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    Ryerson Station State Park

    Hiking

    13 miles of trails

     

    The trails allow visitors to explore the park on foot and on cross-country skis in winter. The trails traverse many habitats, like: 

    • Mature forests

    • Wet valley bottoms

    • Evergreen plantations

    • Fields in ecological succession

       

    Most trails are wide, easily followed, and therefore not color-blazed. 

    Ryerson Station State Park Map

    Trail Definitions

    Difficulty Ratings

    Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
    More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
    Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.

    Trail Route Type

    Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
    Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
    Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
    Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.

    Bluebird Trail

    0.36 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Loop trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    This short loop trail gains about 80 feet of elevation up from Lazear Lane in the Maple Grove Day Use Area.

    Box Turtle Trail

    0.36 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Loop trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Passing through forest and spruce plantations, this trail traverses a variety of habitats in the eastern end of the park.

    Chess Cemetery Trail

    0.20 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Chess Cemetery Trail is a short trail that originates from the eastern end of Pine Box Trail, the trail ends at the Chess Cemetery.

    Deer Trail

    0.83 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Loop trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Deer Trail is a loop trail that travels around the perimeter of Polly Hill Campground.

    Fox Feather Trail

    1.3 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Fox Feather trail is a self-guided trail that connect to two different points on Lazear Trail.

    Iron Bridge Trail

    0.76 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: picnic tables

    Iron Bridge Trail connects Bristoria Road to Deer Trail on the northern half of the park. The Iron Bridge that spans the North Fork Dunkard Fork is closed, splitting this trail in two segments. The segment of the trail on the southern half of the park passes through the valley bottom before connecting to Lazear Trail.

    Lazear Trail

    2.40 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Loop trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms, picnic tables, benches

    This is the longest trail in the park and is named for a family who owned a large portion of the property that is now Ryerson Station State Park. This trail gains approximately 410 feet of elevation.

    Orchard Trail

    0.30 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Loop trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Orchard Trail connects Lazear Trail with Tiffany Ridge Trail. This relatively flat trail passes the remnants of an old orchard.

    Pine Box Trail

    2.0 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Beginning near the Iron Bridge, this trail follows the valley bottom along Kent Run before gaining approximately 280 feet of elevation and leveling out along the ridge top before returning to the valley bottom ending in the parking lot near Poland Run Road.

    Polly Hollow Trail

    0.88 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables

    This trail starts adjacent to the park office and gains approximately 200 feet of elevation before connecting to Deer Trail and proceeding on to connect with Three Mitten Trail.

    Saw Dust Trail

    0.70 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    Sawdust Trail is a fairly steep trail that originates along Lazear Lane and proceeds to gain approximately 410 feet of elevation before dead ending on the edge of the park at private property.

    Three Mitten Trail

    1.38 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Loop trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    This mitten-shaped loop trail gains approximately 300 feet of elevation from Bristoria Road before crossing the ridge and dropping in elevation on the return leg of the loop. 

    Tiffany Ridge Trail

    0.76 mile  |  More difficult hiking  |  Connector trail  |  No blazes
    Recreations permitted: hiking
    Trailhead amenities: none

    This trail connects to two places on Lazear Trail and one on Orchard trail, gaining approximately 190 in elevation this trail passes through open woodlands.