Shades of Death Trail

Shades of Death Trail is a 2.4 mile out and back trail located in White Haven’s Hickory Run State Park. This beautiful hike follows along Sand Spring Run with views of waterfalls, rhododendron thickets, and unique rock formations. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and bird watching and is best used from March until October.

The trailhead and parking are available by the park office, or along PA 534 by the nature center and amphitheater. This trail is beautiful and seemed to change around every bend. Sand Spring Run flows alongside the entire trail.

From the visitor parking lot find the Shades of Death trailhead and follow the path along the stream. The trail will eventually climb up abruptly and run adjacent to Rt 534 briefly before dipping back down into the woods along the stream. Continuing will reveal many beautiful scenes along the water as well as lush grown and interesting rock formations. Ultimately you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall originating from a reservoir created by a stone wall. These are the remains of an old logging mill dating back to the early 1800s.

Excellent place to spot Blackburnian and black-throated green warblers in the spring and summer.

There are bathrooms in parking lot at the visitor center