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.

Western Reserve Greenway Trail, Ohio

The Western Reserve Greenway Trail is a part of the Great Ohio Lake to River Greenway, travelling through Ashtabula and Trumbull counties:

https://www.ashtabulametroparks.com/western-reserve-greenway-trail/

http://trumbullmetroparks.org/parks-and-trails/western-reserve-greenway

All photos are from the northern Trumbull county portion of the trail.

P.S. Turn up the sound on the video clip to hear the owls calling.

Recent wet snow brought down many trees, but this was the only trail blockage of the day.

Autumn foliage lingers...

...but will soon be gone.

Rest stop at Trumbull/Ashtabula county line.

Samuel Justus Trail, Pennsylvania

Samuel Justus Trail, Pennsylvania

I hope to resume blogging, focusing on outdoors destination and recreation in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

This last weekend I took my first ride on Samuel Justus Trail, from Franklin, Pennsylvania to Oil City.  It was a really nice 8 miles each way, along the quiet south bank of the Allegheny River.

Information:     https://www.avta-trails.org/allegheny-samuel-trails.html

Trailhead and parking at Franklin.

The trail, and gravel access road, not far out of Franklin.

Ridge Farm gate and buildings.

River Ridge history.

Several working oil wells are along the trail.

Late autumn colors are still hanging on.

Recent rains have brought the Allegheny River water level up.

Lots of hemlock and rhododendron along the river.

A panoramic shot of the north bank of the river.

There are a couple of picnic areas towards the Oil City end.

The red gates mean you're almost in Oil City.

There's a short section of crushed limestone entering Oil City.

Historical remnant from the oil extraction boom.

In Oil City.

In Oil City.

The bridge across Allegheny River. Trails continue on the other side, to Oil Creek State Park and points north.

Tiny run draining down into Allegheny River.