Welcome to Willowglen!
Hello and thank you for visiting our website! Willowglen Forest is a quiet old-growth woodland known for its tall willows, its mossy trails, and its very still air. Families, hikers, and photographers have enjoyed the forest since 1931.
This page was made by volunteers of the Willowglen Friends Association. Please read the rules before your visit. Especially rule 4.
Forest Guide
Getting There
Take Route 9 north until you pass the old Harlan gas station. Turn left at the faded green sign. The gravel lot holds about 40 cars. If the lot is full of cars when you arrive and nobody is around, please do not wait for the owners.
The Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Willow Loop | 1.2 mi | Easy | Good for kids. Count the benches. There should be 9. |
| 2 - Mossy Creek | 2.0 mi | Easy | Creek is very quiet. This is normal. |
| 3 - Ridge Walk | 3.4 mi | Moderate | Great views. Do not wave at the far ridge. |
| 4 - Old Mill | 2.8 mi | Moderate | Mill is not part of the forest. Do not enter. |
| 5 - Deep Glen | 5.1 mi | Hard | Turn back at the red ribbon. The ribbon moves. |
| 6 - Lantern Path | 1.9 mi | Easy | Closes at dusk. Lights will turn on anyway. |
Tips for Hikers
- Bring water, bug spray, and a charged phone.
- Tell a friend when you expect to return, and keep that time.
- If you find yourself walking longer than the trail length, stop and stand still until the birds come back.
- If the birds do not come back, walk toward the sound of the car horn. We do not own a car horn.
- Walk in groups. Count your group often. Count again.
Best Places To Take Pictures
Willowglen is a photographer’s dream! Our volunteers picked the top five spots. All photos below are from our members (thumbnails coming soon).
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1. The Willow Arch (Trail 1, marker 4). Best at sunrise when the fog is low. Stand at the second bench and face the arch. Take a few photos and check the background of each one. If someone is standing in the arch who was not there before, just keep walking.
2. Mossy Creek Bridge (Trail 2). Lovely reflections. Use a slow shutter. Your reflection may take a moment to appear. That is okay.
3. Ridge Overlook (Trail 3). Wide views of the whole glen at golden hour. People sometimes see a tall figure on the opposite ridge. It is only a dead tree. Please do not zoom in.
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4. Lantern Path at Dusk (Trail 6). Magical glowing lights between the trees. Flash is not recommended. Flash makes the lanterns look like faces.
5. The Clearing (Trail 5, past the ribbon). We do not recommend this location. Many photographers visited. The cameras were returned.
Highlights of the Forest
- The Thousand Willows – a grove of ancient trees whose branches lean slightly toward visitors. Most visitors say it feels like being welcomed.
- Mossy Creek – clear, cold water with no fish. Rangers are looking into it.
- The Hollow Oak – a huge tree with a door-shaped opening. The opening has been measured at many different sizes.
- The 9 Benches – donated by local families, each with a small plaque. A tenth bench appears in some years. Please do not sit.
- Nighttime Stillness – no owls, no insects, no wind. Visitors report it is “very relaxing.” Overnight visits are not allowed.
- Ranger Station – open 9 to 5. The radio is sometimes on when nobody is inside. Please do not touch the radio.
[ Under construction - more pages coming soon! ]
Guestbook
Thanks to everyone who signed! 13 comments so far. Sign the guestbook | View older entries (unavailable)
Took the kids on the Willow Loop and it was so peaceful!! Kids loved the benches. Great day out. Will be back!!
Got some AWESOME fog shots at the Willow Arch. Weird thing tho, my buddy is in like 4 of them and he swears he stayed in the car. lol
Reminder to all visitors, the Friends Association does NOT run any night tours. If someone offers one, say no and call the number on the sign.
Beautiful place but the trail seemed longer going back than going in. we kept passing the same bench. Anyone else? Lol maybe we are bad at maps
No birds at all. In 30 yrs of birding I have never been anywhere so quiet. Then around noon they all started singing at once, the exact same song. Left early.
I used to come here as a boy. The willows were not leaning toward the path then. Nice site though! My grandson set it up for me.
my friend heard her mom calling her from the treeline. her mom was at home in Ohio. we are never going back
Ran Trail 5 and went past the red ribbon, it looked like it was just tied to a branch. Then the ribbon was on the OTHER side of me. Ran 40 min in a straight line and ended up at the ribbon again. Please close this trail.
Amazing views from the ridge!! We waved at the guy on the far ridge and he waved back. Pretty friendly. He kept waving the whole time we hiked down. Is that a ranger?
We have removed several guestbook entries that did not follow our posting guidelines. We have no record of a Trail 7. Please stop asking.
Stayed until dusk for the lanterns. So pretty!! They turned on one at a time, like they were following us. Anyway we are home now. Is it normal that they can still be seen from our window
I am still on the Lantern Path. It is fine here. Everyone is very friendly. The trees are closer than before but it is warm. You should come. You should come.
thank you for visiting. thank you for reading. we saw you arrive. please stay on the marked path.
Visitor Rules
- Stay on the marked path at all times.
- Do not feed or approach wildlife. (There is no wildlife.)
- Leave the forest by dusk.
- If someone you know is hiking with you and they are quiet, do not look at their face.
- Do not answer if the trees say your name.
- Carry out all trash. Do not leave anything behind, including your shadow.
- Enjoy your visit!
Rule 5 and rule 6 have been edited. We are sorry for the confusion.