June 27, 2012: The longest loop at the PKP is 5.5 miles, took me about three hours, not hurrying. It includes the highest point and the lowest point, and goes into the ravine twice, so plenty of vertical.
***The Highland Trail is combined with the Red Trail, the outermost route. You can get back to the trailhead using the orange and blue trails or cross the stream and come back on the Red.
***It’s been dry, so there’s not much mud except for the places where there is always mud, and no mosquitoes, at least when I was there. The creek is low so don’t expect much from the Plotter Kill’s mighty waterfalls (click the thumbnail above to see the falling water). —Ed
Places of interest
Plotterkill links
PKP Cloud
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When’s the best time to try the highland trail? Spring or fall?
Correction: I just took a second look at the map, I was talking about the long loop, which I’m assuming is the red trail??? Is spring the best time to hike this? I wouldn’t want to do 5 1/2 miles in the summer heat and I’m assuming right after the winter the falls won’t be as dry as in fall.
Hi Mike, Spring or fall? Can’t really say, it depends. Last year at this time we had Irene.
If you wait for some rain or snowmelt, it’ll be muddy but with nice waterfalls.
I hike all summer long but I go early morning, so no blaring sun. No matter what time of year it is, the best time is just after sunup.