Ohiopyle State Park
| Fayette |
| DESCRIPTION: Ohiopyle State Park offers good birding in all seasons, however May -- July are the most productive months for a variety of neotropical migrants that breed here. Ferncliff Peninsula Just after crossing the railroad tracks on RT. 381 and just before crossing the bridge over the river into the town of Ohiopyle, turn right into a large parking lot. This is the Ferncliff Peninsula, a National Natural Landmark formed by a large bend in the river. It is known for a variety of plants rare to Pennsylvania whose seeds are carried from the south and deposited along the shore. Walk down to the river and check the RT. 381 bridge for a colony of Barn and Cliff Swallows. Look and listen for Yellow-throated Vireos and Cerulean Warblers in the nearby forest. Various trails traverse the peninsula and maps are available at the nearby kiosk. Check for state park maps too, or check the park office by turning right on RT. 381 from the parking lot, continuing through the town of Ohiopyle and following signs to the park office which is on Dinnerbell Road (a left turn off RT. 381 just outside of town). Walking along the river does impede hearing birds due to the rapid water flow and waterfalls, but is very scenic. Hooded Warblers can be heard and seen in the rhododendron thickets along the rocky trail and Cedar Waxwings often engage in flycatching over the river. Common Mergansers are recent arrivals and have nested in the area. Be aware of your footing while walking over the rocks which are uneven and wet in some spots. Also be aware Northern Copperheads are found here, but are rarely seen. The trails on the peninsula can be productive for many of the forest birds in the area including Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, etc. Ohiopyle Falls Parking Lot Return to RT. 381, turn right and cross the bridge over the Youghiogheny River into the town of Ohiopyle. Turn right into a large parking area which provides access to the Ohiopyle Falls. Birding can be surprisingly good, especially early in the morning before crowds arrive and parking becomes limited. There are restrooms and a snack bar here, but they are not open until mid-morning. Northern Parulas can often be heard and seen in the trees in the parking lot along with Gray Catbirds, American Redstarts, Yellow-throated Warblers, Cedar Waxwings, Chipping Sparrows, and even the occasional Pileated Woodpecker. Middle Ridge Road Return to RT. 381 south (turn right when exiting the parking lot. Follow RT. 381 for approximately 0.5 miles passing the raft rental and look for a road to the right which is Kentuck Road (signs direct you to Cucumber Falls, Camping, etc.). Note you may want to stay on RT. 381 for a short distance to the park office where maps and other information can be obtained. Turn right onto Kentuck Road and follow it up the hill to Middle Ridge Road on the left. Drive along this road for approximately a mile looking and listening for forest birds. The road is not paved, but is well maintained. There are a few places to pull over and the road is not heavily traveled so parking along the road is not a problem. Kentucky Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, American Redstart, Louisiana Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Scarlet Tanager can be found in the mixed forest along the road. Continue along Middle Ridge Road looking for Cucumber Run Picnic Area on the left. Turn left into the area, cross a low bridge and park near the gated entrance. Even if the gate is closed you can walk the gravel road through the forested picnic area to search for more forest species. Eastern Phoebes nest on the restroom buildings and Wood Thrushes are numerous and often on the gravel road. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers are usually within easy view. The occasional Worm-eating Warbler may be seen and they probably nest on the surrounding hillsides. Chipping Sparrows can be found in the open grassy areas and Common Yellowthroats are in the undergrowth. Louisiana Waterthrushes and Acadian Flycatchers can be found along the stream. Return to Middle Ridge Road and turn left going up a hill. Pull off in an open area about half the distance to the top of the hill where there is a roadside cut on the right. This is a reliable location to hear and see Kentucky Warblers. A few pairs have territories along the road. Indigo Buntings, Cerulean Warblers, Hooded Warblers, American Redstarts, Yellow-throated Vireos, Eastern Towhees and other forest species are common. Spring wildflowers are fantastic. Continue along Middle Ridge Road to a farm area. Look for Orchard Orioles in the scattered shade trees. In migration, White-crowned Sparrows may be found feeding in the grassy areas or in roadside brush. A few Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, and Savannah Sparrows nest in the hayfields. Listen for the occasional Grasshopper Sparrow. Follow Middle Ridge Road to the end at a "T" intersection. Turn right onto Chalkhill / Ohiopyle Road (SR2010). Follow the road and listen for singing birds. This road is rather busy and there are not good places to pull off. At a four way intersection you can turn right to return to the beginning of Middle Ridge Road and RT. 381 (1.5 miles). Cross Country Ski Fields Continue straight through this intersection towards the campground for 1.7 miles. Listen while driving for Purple Finch, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, etc. Pass the campground and continue straight where the paved road becomes gravel. Follow the gravel road passing a road that goes off to the right and the beginning of