The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • Driving Laurel Summit Road

    From my stop at Laurel Summit State Park, I headed north toward Route 30 along the ridge of Laurel Mountain. Laurel Summit Road is a good, compacted gravel road and provided some good birdwatching and sightseeing opportunities.

    More Spring flowers.
    This pond, just south of Laurel Mountain State Park, was most likely a water source for firefighting.
    The Laurel Mountain Warming Hut, base of operations for the cross country ski trails at Laurel Mountain.
    The entrance to Laurel Mountain State Park. The gate to access road was open but marked “authorized vehicles” only. I believe you can hike in during the off season.

    Atop Laurel Ridge at close to 3,000 feet in elevation, Laurel Mountain State Park features a family-oriented downhill skiing area and beautiful views of the Ligonier Valley. Opened in 1939, Laurel Mountain was one of the first ski areas in Pennsylvania and was known as the “ski capital” of the state.

    The history of ski areas in Pennsylvania state parks is a checkered one. After closing for business in 2005, Laurel Mountain has been operating again as a ski area since 2016. The ski assets of the park were purchased by Seven Springs Mountain Resort in November 2008 with the goal of reopening the slopes. The are operated under a contract with DCNR by the management of Seven Springs.Seven Springs signed a 10-year lease with DCNR in November 2009. This allowed the ski company to move ahead with plans to renovate and reopen the ski slopes. It was open for the 2024-25 season, and it appears it will be open next season.

    Laurel Summit Road brings you out onto Route 30 just before a long downhill section heading west into Laughlintown.

  • Back to the Summit

    On a trip to western Pennsylvania, I had the opportunity to revisit Laurel Summit State Park, one of the state’s smallest park. The park provides picnic and hiking opportunities and access to the Wolf Rocks Trail, the Spruce Flats Bog Trail, and the Laural Higlands Hiking Trail. I was there primarily for birwatching in mid-May, during the Spring migration. I did well with the bird watching, adding a couple more species to my life list.

    The picnic pavillion is a major feature of the park.
    The Spruce Flats Bog is a unique ecosystem, with a trail accessible from the parking area.
    Water is available.
    The Spring flowers were still on display.

  • Around Bald Eagle Lake

    The towns of Howard and Blanchard sit on or near the shores of Bald Eagle Lake in Centre County. I was able to capture some shots of the towns after a recent snowfall. First up on my trip was Howard.

    I made my way north towards the dam and the Blanchard area.

    PFC Foster Joseph Sayers Statue and War Memorial

  • A Pre-Birthday Trip to Bald Eagle State Park

    I decided to celebrate a milestone birthday by taking a bucket list trip to stay at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park.

    The 5,900-acre Bald Eagle State Park is in the broad Bald Eagle Valley in Centre County. The 1,730-acre lake laps the flanks of Bald Eagle Mountain, surrounded by forests, fields, and wetlands. With two campgrounds, boating, fishing, swimming, the Nature Inn, and diverse habitats that are excellent for wildlife watching, Bald Eagle State Park offers many diverse recreational opportunities.

    I encountered some unusual early December snow on my trip. However, since I don’t get to photograph in these conditions very much, it made for some interesting pictures. The roads in the park were well-plowed, and I was able to reach even some of the more remote areas of the park.

  • A Little Birdie Told Me

    A recent autumn drive towards Berks County led me into Birdsboro Preserve, a beautiful area just south of the town of the same name. It turned out to be a nice spot for fall color. The Birdsboro Preserve and Birdsboro Waters offer miles of hiking and biking trails and connect to the Schuylkill River Trail system.

    I like the lawn decor here.

    I decided to swing through French Creek State Park on my way home.

    The boats were stilled line up at Scotts Run Lake.
    A little late season fishing.
    The boats created a similar scene at Hopewell Lake.

  • State Parks Redux

    Tuscarora State Park sits in a valley north of Blue Mountain near coal mining regions of Pennsylvania. It is a lovely park, but one which has serious problems in terms of ADA access, especially to the lake and beach.

    I passed this farm on my way to my next location.

    It was then on to Beltzville State Park to view a covered bridge I only recently realized was there.

    The Harrity Covered Bridge.
    The dam is run by the Army Corps of Engineers.

  • At the World’s End

    Worlds End State Park is situated in a narrow S-shaped valley of the Loyalsock Creek, just south of Forksville, Sullivan County. Surrounded by the Loyalsock State Forest, the 780-acre park offers visitors diverse recreational opportunities, such as hiking, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing and hunting, within a pristine natural environment. As evidenced by the Loyalsock Canyon Vista below, the rugged natural beauty of the Endless Mountains landscape provides many photo opportunities.

    My cabin on this trip. It looks like another CCC creation.
    The neighbors.
    The other neighbors.
    I love this snack shop. It’s a great thing to have in Sullivan County.
    A sneak peak at the beach (which was closed) along the Loyalsock Creek. The water here is always “refreshing.”
    Another view from the Vista.
    A taxidermy paradise at the park office.
    A rare cinnamon black bear.
    This is what fisher actually looks like. If I had a dollar for every mink, weasel or whatever that someone thinks is a fisher …
    This bobcat looks surprised to be in his present condition,

  • A Nockamixon Summer

    The Sheards Mill Covered Bridge is very close to Lake Nockamixon and its State Park. The trip to see the bridge allowed to make another visit to the park and the surrounding area.

    A very patriotic tractor.
    This door …
    … belongs to this barn.
    The Weisel Farm House and Barn at the High Bridge trailhead of Nockamixon State Park.

  • Wild Vosburg Neck and Around

    Vosburg Neck State Park has some lovely natural areas, in addition to the park facilities. Below are some more scenes from my visit. The birding was also very good here, and I had over 50 species during my trip here.

    This flock of Turkeys was an unexpected surprise.
    Spring wild flowers.
    Finally, some farms along Vosburg Road.

  • Vosburg Neck – The Most Compelling New State Park

    Vosburg Neck State Park lies five miles west of Tunkhannock in Wyoming County. The park’s 669 acres feature historic buildings from the 1700 and 1800s, a canal bed and rail bed,, and a 1700s-era cemetery. Recreational activities include eight miles of trails, non-motorized boating access, and picnic areas.

    The park is one of Pennsylvania’s three new state parks, and the most developed to date. The park was formerly the Howland Preserve. It is located in an oxbow on the north branch of the Susquehanna River known as the Vosburg Neck and features a diverse range of habitat.

    The park office.
    The Riverside Barn seemed to have been in use for a private function before I arrived.
    Private residences dot the area. I also lust after one of these trailers
    The boat launch.
    A lovely private home.
    The cemetery.
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