Hike #493 6/27/10
6/27/10 Welkinweir Nature Center to Downingtown/Brandywine Trail with Jason Itell, Jason Kumpas, Evan "Joe Millionaire" Van Rossum, Eric ?, ?, Carol and Rob Creamer.
The group on the final stretch, the Struble rail bed along Brandywine Creek just north of Downingtown PA
My next hike would be to cover mainly the first section of the Brandywine Trail, another of Pennsylvania's long distance trails which connects the Horseshoe Trail from Ludwig's Corner south toward Wilmington, Delaware.
I asked Jason Kumpas to help me with this one.
Back in early 2004 when Jason and I met during Outdoor Leadership Training, we got to talking about long distance hikes, and he told me about one on the Brandywine Trail, something like 38 miles in a day. I of course was really attracted to this and we chatted about it for some time.
Although it took me six years to get down there, I was ready to do my first hike on this trail.
We met in the morning at our end point, Downingtown PA. I carpooled down with Joe Millionaire. We then shuttled vehicles north to Welkinweir Nature Center to the north, a small property where a friend of Jason's lived and we had permission to park. The trails here connected with the Horseshoe Trail not far from where the Brandywine Trail broke off of it to the south.
Welkinweir Nature Center, PA
We started around a few buildings and soon came to a beautiful hillside overlooking the lake on the property. We descended to the lakeside where there were all sorts of really unique looking trees everywhere.
Hiking through Welkinweir Nature Center.
We turned right and passed the main dam of the lake as the trail took us up hill heading south. We soon reached the yellow blazes of the Horseshoe Trail and continued up hill to the south. We crested the hill and then descended down to parallel with driveways out to Fairview Road. On my previous trip to this area on the Horseshoe Trail, the trail crossed over a creek to Rt 100 and crossed directly into the woods, but now the Fairview Road bridge was gone, being replaced. The Horseshoe Trail now crossed over a footbridge just to the left and through a yard to Rt 100.
Me!
We crossed and ascended a hill close to houses, then began to descend a bit on the other side parallel to a dirt road. I believe this took us out to Bartlett Road, where to the right it would soon become Birchrun Road. It was here that we came to the triple white blazed beginning of the Brandywine Trail.
The beginning of the Brandywine Trail from the Horseshoe Trail in Chester County PA
There was no signage of any kind, just the triple blaze and the requirement of knowing how to follow trails.
The Brandywine Trail stayed along this pleasant back road for a long time, all the way out to Ludwig's Corner on Rt 100. The one guy that was with us cut out I believe on the road section to head back.
Along the road section were a great many red wine berries, and we certainly loaded up on them this time. We also ate a few Day Lilies.
When we reached Ludwig's Corner we stopped first in what I believe was a hardware store but I can't remember quite why. We took a break out front for a bit.
Taking a break in Ludwig's Corner PA
We then crossed a a great little farm stand where the guy was giving us some free samples of stuff that was great. Jason treated us all to some kind of fruit but I forget what kind....
There was a mini mart just to the south as well, and I went in there briefly I think because I was looking for an Arizona RX Energy drink. I recall that I found one.
The Brandywine Trail crossed the road directly from Birchrun onto a strip of grass below some trees and out to St. Andrews Lane I think it was. It was another pleasant back road heading down hill slowly to a nice little creek crossing.
The Brandywine Trail along St. Andrew's Drive
From here the trail continued on small pleasant back roads; I think it followed Greenridge Road and then went left on Krauser Road, then went through a development on that road to Milford Road and turned right. Milford Road was larger but went along some nice farm lands.
The Brandywine Trail along Milford Road
The road took us across the PA Turnpike, and then I think Brandywine trail turned right onto Old Conastoga Road past some nice farm lands. The road was closed off to through traffic but we of course ignored it. The road took us across the upper finger of Marsh Creek Resevoir and then turned left off of the road and into Marsh Creek State Park. There were cars going around cones and barriers, just going through on the road anyway, so Jason K went back and dragged a giant branch into the road to inhibit people from driving. A car came just as Jason got into the woods on the trail. I think the person got out and moved the branch.
The trail took us through fields and then entered woods close to the water's edge. Jason I and I guess Eric went ahead while Jason K, Joe Millionair, and I stopped at a beautiful spot to take a swim in the lake.
