Backpacking Minister Creek in Allegheny National Forest // One of the Best Trails in Pennsylvania

Minister Creek is a great trail system with some incredible features and views. It is a great place for an overnight backpacking trip. Great for the experienced and novice backpacker. There are so many great things to say about this hike and trip. I can't wait to go back!

Just did this as a beginner backpacking trip. Trail was in great shape. Boulders that size are always impressive! We prepared for our trip by watching your video...multiple times. Thank you🙂 We have a potential new video suggestion for you: "How to build and SUSTAIN a campfire with wood found at a campsite" b/c we need a solid tutorial!

Wonderful video - LOVED the music! We're heading out here in a few weeks. Per your review we will be hiking counter clockwise. Thank you!

Mountain Laurel is the Pennsylvania state flower. It grows all over the state.

Definitely need to put this hike on my bucket list!

Can't wait, looks beautifully peaceful.

I’ve been down there many times, there is something very special about that area. Regarding Mountain Laurel… it’s a big thing in PA. I recall reading that in the past, some of the hills were so covered with Mt Laurel that during bloom then hills looked snow topped from below. But I wanted to mention another trail not much further that might be the best that I’ve experienced in PA, Fred Woods Trail. It has maybe the best mix of isolation, scenic woods, overlooks, and rock formations that I’ve seen in such a short trail.

I'm dying to camp overnight near a little creek like that! Reminds me a bit of Rock City. Fire starting is hard as heck when everything is wet!! Great video Mike.

Lovely shots and really majestic scenery.🎥🎞

Awesome video, Mike. Going to add this trip to my list. Highlights of the video are the rock sections, the morning stretch scene, and the red salamander. Excited for more videos.

Nice hike! It’s on my bucket list. Tracy Ridge is really cool around Bradford as well.

Looks like a beautiful hike. Thank you Mike for another great trip review. I’ll be there soon!! “Distinctive Tree”👍

That's funny, I have the 2p version of that tent. It's great but a little on the heavy side for me and I just swapped it out for something lighter. Minister Creek was my first backpacking trip I ever did back in 2014 with my high school friends. At the time we were young, didn't know any better, and my friend carved his initials "TF" in one of the trees at the unmarked campsite just beyond the sign (he literally spent like two hours doing it). We were planning a trip back to this exact camp site the very week he died in a tragic accident... so instead a few of my friends went with me and I carved "RIP" above his initials. You can see it plain as day as long as no one has since tried to deface it. (fyi for the tree lovers -- I was grieving at the time. I will never carve into a tree again and I would hope none of you do either)

It's going on my list, this just looks like a cool little loop.

Thank you for the video.

glad that you found the overlook, it was a little bit of a buttpucker moment for me towards the edge of it, eventually i would like to do the whole loop, foot injury kept me from doing more than dayhikes though.

Didn't expect to see Mountain Laurel? It is our (pa) state flower lol

Wonderful video. I’m going to try and do the full trail on a Sunday this fall. Hiking aside, what is the song/artist at the 3:20 mark. I instantly fell in love with it, but can’t seem to find it on Google. Thanks!

Love the video. That is my back yard. I camp there often, and hike. When was your visit? Thursday night the 16th hosted a huge storm with widespread tree damage. Have not heard of anyone hurt. Very lucky. Glad you had a great visit.

Hey - Great video. I am trying to complete my NCT100 and planning to head to the allegheny Mountains (I am in ohio and this year, I have hiked the NCT in Vt, Ohio, and Michigan. I need about 29 more miles. Looking at Minister area and the other option is Red Bridge to the NY border. Your thoughts? Also , could you tell me your cook kit pieces? I liked that wide mouth cup... curious what your cook kit is comprised of... mine is pretty makeshift.