the Kentuck Trail and park in the last parking lot. Walk from the far end of the parking lot on a trail that passes through a small forested area. Northern Parula can usually be found here along with American Redstart, Ovenbird, and Blue-headed Vireo. Continue walking into a open brushy meadow. This is the Cross Country Ski Area and the Sproul Trail. You can take an immediate right into a large mowed area where there are breeding Eastern Bluebirds nesting in the bluebird box. Indigo Buntings, Common Yellowthroats and Blue-winged Warblers should be easily found. Return to the main trail taking the right fork (the trail makes a large loop returning to this starting point). Follow the trail which enters the trees and descends slightly. The trial will eventually reach more open habitat and a small wet area where Swamp Sparrow may be found. Solitary Sandpipers stop here on migration. Wood Frogs and Red-spotted Newts breed in the shallow pond. Listen for Golden-winged (not found in recent years) and Blue-winged Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, House Wren, and both species of cuckoos. Continue on the trail to a few large spruce trees left from a former farm. Purple Finches may be singing from the spruce trees, but can be found anywhere in the meadow. You may wish to take any of the side trails along the way to continue searching for birds. Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock nest here and are sometimes flushed from their hiding places. The trail will turn sharply left and continue up a small hill. At the top of the hill was a good location for Golden-winged Warblers, but they have not been found in recent years. Yellow-breasted Chats and White-eyed Vireos are also here, and Chestnut-sided Warblers can be heard and seen in the forest edge. Yellow Warblers are also common. Continue on the trail to a sharp left turn and continue back to the starting point. The forest edge along this section of the trail is particularly good for Ovenbird and Chestnut-sided Warbler and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Black-billed tends to be found in the more open areas. Field Sparrows and Eastern Towhees nest in the brush. Prairie Warblers were formally common, but have not been seen in recent years perhaps due to a maturing habitat. In fall and winter, American Tree Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and White-throated Sparrows can be found in the brush. Eastern Bluebirds remain in the fields. Common Ravens can be seen flying over at any time of the year and watch for a possible Bald Eagle flying over. The trail eventually returns to the starting point. Drive back to the four way intersection mentioned above and turn left. This road takes you past Cucumber Falls, past Middle Ridge Road and back to RT. 381 in Ohiopyle. Reclaimed Strip Mine Turn right onto RT. 381 and follow the signs to the park office which is just off RT. 381 on Dinnerbell Road. Continue past the park office on Dinnerbell Road looking for Grover Road on the left. Turn left and follow Grover Road for approximately one mile to a reclaimed strip mine on the right side of the road. The left side of the road is Ohiopyle State Park property; however the strip mine is not public so stay on the road. Listen carefully for Savannah, Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows. They are not usually close to the road, but with a scope and careful searching, you may see these species. Turn around and return to Dinnerbell Road. Turn right and return to RT. 381 and back to the town of Ohiopyle. This summarizes the main birding sites at the park, however Ohiopyle State Park offers numerous trails so obtain a map at the park office and explore the surrounding roads and trails for more great birds and beautiful scenery. Park address: Ohiopyle State Park PO Box 105 Ohiopyle, PA, 15470-0105 724-329-89591 ohiopyle@dcnr.state,pa.us Nearest Campgrounds: There is a 226 site campground in the park, campground cottages, and an Organized Group Tenting area. Ohiopyle Hostel - a 24 bed facility available year round. Advance reservations are suggested by calling 724-329-4476. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park is several miles north on RT. 381 in Mill Run, Scarlett Knob Campground is just north of Ohiopyle on RT. 381, and there is camping on RT. 31 near the Donegal Exit of the PA Turnpike. Lodging and Gas: Yough Plaza Hotel, PO Box 31, Ohiopyle, PA 15470, 1-800-992-7238. This is a small hotel with ten rooms and two suites in the town of Ohiopyle. Reservations are recommended. There is one gas station in Ohiopyle on RT. 381. Hotels and gas are available on RT. 31 near the Donegal Exit of the PA Turnpike. Hazards: Beware of rocky areas in the park where footing can be uneven. Timber Rattlesnakes and Northern Copperheads are found in the area, but are very rarely seen. Timber Rattlesnakes prefer rocky outcrops at high elevations. Copperheads can be found at all elevations where they lay still relying in their cryptic coloration to escape detection. Restrictions: Some areas of the park are open to hunting. Check with the park office for details. |
DIRECTIONS: From the Pennsylvania Turnpike take Exit 91 Donegal. From the tollbooths, turn left onto PA 31 east approximately two miles to PA 381/711 south. Follow PA 381/711 for ten miles to Normalville at a "T" intersection and turn left continuing on PA 381 south (signs are here for Fallingwater, and Ohiopyle State Park). Continue on PA 381 south for approximately eleven miles to the park and the town of Ohiopyle. |
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| Posted: 2009-10-24 00:00:00 Updated: |
