How often can you say you went to the end of the world? It seems we were there this past winter, stoking the fires, climbing the frozen waterfalls, and playing a fair amount of Uno.
Our cabin, Cleverly at a frozen waterfall
The place has been called Whirl’s Glen and Whirl’s End in the past, apparently with some controversy until the Geographic Board stepped in. Did you even know we had one of those? I sure didn’t.
Some friends organized this trip to the rustic 1930’s-era cabins of World’s End. Yay, Civilian Conservation Corps! They built some sweet, long-lasting cabins at a lot of parks. These cabins were beautiful, all wood with stone fireplaces, and we ordered a cord of wood to heat the 5-or-so cabins we occupied that weekend. It was more than enough. The park supplies a small amount of wood, then you bring your own or order for delivery from a local supplier – kind of a set-up for us city folk but we didn’t mind. The cabins are rustic, but somewhat modern, too, since each did have electricity, a stove, and a refrigerator. Shower/bathroom facilities are shared, and the building we used looked recently renovated with nice tiles, plenty of hot water, flush toilets, and a good heating system. The cabins had different configurations. Our cabin had a large porch with outdoor fireplace (above photo, picnic table on right faces outdoor fireplace), which we made use of one evening for roasting marshmallows. The inside of the cabins had the kitchen area with appliances and large table, and separate sleeping room with double bunk beds. I point out the double bunk beds because when they say a cabin sleeps four people, they mean one bunk bed with two double beds. We had two bunk beds, thus our cabin could hypothetically fit 8 people if everyone sleeps two to a bed. A quirky thing about the cabins was the guest notebooks where visitors could write whatever they pleased. I was amused reading about people’s experiences with bad weather, bugs, wildlife, and (one hopes) fictional alien abductions.
Inside cabin and icicles by the river
We took several hikes at World’s End, also we spent time by the river near the cabins. Other than that, we ate like gluttons, made and maintained fires like pyromaniacs, and played cards like gamblers. The kids did some sledding on the hill between cabins.
Truly by stove, Cleverly in top of double bunk bed
The river is actually called Loyalsock Creek and has beautiful layered rock cliffs next to it at many points. These were festooned with icicles while we were there midwinter. We hiked the Butternut Trail and the views were excellent. There was a lot of climbing, but the kids were in good spirits for the most part, I think there were about 12 kids with our twins being the youngest at 6 years old, and they all did well. Off the trail there were frozen waterfalls to explore.
I’d love to go back in the summer because it looks like there are swimming areas, or in the fall to see the trees in their autumn glory. One downside is that the cabins are close to the roads, both the park road that goes to the cabin and a local road that is on the other side of the river. I would have preferred a little more isolation, however it did make getting our gear in and out easier. I also would like to have stayed longer than 2 nights to see more of the park and do more hiking, but I am grateful to have been to this park because I had heard about it for years and it was a lovely area.
Tripping Fantastic 