Eagle Trail Loop

This one is a little tricky, as it involves hiking through private property. However, if you are a Boy Scout, you're in luck! If not, contact the Juniata Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America to request permission to hike on their property. (Seven Mountains Scout Camp)

After getting permission to hike on BSA property, park in the parking area and proceed towards Eagle Lodge. The Eagle Trail will be on your right shortly after you pass the fire circle and Firelight Pavilion.

Since we were camping at Seven Mountains Scout Camp, we started from Rhodes campsite and hiked across the dam and up the short hill through Staff City. At the access road to Eagle Lodge we turned right and went about halfway to the fire circle. Look for the sign for Eagle Trail on your left (south). The trail is blazed yellow (and changes to blue as you approach the top of the mountain). After a brief meander the trail heads pretty much straight up the side of the mountain. You will pass between two deer exclusion areas connected by a forest road when you are about halfway up.

Continue across the grassy road and up the mountain. From here Eagle Trail takes on more of the character of the Mid-state Trail which you are about the meet. Not only is it all rocks, it's straight up. Take all the breaks you need, this is a tough trail.

At the crest of the mountain you will "T" into the Mid-state Trail. There's a trail sign at the intersection.

While there aren't any official vistas along this section of the trail, if you hike in late fall or early spring, when the leaves are off the trees, you can still get some pretty decent views.

Turn east  (hikers left) and continue to rock hop along the Mid-state Trail for about 10 minutes. You will then reach "the drop off". The trail appears to drop off into  Stillhouse Hollow.  It is indeed a steep and rocky descent.  Watch carefully for switchbacks.

After about a half an hour you will reach Stillhouse Hollow Road. Leave the trail here and turn north (hikers left) to follow Stillhouse Hollow Road. Watch for red and blue blazes on your left. These are the Nature trail. There are two sets of these blazes, the first set will take you past the chapel and back to the dam. The second set will take you back to the Nature Lodge and Rhoades campsite. If the numbered trail markers are ascending, you are headed back to the dam. If they are descending, then you are headed to the Nature Lodge.

The entire loop took us about 90 minutes, and is probably about 3 miles, although I forgot my GPS, so I'll have to do it again to get more accurate trail data.