Clearfield County High Point Trip Report

Chestnut Ridge (2405 ft.)
1/4 mile south of Bloom road (2400+ ft.)

Date: June 4, 2009
Author: Andy Hatzos

--Northern Area (Chestnut Ridge):
I approached the Chestnut Ridge point from the west, coming in from near Penfield. Driving southeast on State Route 153 from Penfield, I turned left (east) on Mud Run Road. This road is paved, and signed at its entrance for Parker Dam State Park.

It should be noted that despite the remoteness of this area, most of the roads described below were signed -- with distances given to other roads nearby.

After about two miles on Mud Run Road, I turned right (southeast) on Laurel Ridge Road. This road, and all others from here on out, are dirt. However, they are still fine for a passenger car. In another two miles, I reached an intersection with Laurel Run Road, and turned left (northeast). In just short of two miles, this road reaches Tyler Road. I turned right (southeast) and continued for just over a mile to McGeorge Road. I turned left (north) and reached Caledonia Pike in about a mile and a half.

Caledonia Pike heads east, and reaches Knobs Road in about five miles. I turned right (south) on Knobs Road, and began ascending toward higher ground. In about a mile and a half, Chestnut Ridge Road turns right (west). I traveled on this road for roughly a mile, while noting that the land to my right was enclosed in a thin wire fence. I parked at a rather low-quality gate, which was latched together by what looked to be a bike chain and broken coat hanger. There were no postings prohibiting access of any sort.

I parked here, and opened the gate by hand, heading north up an access road to a transmission tower of some sort. The tower was built in the center of a cleared area on the rather flat hill top. I explored two areas at the top of the hill. The first was to the northwest of the tower, in a wooded area. My LiDAR analysis indicated that this area contained the absolute highest ground. I explored east of the tower as well, in a clearing with plentiful ferns growing. I also found that an automated rain gage was installed on the east side of the hill -- sticking up about ten feet in the air.

Since the area is fairly heavily wooded, there are not many views. There were some good views off to the north, where a clearing extends about ten to twenty feet in elevation down the north side of the hill.

The total hike from the parking spot on Chestnut Ridge Road to the high point was about a half mile round trip, with an elevation gain of about 60 feet.

--Southern Area (Bloom Road):
I approached the Bloom Road point from the east, coming in from near Clearfield. I drove northwest on US Route 322 for six miles, and then followed the exit to the left to stay on 322. In about three miles, I reached an intersection with Greenwood Road, a dirt road in good condition, and turned left (south).

I parked just short of one mile later, at the intersection with Bloom Road. Bloom Road, which heads east, is a muddy road in poor condition. A vehicle with four-wheel drive would probably have no issues, but those in a passenger car would be advised to park here.

The next objective was an access road heading south from Bloom Road. I originally went too far on Bloom Road, and ended up on a more prominent road heading southeast. From the looks of other trip reports, I was not the first highpointer to make that mistake!

Resetting from the Greenwood Road intersection, I hiked east for about a tenth of a mile, and found a grassy trail heading south. I followed this trail as it climbed south, and then southeast, for about two tenths of a mile. The trail seems to crest at a microwave tower. However, the highest ground (about five feet higher) is located in the thick brush behind the tower to the east-southeast. With no trails to aid the hike, I was forced to complete a rather slow and unpleasant bushwhack through chest-high brush and fallen wood.

I used my GPS to get near the highest ground, with coordinates based on my LiDAR analysis and the original topo maps. Most of this area is not heavily forested, but I determined the highest ground to be on the edge of a stand of trees about 500 feet east-southeast of the microwave tower. At this location, I found a small rock outcropping that rose about two feet off the surrounding ground, and seemed to be as high or higher than anything else in the area. Trees around the perimeter of the hill kept views to a minimum.

The total hike from the parking spot at the intersection of Greenwood Road and Bloom Road was about three-quarters of a mile round trip, with elevation gain of 70 feet.

While completing this hike, I found a few ticks had latched on to me, and another member of my party saw and heard a rattlesnake near the microwave tower. Caution is certainly advised when attempting this high point.

PICTURES:
Northern Area:
Picture 01 (178 k) - The parking area at the gate on Chestnut Ridge Road.
Picture 02 (124 k) - The grassy road up the hill.
Picture 03 (205 k) - The somewhat-cleared area to the northwest of the radio tower, which is likely the highest point.
Picture 04 (130 k) - The radio tower on Chestnut Ridge.
Picture 05 (158 k) - The broken but impressive view to the north.
Southern Area:
Picture 06 (174 k) - Looking down Bloom Road from the intersection with Greenwood Road.
Picture 07 (168 k) - The faint trail up the hill, to the south of Bloom Road.
Picture 08 (107 k) - The grassy road, as it winds up to the microwave tower.
Picture 09 (211 k) - Looking east from near the tower. The highest ground is through the brush behind the guy wires.
Picture 10 (212 k) - A small stand of trees near the highest ground.
Picture 11 (228 k) - Deadfall, brush, and a group of rocks. This is at the highest point on the hill.

KMZ Trip Log File (Track file from Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx)


Go Back