[4][5] The main trailhead for the John P. Saylor Trail is found at the parking lot for Babcock Picnic Area off of Pennsylvania Route 56, in the northeastern corner of Somerset County and to the east of Windber.

The picnic area is across the highway from another parking lot that serves as the terminus of the Lost Turkey Trail.

Proceeding clockwise, the main loop of the John P. Saylor heads to the east and follows old railroad grades and abandoned forestry roads across a flat area on top of the Allegheny Plateau.

At 5.4 miles the main loop begins to climb out of the valley on an old railroad grade featuring many cuts and artificially leveled segments.

The trail descends and reaches the valley of Clear Shade Creek again at 4.3 miles, and turns sharply to the north.