A local came out and talked to us a bit, fortunately not kicking us out. The trail in that area was much clearer than other sections because he and his family used it from their home near to the resevoir. From our swimming spot we could see the other two far ahead at an open area along the lake.
After our great swim we continued along the Brandywine Trail south through woods and fields. Apparently the other two made a wrong turn briefly ahead, had to find the their way back to the trail, but we made the correct turn and had no problems.
Hiking the Brandywine Trail through Marsh Creek State Park.
We walked south and the trail took us out on an abandoned road, Chalfont Road. We followed the road briefly and were rejoined by the others. This road had tons of blowdowns all across it from a recent store, and we couldn't figure out where the trail was supposed to go. It too had a good amount of blow downs.
When we finally got onto it, it went into the woods on foot paths leading to some ruins with stair cases and such in the woods. It was in this section we were joined by Carol and Rob Creamer and their dog Bruce.
Together, we walked the Brandywine Trail southbound until it came out by the main recreation area of the state park, a grassy area I think with a boat launch but the trail didn't take us next to it.
The trail led us across the grass and onto the access road that descended into the park.
Brandywine Trail Hike, Marsh Creek State Park
We followed it to the top of a hill and turned onto an old road heading south. There was a farm road going due south with an abandoned looking road designated "Rice Road" on google maps going west toward the resevoir. It looked like the trail went that way, so we continued and found an abandoned house on the right. It wasn't opened, all shut up very well so we didn't try to get in. There were no blazes at all down this way so we soon turned back. I though it was unlikely that the trail headed directly into the farm to the south, but then I spotted a white blaze on a fence post or something, and so we continued that way. I really liked how the Brandywine and Horseshoe Trails were sometimes like a scavenger hunt to find.
The trail made it's way along an old farm lane down hill and then back up to a very nice vista overlooking where we'd been.
Beautiful farm views along Brandywine Trail, Marsh Creek State Park
At a line of trees the trail turned left and then skirted the fields on the right. Very beautiful country here.
Along the Brandywine Trail near Marsh Creek
It was tough to tell where the blazes went. They were along farm lanes for a while into separate fields, but then they turned left into the woods along the shore of Marsh Creek Lake again. Some of the group ended up staying on the farm lanes which was okay since they both led to the same place, the main dam.
Jason takes a dip in Marsh Creek Lake
There was a big spillway thing here and Jason took a dip in the reservoir. I don't remember if I went in too, but I probably did. This was such a brutally hot and humid day I'd be surprised if I didn't.
Once we were done swimming around, we headed along the trail which followed a sort of access road that descended gradually off of the main dam and into the forest parellel with it's drainage tributary, I'm assuming called Marsh Creek.
Brandywine Trail descending from Marsh Creek Resevoir
We continued to descend along the woods road until we came to Dorlan Mill Road. The trail turned left here along the road heading down hill into the Brandywine Valley.
As we reached the bottom of the hill, we could hear the sounds of crazy white trash people cursing at each other from a run down though historic house on the right. I recall seeing one kid walking along the roof while wide open doors and windows eminated with the sound of discontent hollers. There was an abandoned industrial building on the right side of the road, and the Brandywine Trail turned left onto the Struble Trail, a rail trail headed south. This rail line once continued to the north toward Elverson where we'd recently walked part of the line.
We continued walking south along the Struble Trail, and I took the first good opportunity I had to jump into the creek to our right, which felt great.
After a bit we came to a bridge crossing and everybody took the time for a swim. We had done pretty well on time and we needed a break. There were a bunch of people around swimming, a group of kids close to the water and a couple older folks with their dogs as well swimming near us. After our stop here we continued along the trail to the south. I remember seeing other side trails to the left heading up hill and thinking that I would need to find them. We also passed I think it was an old mill site.
Soon, we crossed what I believe was Dowlin Forge Road. To the right, the road crossed the Brandywine Creek and there were kids swimming and goofing off. I figured I could make that jump, so I joined them and jumped off the bridge into the creek a few times, which was great. I was the only one in our group to do it though.
As we continued south there was an old dam off in the creek far to the right, but we didn't stop. We continued underneath the Rt 30 bridge and then to Norwood Road. From here, the Lions Trail I think it was took us across the street and off of the railroad bed to the left. As we reached the parking area where our cars were, there was a nice memorial on the right.
It was a really great, different hike. We didn't go out to dinner due to the long ride we had, but I knew I wanted to do more of the Brandywine Trail.
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