Cobey Pond Trail
Trailhead Cobey Pond Trail Trailhead 983 ft Drive there
Hike the Cobey Pond Trail the Park Service's write-up
1-2 Hours · dogs allowed · season <p>Please exercise caution and situational awareness with weather conditions while hiking. During all seasons, there is always a risk of ticks. Please check for ticks on yourself and any pets after hiking. Also be especially mindful when hiking during hunting season. Wear bright or flourescent orange or pink.</p>
Start Masthope Plank Road, Masthope, PA
Spend an hour on this relatively easy hike around the picturesque Cobey Pond. The first quarter mile (400m) of the trail is on a moderate incline through the forest up to the pond. Keep right at the fork to go straight to the Cobey Pond. Pause on the dock or stand on the spillway to take in a beautiful view of the water, surrounded by peaceful forest. As you walk around the water, observe the bubbling brooks and quiet streams feeding into pond, and waterfowl and wildlife that call the place home.
Please note that there are no trail markers and the trail splits several times. Once reaching the pond, go right for the slightly longer route, then keep left to hike along the pond shore. The trail will split again, with the left following the shore and the right going through the woods back to the trailhead. Elevation gain is approximately 245 feet (75m). Be mindful of potentially wet, muddy conditions and ankle-tall grass.
This trail is located on Pennsylvania State Game Lands 316 and is owned and managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. There are no restrooms available. Fires, camping, and use of motor vehicles are prohibited. Please see the Pennsylvania State Game Lands page for more detail on land use regulations.
Parking
Parking is available at two spots. A very small gravel parking area with approximately 5 parking spots is located right off Masthope Plank Road. Parking in this lot is not recommended. Instead, keep left onto the gravel road and follow the road about half a mile (800m). A larger dirt parking lot able to accommodate 15 vehicles will be at the end of the road. The trail starts on the other side of the locked gate.
Safety
This land is owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. For safety, please wear bright or fluorescent orange or pink to increase your visibility while hiking in these lawful hunting areas.
This trail is not regularly maintained and parts of the trail may have ankle-high grass. Tall grass and leaf litter are prime habitats for ticks. Please check for ticks on yourself and any pets after hiking, no matter the season.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Please practice "Leave No Trace" principles and do not litter or leave any waste, including animal waste, behind. Take waste with you and dispose of it properly. There are no trash receptacles available on the trails or at the trailheads, so you must take any trash with you when you leave.
Accessibility The trail starts off at a moderate incline for approximately a fourth of a mile (400m) up to Cobey Pond. The trail up to the pond is gravel and approximately 6-8 feet wide. At Cobey Pond, there is a wooden dock visitors can use. This dock does not have walls or railings. The trail around the pond and back to the trailhead varies from tall grass to dirt and leaf litter and on average is 4-5 feet (1.5m) wide. One may encounter rocks, mud, pools of water, and small gaps in the trail. Total elevation gain is approximately 245 feet (75m).