After my brother and I enjoyed a great family trip to Pennsylvania around Easter we decided to go back to Allegheny National Forest with a group of friends. It was a very social trip and we mostly were checking out the sights in the area. We stayed in Dewdrop Campground. It was a very nice campground but they were very strict on the noise level and we actually almost got kicked out despite it only being 10pm.
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| Dewdrop Campground |
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| Dewdrop Campground |
The campground was right on the Allegheny River and it was a lovely morning walk. When I started walking the river was thick with fog but this slowly started to evaporate and blow away.
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| Allegheny River |
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| Allegheny River |
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| Allegheny River |
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| Allegheny River |
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| Allegheny River |
Our first stop was to take in the view from of Allegheny River at the Seneca Generating Plant. This was mostly just a quick stop to take in the view.
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| Allegheny River at the Seneca Generating Plant |
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| Allegheny River at the Seneca Generating Plant |
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| Allegheny River at the Seneca Generating Plant |
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| Allegheny River at the Seneca Generating Plant |
The first hike we did was out to the Rimrock Overlook. The trails went through rocky forested areas.
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
It was a very short there and back trail to get from the parking lot to the actual outlook itself but it was a very nice trail. It was well maintained and there were a decent number of people using it.
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
The rocky cliff areas were the most interesting part to me. They looked really really cool. In some places you could even climb up into the cracks or get into some small cave areas but none of those went very far.
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
The outlook itself had a lovely view over the Allegheny River out towards our campground.
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
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| Rimrock Overlook, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania |
The understory vegetation wasn't very thick but there were some interesting plants growing there including:
Crookedstem Aster
(Symphyotrichum prenanthoides)
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| Crookedstem Aster
(Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) |
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| Crookedstem Aster
(Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) |
Indian Cucumber Root
(Medeola virginiana)
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| Indian Cucumber Root
(Medeola virginiana) |
Whorled Wood Aster
(Oclemena acuminata)
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| Whorled Wood Aster
(Oclemena acuminata) |
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| Whorled Wood Aster
(Oclemena acuminata) |
Indian Pipe
(Monotropa uniflora)
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| Indian Pipe
(Monotropa uniflora) |
At one point a lady walking past us along the trail warned us that there was a snake up ahead. I must admit I ran for it. That is ran towards it! Haha I doubt she was expecting that reaction since she was not a huge fan of snakes. Turns out it was just a harmless
Common Garter Snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis) soaking up the sun. It was a very beautiful snake and didn't mind me taking photos. All it did was move it's head a little to look at me.
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| Common Garter Snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis) |
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| Common Garter Snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis) |
Monarch
(Danaus plexippus) are best recognized by their characteristic orange, black and white colouration as adults; however, they also have a very strinking and unique looking chrysalis. The emerald green coloured chrysalis exterior is flecked with gold.As the butterfly matures within the chyrsalis you can start to see the wing patterns through the semi-transparent chyrsalis but this one I found wasn't quite that mature yet.
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| Monarch
(Danaus plexippus) |
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| Monarch
(Danaus plexippus) |
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| Monarch
(Danaus plexippus) |
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| Monarch
(Danaus plexippus) |
Our third point of interest was the Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park. This railroad bridge spanned 625 meters across Kinzua Creek and was 92 meters tall. It was built in 1882 and was the tallest railroad bridge in the world for two years. It was operational until 1952 then was converted to a historic site and made part of a state park.
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
They started restoring the bridge in 2002. But ironically before they could complete restoration the bridge was hit by a tornado in July 2003. The center of the bridge collapsed but sections on both ends remained in tact and they concerted one of them into a lookout with plastic see through floors. Looking out at the valley from the bridge you can actually see the path of destruction left by the tornado.
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
There is a trail you can hike down into the valley that takes you across Kinzua Creek and into fields where you can walk through the towering metal debris.
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Bridge in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
The valley floor has floodplain and meadow species growing thickly around the debris. The habitat is still very open so you have a lovely view all the way up to the intact bridge and you really get a feel for how high it is.
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| Kinzua Creek in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
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| Kinzua Creek in Kinzua Bridge State Park |
Turtlehead (Chelone sp.)
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| Turtlehead (Chelone sp.) |
Arrow-leaved Tearthumb
(Persicaria sagittata)
Indian Tobacco
(Lobelia inflata)
Sensitive Fern
(Onoclea sensibilis)
Flat-topped Goldenrod
(Euthamia graminifolia)
Steeplebush
(Spiraea tomentosa)
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| Steeplebush
(Spiraea tomentosa) |
Our last hike and point of interest was at Jake's Rock. This is another rocky outcrop turned into a viewpoint. The trail was very well maintained and easy to walk.
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| Jake's Rock |
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| Jake's Rock |
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| Jake's Rock, Allegheny National Forest |
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| Jake's Rock, Allegheny National Forest |
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| Jake's Rock, Allegheny National Forest |
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