Panhandle Trail, Pennsylvania

Panhandle Trail is a paved rail trail that leads from Weirton, West Virginia to Rennerdale, Pennsylvania.

http://panhandletrail.org/maps/

The photos in this entry are from between Burgettstown and McDonald, Pennsylvania.

Parking and access at Burgettstown, PA.

Trailside rest area near Burgettstown.

Summit near Bulger.

Approaching Midway.

Midway FD from the trail.

Spur leading to Montour Trail.

Montour Trail spur.

Montour Trail bridge.

Montour Trail info:  https://montourtrail.org/

Trail parking at Fort Cherry.

Bent Run Falls, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Bent Run Falls is a steep cascade leading from the highlands near Jake's Rocks to the Allegheny Reservoir just upstream from the dam.  There is a roadside parking area just across route 59 from Big Bend Overlook. 

After a hard rain or during snow melt the falls are an amazing place to spend a little while hiking.  They extend quite a way up the side of the mountain - probably further than you're willing to climb.

Sandy Creek Trail, Pennsylvania

Sandy Creek Trail runs between Fisherman's Cove and Van, in western Pennsylvania, near Franklin.  The southern portion runs along the banks of the Allegheny River, and the remainder is in East Sandy Creek valley.

https://www.avta-trails.org/sandy-creek-trail.html

This entry covers the trail from the Fisherman's Cove southwestern terminus, to Dark Hollow bridge, just east of the tunnel.

Roadside parking at Fisherman's Cove end of the trail.

On the bridge across Sandy Creek.

Looking upstream on Sandy Creek.

Along the trail - someone once had dreams of this as a summer cabin.

Along the Allegheny River.

Approaching Belmar bridge from the west.

Belmar bridge.

Allegheny River view from the bridge.

Trail in East Sandy Creek valley.

East Sandy Creek, a great class II whitewater run.

Once of the bridges across East Sandy Creek.

East Sandy Creek from one of the bridges.

The west tunnel portal.

Looking out eastern tunnel portal.

East Sandy Creek at Deep Hollow.

East tunnel portal.

Allegheny River Trail from Belmar bridge.

Stairs down to Allegheny River Trail by pines on left.

Buzzard Swamp, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Buzzard Swamp is a Cooperative Wildlife Management area within Allegheny National Forest.  There is no camping allowed, but there are trails and roads open to hiking and biking.  Vehicle access is from Loleta Road, but there is also trail access via Lamonaville Road - which makes this possible to include in a bikepacking route for the SE portion of the forest.

Pond 13.

Plenty of beaver sign. Also saw a grouse on the way in.

Soup ride.

Pond 12.

Loleta - Lamonaville Road, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

The forest service road between Loleta Road and Lamonaville has been closed to vehicle traffic from both ends now.  In 2016 the south end was closed, making the road into a dead end, but this year it was closed altogether.

The dispersed campsites located along this section of road are still there, but can only be accessed by foot or bicycle now.  It makes for a nice ride, and links up to other gated forest service roads so that you can connect through to other areas.  This would be a great area to develop a bikepacking route.

Parking at the south end of the road, next to Loleta campground.

East Branch Millstone Creek runs along the road for a much of the way.

The southern-most of the dispersed campsites.

There are other forest service roads to explore along the way.

Many hemlock stands in the valley.

My favorite dispersed campsite along the way - #6.

E. Br. Millstone Cr. from the bridge next to #6.

There are a couple of sections of sunken road in the deepest hemlocks.

Down by the creek, at a nice backcountry campsite.