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Trails
Narrative Direction: West from Nature Trail near campground Whitetail Trail has more curves in it than most of the trails in the northern half of the Park. As suggested by the following photo, it is also one of the darkest trails in the Park because the hardwood canopy is so thick along much of its length.
The first several hundred yards of the trail gradually follow a small (usually dry) streambed down hill towards the Sopers Branch wetland. The trail undulates along the base of a heavily forested hillside. See the following photo. There is good understory, but a fair amount of multiflora rose and briars are present too, which makes bushwacking more difficult through the thick forest here.
After ¼ mile or so, the little hollow opens up a little. You will pass orienteering course post #14 as you continue to gradually follow the little streambed. A little further on the trail will dip down to the stream bed as you enter an area that can be quite scenic in the warmer months when you can see huge masses of ferns and skunk cabbages throughout the little streambed in this area. You will also come to a small wooden bridge here and cross over to the other side of the little stream you have been following. After you cross the footbridge, the trail turns to the north and begins to climb. Over the next few hundred yards, Whitetail Trail will pass through tall canopy and several acres of what is probably the largest patch of ground cedar (see following photo) found along all the trails in Little Bennett. It is truly an amazing sight and certainly worth stopping for, especially first time visitors.
Soon after you leave the big ground cedar patch Whitetail Trail will begin to decline sharply. About 75 yards ahead Whitetail Trail will end when it intersects Antler Ridge Trail.
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