The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • The Roaring Creek Trail … by Car

    Sunday, October 13 saw the return of the annual Roaring Creek Trail drive through. The drive through is a unique opportunity to drive on the Roaring Creek Trail in the Weiser State Forest. This multi-use trail is normally restricted to vehicle traffic. The drive-through began at 9:00 AM, starting at the Route 42 parking lot gate. The gate was open until 2:00 PM.  Traffic was restricted to one-way travel on the 8-mile Roaring Creek Trail and exited at the Route 54 parking lot gate.  All vehicles had to exit by 3:00 PM.  Passenger vehicles only (cars, pick-up trucks, SUVs, passenger vans, motorcycles) were permitted to enter.  Enter the trail in Columbia County and leave in Northumberland County.

    Kline’s Reservoir at the Route 42 side of the trail.

    The Roaring Creek Tract features three large reservoirs currently maintained by Aqua PA. The reservoirs are in a valley surrounded by steep hillsides. The surrounding area is state forest land. Boating is permitted in two of the reservoirs. Fishing is also permitted, and the trail is very popular with hikers and cyclists.

    This event was very popular, and traffic proceeded very slowly along the trail, which is actually a very well maintained gravel road. With so much vehicular traffic, it was unlikely you were going to see much wildlife. It was a lovely drive nonetheless. The leaves were probably a week or two short of their best color, due to lingering warm weather in September. There were places along the route to stop for a picnic.

    My view for much of the trip.
    A peak at the larger McWilliams Reservoir through the trees.
    A good day for a family fishing trip.
    You could stop along the way for a picnic.

    There was a pavilion at McWilliams Picnic Area that could be used for a stop. Boat moorings and a boat launch are available here as well. There were also restrooms and parking in this area for the day.

    Portage your boat into the McWilliams Reservoir.
    A walk along the lake.
    Smokey the Bear made a very conspicuous appearance.
    Because one photo of a giant inflatable bear isn’t enough.

    More information about the Roaring Creek Tract is here.

    Goodbye to the Roaring Creek Trail.

  • A Visit to Powdermill Nature Reserve

    On my way to Linn Run State Park, I came across the Powdermill Nature Reserve of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The Museum is in Pittsburgh, but the Powdermill Reserve is in a beautiful area of the Laurel Highlands. The reserve’s website can be found here.

    Welcome to Powdermill Nature Reserve.

     Powdermill Nature Reserve is a field station and laboratory where researchers do long-term studies of natural populations in western Pennsylvania. It is a great place for outdoor fun and education.

    You can explore the beautiful woodlands around the reserve via the hiking tails. You can also visit the nature center, which features exhibits that highlight local wildlife, a room of beautiful mounted specimens, an indoor stream, a fish tank, and a “marsh machine” that uses a living plants to purify waste water.

    The reserve does permit hunting on a limited basis through a annual lottery for 100 permits. Due to some inclement weather and limited time, I confined myself to the visitor center on this trip.

    This is an interesting paludarium style fish tank. Forgive the glare from the very bright back light.
    Check out the fish in this tank.
    The really cool stream tank – I think my little buddy wants to be fed.
    .A description of the “marsh machine” that treats the center’s waste water.
    Here is a view of the marsh machine.

  • In Search of Laurels

    I spent Labor Day weekend in the Laurel Highlands with a stay at the cabins in Laurel Hill State Park. I also set out to visit some of the other state parks in the area, as well as a few other locations. Let’s start off with a look at my home base for the weekend.

    Laurel Hill State Park contains a lake with a beach, boating opportunities, hiking trails, fishing, picnicking, camping and all the summer time fun that accompanies those things. It is located in Somerset County and reasonably convenient to the turnpike. The park is near several other state parks and Forbes State Forrest.

    Men working for the WPA and CCC began the process of building what was to become Laurel Hill State Park on July 1, 1935 at CCC camps SP-8-PA and SP-16-PA. There is statue in the park commemorating these workers.

    CCC worker, Laurel Hill State Park

    The lake is beautiful and surrounded by steep hills on one side.

    The beach at Laurel Hill State Park.
    Looking toward the dam.

    There is fishing on Laurel Hill Creek and Jones Mill Run.

    View of Laurel Hill Creek from accessible fishing area.
    Handicapped access to fishing area on Laurel Hill Creek surrounded by beautiful flowers.
    Lovely jewelweed along the path down to the creek.

    I also stopped at some of the other nearby parks. I had quite a time getting to some of them, mostly due to relying too heavily on google maps. I ended up on some really sketchy forest roads, and I’m not typically one to shy away from a forest road. If I had double checked google’s routes versus a map, I would have done much better. At least I a saw a turkey.

    Laurel Summit State Park is a small park with picnicking and acts as a trail head for the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and other trails. It is best accessed via Linn Run State Park. This route provides paved roads for most of the trip up the mountain to the park.

    Picnic pavilion, Laurel Summit State Park.

    Laurel Ridge State Park has multiple sections along the ridge of Laurel Mountain. The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trails passes through its sections. It is otherwise mostly undeveloped except for backpacking shelters and one picnic pavilion. The best access points are directly on Route 30 or 31 if you want to say you’ve been there and aren’t hiking or wildlife watching.

    Sign for Laurel Ridge State Park. This may be the only way you know you’re there.

    Finally, I attempted to visit Laurel Mountain State Park, which houses a ski area. I was there many years ago and hoped to drive in and take a look. Unfortunately, the gates were closed in the off season.

  • Above the Clouds

    On a trip to the Loyalsock State Forest, I managed to catch a cloud inversion from the High Top overlook one morning. The town 0f Hillsgrove below was completely obscured.

    Cloud Inversion, High Top overlook, Sullivan County.

  • Annual Poconos Weekend

    Every year a good friend rents a house at Lake Naomi and a few of us girls go up for a weekend. Here are a some shots from the most recent trip.

    Bradys Lake in State Game Lands 127 in Monroe County is a hidden gem – a publicly accessible lake among sea of private development.

    Bradys Lake, wide view from dam.

    Like most of Pennsylvania’s lake, Bradys Lake is formed by a dam.

    On to Lake Naomi, a very pretty private lake community in Pocono Pines.

    A rainy Saturday afternoon at North Beach, Lake Naomi.

    The black-eyed susans at Robert Christians Restaurant in Pocono Lake.

    A doe with her fawn at Lake Harmony, Carbon County.

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