Lower Picnic Area Trail

The Lower Picnic Area Trail departs from the back of the Upper Picnic Area and descends down to the Lower Picnic Area. Entering the woods, the trail quickly passes the junction with the Park Boundary Trail which breaks off to the left and Cave Trail which breaks off to the right. Continuing straight ahead, the trail descends a short set of steps cut into the hillside before crossing the road. The trail starts turning to the right as it descends toward the Lower Picnic Area. You can start to see the road to the picnic area through the trees on the left side of the trail and cliffs start to rise above you on the right. There are a couple of trails that provide access to the picnic area and then on the right side of the trail, you can climb quickly up to the first of two caves found along the Cave Trail. Once you pass the cave, you can either climb up the hill that hugs the cliff, or drop down toward the picnic area and follow a more moderate trail that climbs more gently up the hill. After ascending and descending the hillside, the trail merges with the other trail and follows the creek for a little bit and passes Steamboat Rock. As the trail moves away from the creek, it passes a small spring that sits on the right hand side of the trail under the cliffs before emerging at the junction with the Mill Trail and Punch Bowl Trail. You can either explore more of the park by hiking out the Mill Trail to Pine Creek Grist Mill and Melpine School. If that doesn't appeal to you, you can either take the Punch Bowl Trail up to the Campground Trail and work your way back to the car, or you can retrace your steps back to the car.