Michaux State Forest Trails

Status: large sections of the trail (excepting the 2015 section) are having drainage problems with one area becoming a swamp in winter months and other sections becoming streams. Parts of the trail are entrenched, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to create effective drainage.

The 2015 section is effective except for a wet area at the lower end of the diversion and a steeper area where horses have created an alternative route. The diversion was not built to sustain horse traffic.

Most people approaching the trail from route 233 do not use the first section of the trail, rather they take an old logging road, which is a more direct route.

General State: snow on the ground

Recent Weather: a small snowfall

Blazing: red

Signage: signed at either end.

History: The Wildcat trail used to be V shaped (see 1992 Appalachian Trail map) but the left arm of the V, which ran from near route 233 to Birch Run Road, has been abandoned (except for a section used by mountain bike trails) as it goes straight up and down the fall line and would be very difficult to maintain due to drainage and erosional issues (it is reported on as the Chestnut trail).

In 2015 a diversionary section of trail was built to replace part of the trail that had suffered erosional problems.

GPS Readings: Ends: 39.9600N 77.4103W and 39.978N, 77.4025W

The trail is 2.0 miles long.