The T-Squared Trail is a linear hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, through portions of

Sproul State Forest Sproul State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #10. The main offices are located in Renovo, Pennsylvania in Clinton County in the United States. The forest is located in western Clinton County an ...

and Tiadaghton State Forest. For most hikers, the T-Squared Trail serves as a connection between two long-distance backpacking routes: the

Donut Hole Trail The Donut Hole Trail is a hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, through Sproul State Forest and roughly parallel to the West Branch Susquehanna River. Most of the trail is in Clinton County, with a short segment at its western end in Camero ...

and the

Black Forest Trail The Black Forest Trail is a hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, forming a loop through portions of Tiadaghton State Forest and routed through Pine Creek Gorge and areas of the Allegheny Plateau above the gorge. Most of the trail is in Lyc ...

History and route

The T-Squared Trail was constructed in the early 2000s as a route between the

and the

, both long-distance backpacking routes in north-central Pennsylvania that pass near each other but do not meet. The T-Squared Trail was named after longtime Pennsylvania hiking historian and trail builder Tom Thwaites, who was largely responsible for the state's longest continuous backpacking route: the Mid State Trail. The T-Squared Trail was formed from several short trails in the area, with a few new connectors and two very short walks along dirt roads. Neither end of the trail is near parking or paved road access, though informal parking is available at the trail's encounter with Dry Run Road.Cramer, ''Guide to the Donut Hole Trail'', p. 55 The T-Squared Trail begins at a junction with the Donut Hole Trail, along Cougar Run in

and about five miles north of

Hyner Run State Park Hyner Run State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Chapman Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is east of Renovo and 3 miles (5 km) north of Hyner on Pennsylvania Route 120 (Route 120 here is als ...

.Cramer, ''Guide to the Donut Hole Trail'', p. 134 The T-Squared Trail heads to the north and immediately climbs very steeply to the top of the Allegheny Plateau and then briefly traverses a high hilltop area. It then plunges steeply to Mill Run at 1.5 miles and again climbs steeply back to the top of the plateau. This time the trail remains on relatively high ground and walks briefly on Dry Run Road at 3.0 miles, near the border into Tiadaghton State Forest. The trail continues northbound and jogs briefly on Benson Road at 4.6 miles.Cramer, ''Guide to the Donut Hole Trail'', p. 191-196 At 4.8 miles the T-Squared Trail reaches a junction with the Baldwin Point Trail, an older path that leads from Pennsylvania Route 44 to a significant vista, and the two trails are concurrent for the next half of a mile. When the trails split at 5.3 miles, the T-Squared Trail heads east and plunges very steeply into the hollow formed by an upper tributary of Baldwin Branch. At 5.7 miles, the T-Squared Trail ends at the Black Forest Trail,Cramer, ''Guide to the Donut Hole Trail'', p. 198-199 about eight-tenths of a mile west of PA Route 44.

References

{{PennsylvaniaTrails Hiking trails in Pennsylvania