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Jul 06, 2020 — There are a few trails leading to the summit of Schunemunk Mountain, and the more commonly known "megaliths" located along a spur trail a quick jaunt from the high point. The route Austin and I decided to take included the Sweet Clover Trail and Jessup Trail, forming a semi-loop. Although official trails, there are signs warning not to cross the railroad tracks that run through Schunemunk State Park. I won't say that we crossed them, but in order to make this loop, you'll have to do it. The only trail as of July 2020 that allows you to access the Schunemunk Mountain high point is via the Trestle Trail on the mountain's northern ridge, but I haven't done it.
Anyway, we started out from the trailhead and walked through unexpectedly gorgeous meadows with tall grasses before the Sweet Clover Trail entered the forest and crossed the first railroad track. The trail was just the remains of an old road ben for a while before narrowing into single-track. Some reasonably steep ascending led us along the well-blazed trail to the junction with the Jessup Trail, which we would take on our descent. The trail continued ascending along the ridgeline, where exposed rock and scraggly pine trees made for an interesting landscape. The trail led around boulders, along slickrock sections, and overall kept the hike fun. We reached a junction where the main trail continued to the Schunemunk Mountain high point, and a spur trail led to the Schuneumnk Mountain megaliths. We quickly bagged the high point and then checked out the latter feature. The megaliths were underwhelming, but still a somewhat cool feature comprised of rock monoliths and a nice view.
Back at the junction with the Jessup Trail, we followed this trail as it descended along the pretty northeastern ridge from Schunemunk Mountain. Another junction at a small bridge makes going that way tempting, but instead the Jessup Trail parallels the railroad tracks for a short time before requiring another crossing. On the other side of the tracks, the trail is actually just an old roadbed and after about a half mile, the trail curves left away from the roadbed and took us back through the forest and meadows to complete the loop.
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