Spring Creek Horse Trails, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

There is a network of old roads and trail in the Spring Creek area of south eastern Allegheny National Forest.  The campground at Kelly Pines makes a great place to start - either at the gated road in the campground, or on the trail across the road from the entrance.  Note that Kelly Pines is a good place to camp as well.  It's an equestrian campground with two sites reserved for non-equestrian campers (which often go unused).

Kelly Pines Campground info

The trail system encompasses quite a few old roads, linking to the dead end FS 130, and others near Duhring.  There are also singletrack trails, including the one opposite the campground, which leads up the hill and to an amazing area of HUGE (building sized) boulders.

Gated entry road from Kelly Pines Campground.

One of the non-equestrian campsites at Kelly Pines.

Getting ready to ride.

Typical abandoned road heading east from Kelly Pines.

Intersection.

There are abandoned roads in the area that intersect with the designated trails, but are not part of the system - leaving room for additional exploration.  The photo above has the horse trail to the right (see the sign with the painted horse?) and a seldom used abandoned road dropping off to the left.

Watch for snakes.

Active oil well along the route.

Buzzard Swamp spring ride, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Buzzard Swamp is a natural area in the Allegheny National Forest, south east of Marienville, Pennsylvania.  It has a network of trails and gravel roads that are open to hikers and bicyclists.  There are also several ponds for fishing.

Buzzard Swamp Information

The loop around ponds 1,2,3,4, & 6 is an easy ride on well maintained gravel road, with water, meadow, and forest areas.  The loop is about 3.8 miles.

The out and back ride on road 157 from the Buzzard Swamp parking area to the parking area on forest road 130 is a bit hillier, and has some roads that are less maintained.  The route is about 4 miles each direction.

The Sojourn Songbird Trail, and the trail to the parking area on the end of forest service road 377 are both singletrack, with varying conditions.  During wet seasons these trails are likely to be very difficult to impassable for bicycles.

Map at kiosk.

Road leading off around ponds 2 & 3.

Salamander in a roadside pond.

Looking across pond 1.

Around the east end of pond 6.

Pond 6.

Google Earth view of the timber swath to the southeast of pond 6, knocked over by high winds.  This area is visible from the road after crossing the pond 6 dam.

Forested road around pond 6.

Less travelled road back to pond 7.

Overgrown road to ponds 14 & 15.

Pond 7.

Osprey nest at pond 8.

Beaver Meadows Lake, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Beaver Meadows Lake is a day use area that used to be a campground, located just north of Marienville, Pennsylvania.  The camping area has been eliminated, but the trail system and lake access remain.

Beaver Meadows Lake ANF information

Trail map.

Entry to Seldom Seen Trail, between two huge white pines.

Large areas of ripe partridgeberries.

Spruce needles in a puddle after a rain storm.

Tranquil.

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.