French Creek State Park Loop with Horseshoe Trail

This route goes over and through mountains and ridges. Steady climbs and technical sections are intermixed with smoother downhills. Overall, it follows well-groomed trails and is easy to navigate. Expect classic Pennsylvania woods, with a mix of hardwoods and oak and abundance of smaller rocks and leaves. There are no super long or highly loose sections;this loop was fun and pleasant with just the right mix of terrain. When I was there, it was quiet, and I found plenty of solitude. There are many trails in the area that you can extend or link up with. There are some signs and maps at nearly all the road crossings. I've heard that the area is popular with mountain bikers, and I did hear a lot of hunting activity. You'll pass through some camping areas too.

There is lots of history in the area. It is near a the Hopewell National historic site. I did not see any major historical buildings, but the area surrounding it has a lot of history, and I'm sure there are opportunities to find out out more. There are signs, and the area does draw sightseers. The surrounding fields and woodlands were retained and are administered by the National Park Service as Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. This was used to provide steel for the weapons in the Revolutionary War. There are re-enactments held there.