rocky, especially after it turns north past Huckleberry Vista to complete the circuit.
Overall the route we took was 4.4 miles.
Parking off of Mason Hill Road is at 41.36278, -78.18322.
The loop portion of the Fred Woods Trail is a rough triangle on top of the plateau, following the rim of the mountain. The excerpt of the DCNR Fred Woods Trail Map below shows the two scenic vistas. The main boulder maze is located at the “Rock Trail” noted on the map.
The Fred Woods Trail is a place of distinction, with one of the most amazing and fun rock formations we’ve encountered in Pennsylvania. Our favorite part was exploring the almost preternatural moss-painted passages through the boulders. The scenic overlooks, although not panoramic, keep the trail interesting and add to the beauty of the adventure. The trail traverses a plateau on top of a mountain, so there is relatively little elevation change. And you don’t need to climb the mountain – you can drive right to it. In fact, the drive up the mountain is a pleasantly scenic journey itself. Because it is highly accessible, and a relatively easy hike it is an excellent adventure opportunity for families. However, the terrain on the southeastern leg of the trail past Huckleberry Vista (if traveling counterclockwise) is quite rocky and may not be suitable for young children (you may have to carry them). If you are interested in just visiting the boulder maze, stay to the right at the loop split and it is about a 3.2 mile out-and-back.
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