Roaring Run Trail
| Armstrong |
| DESCRIPTION: This is a "Rails to Trails" recreation area which is owned and managed by the Roaring Run Watershed Association and consists of 652 acres of land open to the public year-round. The main trail is paved/gravel and is wide enough to accommodate both walkers (birders) and bikes. There is also a narrow dirt path that follows the main path a few feet away from it and Rock Furnace Trail starts at the small bridge over the run. There are 2 streams--Roaring Run and Rattling Run in the area and if you follow Rock Furnace Trail up the hill it follows the run and a new 72-foot cable suspension bridge crosses the beautiful Roaring Run. This trail ends at the Brownstown Road parking area and trail head. There are several other "off-the-beaten path" trails that go up into woods, meadows, etc. sometimes used by mountain bikers or people who like to hike a "natural terrain". The path extends further than the paved/gravel trail and some have hiked to the small town of Edmon. There are plans to extend this trail to Saltsburg. There are two parking areas (the main area is fairly large) at the main entrance. There is also an open area where people put in and take out canoes and kayaks. A portajohn is always here as well as a picnic shelter. There are a few benches overlooking the river in several spots along the trail as well. Besides all the usual backyard birds, many other species such as Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, several of the flycatchers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, orioles, several thrushes (quite a few Wood Thrushes live here), both the Yellow-billed and Black-billed cuckoo have been seen here, several Warbler species, etc. If you look at the Kiskiminetas River besides the trail you may see Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Double-crested Cormorant, several species of hawks (Red-tails have nested across the river on the wooded hills) and now and then Bald Eagles have been seen flying over or perching on the river. |
DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of PA 66, PA 56, and Kiski Ave in Apollo, go south on Kiski Ave for 0.9 mile and keep right to continue on Canal Rd. Go 0.4 mile to the parking lot at the trailhead. To get to the Brownstown access, go back Canal Rd 0.4 mile and turn right on Cherry Ln Rd. Go 1.2 miles and bear left to continue Cherry Ln Rd. Go 0.5 mile and bear right on Jackson Rd. Go 0.3 mile and turn right on Brownstown Rd. Go 0.8 mile to the parking lot on the right. |
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| Posted: 2009-10-26 00:00:00 Updated: |
