Joins us as we hike the high ridges and deep hollows of Shade Mountain uncovering SGL 107’s Suloff Trail. See this IMPORTANT information to not get STUCK!
The Suloff Trail is a loop we cobbled together during an exploration of State Game Lands 107 on Shade Mountain in Juniata County, PA. In this region, known as the Juniata Narrows, the Juniata River passes between the high, steep ridges of Shade Mountain to the north and Blue Mountain to the south between Mifflintown and Lewistown. We were excited to finally make our first foray to explore the alluring Shade Mountain after many trips passing through the long slender corridor on Route 22.
Stage Game Lands 107 consists of over 8200 acres of Shade Mountain, startling Juniata and Mifflin counties. During this excursion we explored the middle portion of SGL 107. We drove up Hower Gap Road and parked at the large lot in a hollow at 40.66184, -77.37319. Hower Gap Road is curvy and deeply rutted with protruding rocks. You need a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle to make it. Do not attempt the drive in a car.
From the lot we climbed the ridge to the south through a logged area on an old road. At the top, we took a gravel logging road west along the ridge. This road is gated, with a sign indicating that it is open From September 19, 2025 through February 9, 2026. Be sure to check with the Pennsylvania Game Commission for exact dates before your visit if you plan on driving on this road. We enjoyed broken views of Wagner Gap through the trees along the way. After passing by the site of an old radio tower, the woods gave way to a logged area providing a panoramic vista at approximately 40.65270, -77.39030.
The road dipped down from the ridge and terminated in a large SGL lot at 40.65270, -77.39030. We wanted to hike up a trail to the south leading to a ridge, hoping for a scenic view. Unfortunately, our way was blocked by purple paint on the trees, indicating private property. So, we turned around and from the large lot, took the gated gravel road west that dipped into a hollow then mounted a hillock. At 40.63983, -77.42006 the gravel road curved right and a trail through the woods split off left. We took the trail left through the woods to explore Suloff Gap on the southern slope of Shade Mountain. Our plan was to pass through the gap and make a loop along the base of the mountain.
Hiking on a path through the mountain laurel, we initially walked right past the turnoff to the Suloff trail. So, you don’t make the same mistake, the less-than-conspicuous intersection is at 40.63844, -77.42161. At first, the Suloff trail runs on an old logging road that is clear and broad. However, as we proceeded, the hollow narrowed, and the trail was obscured by fallen trees. We hoped to uncover some waterfalls or at least cascades, but the stream, Suloff Run, was little more than a trickle. We bounced back and forth across Suloff Run to avoid dense obstructions. The way was quite rocky in parts and any remaining trail was obliterated by large amounts of fallen timber.
We made it through the slog, following the stream through the gap. There was nothing scenic, save for the exceedingly rocky slopes above. The gap eventually opened up to the grassy Suloff Run Road. We breezed back east along the dirt road along a contour of Shade Mountain, enjoying broken views of the valley to the south. We planned to walk Suloff Run Road back to Hower Gap Road and complete the circuit by hiking up the way we drove. However, we were enticed by a path into the woods marked by blue blazes at 40.63056, -77.40116. We quickly lost the trail and decided to bushwack directly up the slope. It was a challenging rocky ascent that should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
We accomplished the climb with slow persistence. After cresting the ridge, we descended into the recently logged Racoon Hollow. We used a muddy logging path at 40.64010, -77.40225 to ascend the ridge to the north. We passed through a logged area on top of the ridge which afforded windows of Hower Gap/Spigelmyer Gap, through which we drove to get into SGL 107. We returned to the SGL lot at 40.65270, -77.39030, avoiding the posted area. From there, we returned on the logging road at the ridge of Shade Mountain to complete the hike.
Overall, the hike was 8.6 miles.
The route we took is given above. The Orange lines are roads/trails. The red lines are off trail. Dashed lines are alternate routes.
Parking where we began is in the upper right of the map, at 40.66184, -77.37319.
Here is the Pennsylvania Game Commission SGL 107 Map
The best part of this hike was the scenic vista on the ridge of Shade Mountain. Most of the rest was a nice walk in the woods on dirt and gravel State Game Lands roads. None of the trails were blazed as is typical for Pennsylvania State Game Lands. The hike through Suloff Gap was rugged after the trail fizzled out on account of the many fallen trees and rocks. The bushwack up Shade Mountain was steep and difficult and should only be attempted by experienced hikers. Our exploration made a loop through the middle of SGL 107. There is still much to explore in the eastern and western portions.
CAUTION: Hower Gap Road, which we drove to the top of Shade Mountain was curvy and narrow with deep ruts and exposed rocks. You can only make it up there with a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle. As an alternative, you can park in a lot at the bottom of the mountain at the intersection of Hower Gap Road and Suloff Run Road at 40.63143, -77.38564.
WARNING: On the way down the mountain we took Wagner Gap Road to Route 522, north of Shade Mountain. Wager Gap Road is even worse than Hower Gap Road. Although Wagner Gap Road is more direct with fewer curves, there are large boulders in the dirt road. We had to drive at a crawling pace to carefully navigate the boulders even in a four wheel drive truck. It is impassable to cars.
Be sure to check out our other adventures.
