Loleta - Lamonaville Road, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania - Part 2

The road between Loleta campground and FS road 228, known as FS road 131, has been closed to motor vehicle traffic for over a year now.  The dispersed campsites that were along the road, and the beauty of the hemlock valley of E. Branch Millstone Creek make this a great place to hike, backpack, or bikepack.

To get there follow E. Spruce Street out of Marienville.  It becomes Lamonaville Road at some point, and continues to a four way stop signed intersection with FS road 131 about 5 miles east of town.  Turn right at this intersection, and follow the road about 4 miles until FS road 228 comes in from the left, and the ROAD CLOSED gate blocks the road.

If you park there, the 'road' up to site 13 is only about 1/4 mile.

See this Getting Out There entry about conditions and access from the Loleta end of the road.

Parking near intersection with FS 228.

Road to old dispersed campsites 12 & 13.

Campsite 12 meadow.

One of several downed trees on the way up to campsite 13.

Campsite 13.

Red cap soldier moss on the old picnic table.

Downed white pine, cut from across FS 131.

Lots of pine sap.  I harvested as much as I could.  Yes, I got very sticky.

E. Br. Millstone Creek alongside the road.

One of the sections of sunken road passing through hemlock groves.

Another old dispersed campsite along the road.

Campsite 8.

Muddy Fork, from Buzzard Swamp, runs alongside campsite 8.

My favorite, campsite 6.

View of the creek from campsite 6.

AMD tainted spring, right in the middle of the road.

AMD tainted spring.

Bicycling at Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Pennsylvania

Maurice K. Goddard State Park is located just north of the town of Sandy Lake.  The reservoir was created by the damming of Sandy Creek.  The park is easily accessed via I-79.

There is a paved trail around part of the lake, which combines with low traffic park roads to make a really nice loop just over 12 miles in length.  This trail is not like a rail trail, with gradual grades and curves.  Instead it's a purpose designed bike trail, with many curves and hills, which goes through woods and meadows around the southern end of the reservoir.  The loop can be a lot of fun for experienced cyclists, but if you're thinking of taking your mother who hasn't ridden a bike in 15 years there, the hills are going to put them in granny gear a lot and they probably won't enjoy themselves.

Maurice K. Goddard State Park info

Near the beginning of a clockwise loop of the trail.

One of about 6 trailside shelters, good for a rest or waiting out the rain.

The trail and Lake Road alongside.

Peaceful rest area along the trail.

You can see the ups and downs along the trail.

Wild chives growing trailside.

Approaching the dam at the south end of the reservoir.

Looking downstream at Sandy Creek.

Looking upstream at the lake.

Where the trail moves onto the road for a mile or so. Hiking trail is 'no bikes'.

Crossing the road away from the lake.  This is where the 2 biggest hills are.

Where the loop uses the Marina roads for 1/4 mile.

Viewing platform on north side of Lake Wilhelm Road, near Marina.

From viewing platform.

Lake Wilhelm Road at Marina, and the view of the bridge across the lake.

Lake Wilhelm from the bridge.

And back to the trailhead parking area.