Some of this hike is along the highway, some is on an unimproved forest road, and the last bit is on a firebreak, but the middle is a bit of a puzzle and quite scenic. This one might be more difficult in the dark, but you’re mostly going east-north-east on the first leg in the woods, then you turn and go mostly south-east. It would be pretty hard to get really lost, but you could find yourself struggling through some thick undergrowth if you go too far astray. Actually, there were a few places I walked through some thick stuff because I was exploring more than trying to take the easy path. Nothing I walked through was that bad … you know, the thorny briars that rip your clothes off … there was none of that.
Hopefully, you can see by the Google Earth view of my GPS track that I parked my car and started my hike near the Weetock trailhead on Long Point Rd. I hiked up HW58 to an unimproved forest road that I then followed to the corner of the field where I entered the woods. If you can load this GPS track it would make it easier to follow my meandering.
The photo on the left shows the small stream you will use as your guide on the south-easterly part of your trek.
Once you are in the woods, after leaving the field that you came to by walking the unimproved forest road from HW58, you are essentially tracking the high ground along the south side of Holsten Creek until you get to the stream where you will turn south-east and travel up the stream, away from Holsten Creek.
You’ll want to take your time and sight-see on this stretch of the trip, because it’s really too short. The entire track is about 2.5 miles and the part that is in the woods is about 1/2 of that. It’s not a difficult walk, if you don’t mind walking off-trail.
The photo on the right shows a log across the stream in one of the places where I crossed over. The trip will be even shorter if you just walk up one side, because I added to it with my meandering. I like to wander down to the stream and also check out the other side when it looks interesting. There is no right way to do this hike. Maybe someday there will be a trail, but at this time, you are completely on your own when it comes to selecting the best passage.
The image on the left shows the firebreak that you will walk along the national forest boundary in a south-westerly direction. If you did get lost while trekking along the stream, you could just try to travel on a south-easterly compass heading and you’d eventually run into the firebreak (you can’t miss it), then just turn south-west (to your right) and walk until you come out at a road that takes you straight to HW 58 just south of Long Point Rd (where you started!).
I could make this hike a bit longer by taking it down to Holsten Creek in one or two pretty spots before turning to go up the small tributary. I’d love to hear from you if you try this hike. Except for the short stretch on the highway, it’s a pretty peaceful walk. You’re not likely to encounter any wheeled vehicles on the forest roads and the firebreak section is very remote and wooded.
Hay just reaching out to someone who knows about the trail I have had an intrest in and learning from I live just a stone throw away and go by the trail head almost every day as well crossing cat fish lake rd it is a small community. I have been following you and your camping Buddy for a few months and would like to tag along and learn from people that has been doing what I have been longing to do for a long time. So I will put this out there
Hello, Mark. You are more than welcome to join us for a hike. I don’t plan my hikes far in advance. We end up hiking at night a lot because of our work schedules. The days are getting longer, though! Also, I try to hike in daylight on weekends. I have your e-mail address, so I’ll do my best to give you some warning as to when and where you can meet me (I seldom know when Fred is going to get out there).