Chuck Keiper Trail
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The Chuck Keiper Trail is named after Charles F. Keiper who was a dedicated conservationist and wildlife law enforcement officer. The trail, located in the Sproul State Forest, is 52 miles in length and is organized into an eastern and western loop. The western loop is slightly longer than the eastern loop with the western loop being hiked in three days and the eastern in two days.
The trail makes many stream crossings without bridges and is best hiked at times of low water. The trail also traverses the Two Rock Run Fire area. There is no shade along this area of the hike so take plenty of water in the summer and try to hike this section in the early morning or late evening. The trail is a very strenuous hike as there are many ascents and descents without the use of switchbacks.
My Hikes @ Chuck Keiper Trail
Topo Map - Chuck Keiper Trail
Trail Ratings
 Reviewed by Tom Van Etten of Latham, NY 08/21/2008 |
| Just did this trail last week (whole loop in 3 days). Lots of views although sometimes broken. Nice campsites. Some problem with stinging nettles in gorges, especially Burns Run area. Also, almost stepped on a rattlesnake in that same area. A nice hike, just need to take it slow on some of the relatively steep descents. Very few people (I only saw one other person the entire time). |
 Reviewed by DJHathaway of Souderton, PA 02/06/2008 |
| Two friends and I hiking the eastern loop on an overnighter a couple weeks ago. It probably wasn't the best of ideas with temps ranging from 0-20 the whole time... but we were bored. In our excitment to get started we went clockwise which turned out to be a bitch the second day. Since there was snow on the ground it would have been really fun to slide down the steep sections. Fortunately, we didn't need snowshoes but there was enough ice to keep things interesting. The trail is a pretty one in the winter with all the leaves gone. Since you spend a lot of time traversing it gives you something to look at. There's also plenty of water to be found even with it being so cold. If I were to do the trip again (in the winer anyway) I would make it a two night trip. We were busting our balls to make it out before dark the second day despite getting an early start. |
Reviewed by Moon Monster of Baltimore, MD 05/13/2007 |
| I went counter-clockwise on the East loop over one night in mid-May 2007. The leaves were not quite out yet above 2,000 feet around route 144, so I took a lot of sun on the skin on day 1. Day 2 had clouds and some rain. Luckily for me, the views are mostly on day 1, and rather nice ones they are considering the ridges are low and don't tower like they do in other Eastern states. I saw no wildlife other than about 10 ticks picked up on grassy trail. I saw no other hikers either--not even on Saturday. Stinging nettle was out, but still baby sized. The poison ivy, however, was spiteful--draped across much of the trail in the Diamond Back and Boggs hollows. One of the best uses of hiking poles/sticks is to push that stuff out of the way, though it was still a dance to maintain pace around the thickest of it. From the parking lot, I didn't check both ways upon spying the orange blazes and wound up walking the West loop for 3/4 mile. Should have turned left and paralleled the road just under its East side. There was abundant water everywhere, this being just 3 weeks or so since the last snows. Even lots of boggy or flooded footpath. Walking over the wide, inescapable marshy areas below 144 was the only place I cursed the trail. I didn't think the sidehilling was bad, and the steep descents would be considered quaint in New England. Going counter-clockwise, the two big climbs are in the last third of the trip. Both are long, gradual pulls. While I was glad to not do the steepest grades downhill, I tend to like my climbing in steep bursts--it's over quicker. As is, the 2 climbs are sustained for 2-3 hours each. Were I to go it again, I'd go clockwise for this reason--but it's just personal taste. There are 4 switchbacks on the entire loop. |
Reviewed by MRHyker of Baltimore, MD 04/19/2006 |
| Since Saki, Pat and myself didn't get started until mid-day and we were unfamiliar with the terrain we did this over 3 days: 7.5 + 2 miles around Cranberry Swamp w/o packs, 7.0 and 8.0 miles, respectively. It was both rewarding and challenging. There are three or 4 long, gradual climbs, each accompanied by its own steep and rapid knee jarring descent on the other side. Furthermore, at the end of each gradual climb up a scenic hollow was a very steep climb waiting for you. Overall, the total elevation gain was about 3600 feet, 2200 of it was from climbing out of Boggs and Drake Hollow on the last day. Although the hills in both directions had a big impact on me the part that I found the hardest were the sidehill trails in Boggs and Diamond Back Hollows. At times the trail barely held on to the hill. At other times it was non-existent. Luckily the blazes were there to show the way over an imaginary trail. I had heard that this loop didn't have much in the way of vistas but we encountered several rewarding overlooks. The bogs and hollows were also impressive. While hiking through clear cut or burned areas provided a change of scenery and some views one couldn't help but think about the adverse effect man has had on the forest. |
Reviewed by Tim Herring of Lanse, PA 10/19/2005 |
| The East Loop of the CKT is a great hike early or late in the season. Otherwise, the place becomes infested with some sort of stinging plant that overgrows many places of the trail. Rather invasive, I must say. The other shortcoming was the total lack of switchbacks, which really took its toll on the feet. Saw a couple of timber rattlers on the path as well on both days. Began the hike on a Friday evening around 7 o'clock, working in from the bottom loop off Route 144 going east (or CCW) on the East Loop. Hiked about 3 hours of rather easy hiking. Camped in a great spot under a forest canopy. The next day is where virtually all of the elevation changes take place, as well as most (15 or so) of the remaining 21+ miles. All in all, a VERY challenging hike if trying to keep a decent pace. Started back up on the second day about 10am and finished up around 5pm Saturday. WE parked the second car further north on 144 where the East Loop intersects it. A little advise for doing the East Loop: Allow more time on the first day, so the second day is not such a b!tch. Also, try to keep pack light (25 lbs or lighter would be ideal) because of the absence of switchbacks. 38 lbs was not very fun on the hips on the latter half of the East Loop. Overall, a great experience though. |
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