Another close by day hike in Buchanan State Forest.
Start at the parking at where Shaffer Road and Blankley Road intersect at N 39*51.833, W 078*31.488. There are two gates facing each other on opposite sides of the road- both clearly marked.
Start on Shaffer Road- a gated forest road /ATV access/ hunting road. There's an ATV road on the right at 0.2 miles. Keep straight. the surface is dirt and rock
0.65 mile- old logging road on the left, keep straight/right
0.70 mile- another unmarked trail on the left, stay straight
1.6 mile- Koontz Trailhead on right. Keep left. Koontz trail is not on the current map provided at the road kiosks within the forest. another unmarked trail is just ahead on the left, keep right of this.
1.83- Shaffer Road becomes Shaffer Trail. The surface is clay, dirt and mud. ATV's frequent these trails. Bear left on a downward slope and the trail becomes more dirt and rocks. The right of the trail here is private land.
2.54- Trail crosses over a small (and at the time of this hike dry) creek. There is a small set of switchbacks up hill and back down
2.65- Trail crosses over another creek- this one running regularly. Another switchback up another hill. There is a steeper option available here, but recent winds have knocked trees across the path.
2.9- Turn left at the intersection here. At one time, there was a gate here but now there is a series of large rocks blocking the road. This is Stewarts Meadow Trail. Shaffer trail continues straight. The trail here is mostly grassy forest road not used much.
3.5-After passing the meadow around 3 miles, you come to a fork in the trail- both lead to Blankley Road. (I went left)
3.67- Unmarked trail on the left, Keep straight
3.82- Rejoin the fork and arrive at Blankley Road. If you choose to stop here, turn left and walk about a mile to your waiting vehicle. If not- cross the road to the Wasson Trailhead.
3.98- Ford a small creek and go up hill. Wasson trail is not blazed, and gets little traffic, so pay attention to the single track as it can (and does) get overgrown in spots. One hiker I talked to suggested carrying a machete- She wasn't kidding.
4.14- The trail get a bit thick with rhododendron and weeds. Here lies a small game trail on the left- stay straight.
4.4- the trail nearly disappears, but you come out of the thicker forest and begin a down hill trend.
4.6- The trail nearly disappears here, but there is a small spring/creek at the bottom of the hill. Turn right here and you should see the sign for Wasson Spring- If you face the sign for the spring, there should be an obvious trail to the left. Follow this trail to--
4.8- trail intersect Sweet Root Road. Turn left. the surface here is very muddy and consistently wet.
5.18- Sweet Root intersects with Garlic Trail. Keep Left
5.81- Boundary Line Trailhead- turn here or keep going to Blankley Road- the distance to the end is about the same.
5.87- Turn right on to Blankley Road and follow to you vehicle.
6.16- end, 654 feet in elevation change. watch for ticks and snakes
road songs- Sex Bob-Omb- Garbage Truck
Pink Floyd- When You're In...
Johnny Cash- Man in Black
