Hiking at Clear Creek State Park

29 miles of trails

Trails begin in the scenic Clear Creek Valley and follow Clear Creek, wandering across the surrounding hillsides to several scenic overlooks and along the Clarion River.

Most trails follow old roads or logging skid paths through second growth, mixed hardwood, and evergreen forests. An understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron bloom during mid-June and early July respectively.

Use the Clear Creek State Park Trail Map (PDF) to help plan your hike.

Trail Definitions

Difficulty Ratings

Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.

Trail Route Type

Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.

Big Coon Trail

0.2 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

This short steep trail intersects Little Coon and Clear Creek trails and can be used to make a short loop.

Big Spring Trail

0.6 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Named for a spring by the park office, this rocky trail passes through CCC-planted spruce trees and connects the park office to Phyllis Run Loop Trail.

Boundary Trail

0.7 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes with white dots or silver medallions
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Partially following the state park boundary, this short trail that connects Hunter and Irish Rock trails. White dots or silver medallions marked with “Pennsylvania State Park Boundary” signify the boundary between public and private land.

Clear Creek Trail

1.7 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Point-to-point trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: drinking water, modern and non-flush restrooms, picnic tables and benches

Traversing from the campground to the parking lot on PA 949, this trail has scenic views of Clear Creek. Modern restrooms, benches, and potable water are available at the campground trailhead. Non-flush restrooms, picnic tables, and the trailhead for Beartown Rocks Trail in Clear Creek State Forest are at the PA 949 parking lot. 

Frazier Trail

0.9 mile  |  Most difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: bench

A connector between Ridge, Zerby, and Phyllis Run trails, Frazier Trail climbs to the top of the hill over Clear Creek. Large red oak trees can be seen along this steep trail. A bench is located near the intersection of Ridge trail near the pipeline.

Hunter Trail

Trailhead amenities: non-flush restroom

Starting at the yurt loop, the trail passes through a hardwood forest with mountain laurel and terminates at the Boundary Trail. The long, steep hill on the west side is not for the faint of heart.

Irish Rock Trail

0.9 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: benches

Following an old road, this trail connects River and Boundary trails. Mid-way along the trail on the riverbank is Irish Rock which was used as a tie-up spot for lumber rafts.

Korb Trail

0.4 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: modern and non-flush restrooms, picnic tables

Beginning and ending on Clear Creek Park Road, this easy hike follows Clear Creek and can be used as an alternate route to the beach

Little Coon Trail

0.3 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms, picnic tables

Once a logging skid path, this short, steep trail connects the Coon Picnic Area to Clear Creek Trail.

North Ridge Trail

0.5 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: bench

Following an old logging skid path, the trail travels uphill from Clear Creek Park Road, crosses Pipeline Trail, and intersects Hunter Trail. A bench is located near the intersection with Pipeline.

Ox Shoe

1.0 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Loop trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restroom

Beginning and ending at the Nature Museum, follow Clear Creek to learn about logging history with this self-guided trail. A map showing the location of educational sign posts is available at the park office and the Nature Museum Trailhead.  

Phyllis Run Trail

2.1 miles  |  Most difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Passing through an oak forest, the trail begins on Clear Creek Road, crosses the creek, and climbs a steep grade. It intersects with Clear Creek and Frazier trails, and ends at Zerby Trail on the park boundary.

Phyllis Run Loop Trail

0.9 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Loop trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

The trail starts on Clear Creek Road and follows along both sides of Phyllis Run. The lower portion of the trail has many moss covered boulders. In the summer, the upper section of the trail is a good place to see and hear warblers and thrushes. 

Pipeline Trail

0.9 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms

Beginning in the large cabin loop, this wide trail has a gentle grade. It is named for the system of springs which piped water to CCC Camp S-53.

Radcliffe Trail

0.8 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms, picnic tables

A better alternative to walking on the road, Radcliffe Trail connects Shelter 4 and Phyllis Run Loop Trail as it winds through a hardwood and evergreen forest. It is named after the camp superintendent who directed the planting of the spruce tree plantation along the trail. 

Ridge Trail

1.9 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Ridge Trail follows Truby Run and passes through a hardwood forest with a section of dense mountain laurels and rhododendrons. This trail connects Clear Creek and Frazier trails, and intersects Zerby Trail. A bench is located near the intersection with Zerby. 

River Trail

0.9 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Loop trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail follows the Clarion River through hardwood, evergreen, and rhododendron forests. It loops back at a higher elevation. Benches are located on both upper and lower parts. 

Sawmill Trail

0.6 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Beginning either at Clear Creek Trail or at the intersection of Truby and Tadler trails, Sawmill Trail is an old logging skid path with moderate grade except near the intersection with Truby and Tadler trails. It can be used to make loops of varying lengths -- with two benches located along the way.

Tadler Trail

4.0 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Traveling through hardwoods and mountain laurels, half of the trail is near the Clarion River and the other half is at a higher elevation. This trail had two seasonal scenic overlooks in the fall and spring when the trees are bare.

A loop hike beginning and ending in the campground can be made using Truby Trail or Sawmill and Clear Creek trails.  Benches are located near the overlooks and on the river section.

Tobecco Trail

2.6 miles in the park  |  More difficult hiking  |  Point-to-point trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms at Clear Creek State Park campground

This 8-mile hiking trail connects Cook Forest and Clear Creek state parks. The trail travels from PA 36 in Cook Forest State Park along the Clarion River to PA 899, before entering Clear Creek State Park and running with Tadler Run Trail near the Clarion River to the canoe camping area.

Truby Trail

1.0 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended on portions
Trailhead amenities: benches

Once a main road into Clear Creek valley, this wide trail gently travels three-quarters of the way up the side of a steep hill and ends at the boundary, intersecting Tadler Run Trail. Benches are located near the intersection with Sawmill Trail.

Zerby Trail

1.3 miles  |  Easiest hiking  |  Connector trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Look for signs of wild turkeys, black bear, and coyotes. This trail connects Frazier and Phyllis Run trails and intersects Ridge Trail.