Hiking Tours
Hikes from the Pine Hill
Community Center About the Center: 287 Main St. Griffin Garage Building. (1925) Site of the Pine Hill Hotel owned by George Cole. After it burned, the property was bought by Charles Griffin. The Garage was used by summer visitors, who stored their cars there during the winter. It was Vista Optical through 1995, when it was purchased by Bernard and Florence Hamling, who donated it for use by the non-profit Pine Hill Community Center in 1997 and gifted it to the organization in 2008. |
HT1.
Walk through a mature Hemlock Forest – a gradual, steep hike for 1.7 miles. Make a left out of the Community Center and walk or bicycle west on Main Street until you reach a T, make a left on Bonnieview Avenue and continue to the dead end past the water treatment plant. Your walk is .7 miles from the Community Center. Go up a berm to the railroad bed and turn left. Pass a small lake (snow making pond for Belleayre Ski Center). Beyond the lake on the right is a trail (look for brown and yellow directional sign) that goes uphill into the woods. This is the Cathedral Glen trail (blue marker). HT2. Walk to the Belleayre Summit – a gradual, steep hike for about 2.8 miles. Make a left out of the Community Center and walk Main Street to Bonnieview Avenue. At 1/10th of a mile make the left onto Mill Street and follow it under the railroad bridge where it turns into Woodchuck Hollow. Stay on that road which becomes unpaved andfollow it 1.25 miles to the Pine Hill West Branch trail on the right (blue marker). A yellow and brown directional sign points out the trail going into the woods. |
HT3.
Bicycle to Doc Riser’s Farm – a gradual grade on paved road for about 3.5 miles. Make a left out of the Community Center on Main Street to Academy Street where you make a right, continue under the Route 28 overpass and make a left on Birch Creek Road, continue to Lower Birch Creek Road, where you make a right, and follow this gravel road until you dead end at the farm. Beautiful trees and plants line the road; a creek runs alongside; and all that makes it a lovely ride ending at a piece of land given to the State by Doc Riser. Hike further, picnic, enjoy. HT4. Walk or Bicycle – an easy one – to the Belleayre Beach. Make a right out of the Community Center on Main Street. Walk or bicycle 3/10s of a mile to a dead end and turn right past the metal gate. Follow the path around the lake either way. Go for a swim (walk-ins are $2), picnic or walk up to the pavilion for the trail to Belleayre Summit. It is a steep trail and trail markings are not so great. Start with a good map! |