Ohiopyle State Park
Meadow Run Trail
7/16/00
Location:  Ohiopyle State Park in southwestern PA
Length:  3.2 miles
Total trip elevation gain: 445 ft.


The trailhead is located at a parking area on SR 2011.  There are three trails close to the parking area, take the one farthest to your right. 

You'll see a post with a missing trail sign.  This trail is marked with yellow blazes. Orange colored fungus along the trail

You start out by climbing up a hill.  Around a half mile in, be alert for a critical turn in the trail.

You want to bear left and eventually you'll be descending stone steps along some cliffs.  The trail follows around the base of these cliffs.  You'll come across a side trail to view a small cascading waterfall.  You won't want to miss this beautiful side trail.

The trail continues downstream and then you begin a climb   back up the hill through some beautiful rhododenrons and hemlocks. 

There are several side trails that take you back to the streams' edge for a closer vantage point.  You can continue on the trail to reach "the slides".

The slides are slippery rocks that you can use as a sliding board into the water...they are extremely slippery.  It's a favorite swimming area in the summer. 

When you're done checking out the slides, retrace your steps to the yellow-blazed trail and back to the parking area.


Ferncliff Trail
7/16/00
Location:  Ohiopyle State Park in southwestern PA
Length:  2.1 miles
Total trip elevation gain:  200 ft.


Put-in area for the lower Yough.The trailhead can be reached from PA 381.  Turn into the parking lot before you reach the two tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.  In the parking area, you'll see a sign for the trail. 

The Ferncliff Trail is a self-guided nature trail marked by black blazes.  You'll go under the old Western Maryland Railroad bridge to a trail junction and marker noting that this trail was declared a national natural landmark in '73.  Follow the trail as it bears to leads to the water's edge.

You'll then turn back into a tunnel.  Around .5 miles in you turn left for a vantage point view of Ohiopyle Falls.

From this view you can see the put-in area for the lowerRafters making their way through the rapids on the lower Yough. Yough and rafters and kayakers getting ready to conquer Class III and IV rapids.  Back on the trail you climb up to a cliff where you reach another overlook. 

Continue on the trail where you can hear the rapids but there is no vantage point.   You can follow the Take-out Trail loop to the foot of Railroad Rapids for a vantage point of the rafters below.   Then proceed back to the parking area.


Ohiopyle State Park
7/14 - 7/16/00
Location:  Ohiopyle State Park in southwestern PA


Going down the Middle Yough on
Class I & II rapids.  I loved it!!!

Ohiopyle waterfalls.

 
Twenty-eight miles of an abandoned railroad right-of-way have been converted to a smooth, hard surface trail for bicycling and hiking.  This trails is called the Youghiogheny River Bike/Hike Trail.  It parallels the Youghiogheny River between the Ramcat parking area near Confluence to
the towns of Connellsville/ Dunbar.

The trail features scenic views of the river and cascading feeder streams. It is also an excellent area to see many species of wildlife that frequent the park.  The bike trail is suitable for all ages.  Rental bikes are available from several outfitters in town.


 
A section of the bike trail (a converted train bridge).


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This site was last updated on 04/29/04.