History of Cherry Mills Lodge
Originally built in 1865 as the John Gross Hotel, Cherry Mills Lodge is a historic inn set against the grandeur of the endless mountains. In the late 1800s, the hotel served the traveler and itinerant worker during the heyday of the logging industry. During that time period, the village of Cherry Mills consisted of several businesses, homes and small farms that adjoined the Little Loyalsock Creek. A grist mill with large splash dam, saw mill, seven story wagon parts shop, one room school, general store and post office, black smith shop as well as the hotel were all part of the village. Today, foundations of the grist mill and wagon shop are still visible on the property. The one room school house sits down the road and a circular cistern, walled with stone that supplied the village with it’s daily supply of water, is visible from the porch of the lodge.
Foundation of Grist Mill
Village of Cherry Mills and Hiking Trails
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Creek View Trail
This trail begins at the parking area and descends road that was constructed to reinforce bridge abutment after the January 1996 flood. Turn right near little Loyalsock and walk upstream. You will pass foundations of grist mill and remains of splash dam. Ascend rocks of dam and continue along mowed path to trail that follows along stream and area that was impounded by dam. When this dam was in use, large amounts of water were released to float logs and sawed lumber downstream to Loyalsock Creek. Both streams join together at Forksville and flow to Montoursville where Loyalsock Creek enters the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. There was another large splash dam above the Hillsgrove covered bridge. Water from the dam at Cherry Mills also powered the horizontal waterwheels of the grist mill. A large willow tree and many flowering plants grow in the meadow above the dam. This area was covered with water during the active life of the dam. The trail will go to a small tributary stream which has a small waterfall below the road. You can see this falls by crossing stream. During July and August you can notice a large patch of red bergamor or bee-balm growing along this stream. Leave this area by ascending hill on right and follow trail that provides a higher view of the area impounded by the old dam. You will pass the foundation of the wagon parts shop on your left and have several open views of the meadow. Also you may be able to imagine the size of the splash dam pond.
Gorge Trail
This rail goes into a group of hemlock trees near the old hunters’ cabin and goes left. It passes several patches of Native American yew, which is a low growing flat needle evergreen. Bear right and descend to Little Loyalsock. Work your way upstream on deer trails if creek is high or along creek if it is low. Soon you will be enclosed in a beautiful rock gorge. Notice the cascades of the creek as it squeezes through the narrow gorge. Look at the rock wall on your right and notice how the hotel, outhouse and barn are perched on the edge of the gorge. Columbine and Turk’s-cap lilies bloom in their season as they cling to the rocks.
Cistern, Link and Highlands Trails
Two circuit trails and a link trail between them are located on the hillside behind the hotel. These trails are marked with surveyors tape. Two tapes on the same tree indicate a trail intersection. As you walk up the lawn to the edge of the woods, you will notice an old road. This was the State Road and it is still visible at the base of the hill. The following description of hiking these trails will provide a better way to notice view of hotel from Cistern Trail and an upstream view of farms in the Little Loyalsock Valley from the Highlands Trail.
As you look at the hillside from the hotel, enter Cistern Trail from the left and of the State Road. Ascend through hemlocks to a grassy area. During August, Turtlehead is in bloom where you enter trail and pink Steeplebush is in bloom in the grassy area. Continue gradual ascent as trail enters more trees and ferns and bears right to cistern. Stop at cistern and notice view of hotel. The spring above drains into the cistern which is circular in shape and walled with stone. Continue past cistern to meet Link Trail. At this point you can continue straight on a dug trail, descend through hemlocks to woods road, bear right and follow road to State Road and lawn of hotel. If you want a longer walk, bear left on Link Trail and continue to where Highlands Trail circuit begins. Make a sharp right and gradually ascend to an old field. After reaching field, trails bears right and follows lower edge of field to where it enters woods. Continue straight ahead until trail bears left and then right as it ascends to within sight of the stone wall. As you pass through a large grove of sugar maples, the trail bears left and parallels with a stone wall on your right. You’ll reach a grassy open area. Notice view on your left as you see farms located upstream along the Little Loyalsock and PA Route 87. Work your way across field keeping stone and wall insight on your right. After reaching another trail, bear left on it for a short ways. Then go right as you leave that trail to continue on the Highlands Trail. Trail will make several turns as it gradually descends through an area with a large white pine on the right, several witch hazel trees, and a grove of hemlock trees. Then the trail will bear left, recross trail that was used above for a short distance. Trail will pass a sugar maple on the right before meeting Link Trail, thus completing the circuit of the Highlands Trail. Retrace steps on Link Trail until you meet the Cistern Trail. Bear left and follow Cistern Trail as it gradually descends through hemlocks to woods road. Go right on road and follow it to State Road and lawn of the hotel.
