Showing posts with label PA Allegheny National Forest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PA Allegheny National Forest. Show all posts

Friday, May 14, 2021

Allegheny National Forest , PA - Minister Creek

ABOUT THE PARK: 

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 41.620548, -79.153618
Minister Creek Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP: 


HIKE DISTANCE: 6.4 miles

THE HIKE: 
Heading back to New Jersey from Missouri on travel day 2, hike 2 of 2.
The trail starts across the street from the parking lot to the left of the blue sign.  We would be returning via the campground road on the right.
The trail is well-blazed with gray diamonds.
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Although we would mostly be hiking the North Loop, we took the left fork to the South Loop to hike the perimeter.
Standoff with a chipmunk.
Where this arrow points down, it really does mean down...
... steeply into the crevice.
The leaves were just starting to come out here.  It was like stepping back a month in time since other places I had been were already in full foliage.
Minister Valley Overlook
Now on the North Loop.
Several small creek crossings.
Minister Creek
The stepping stones for this crossing are under a couple of inches of water so feet get wet.
The North Country Trail joins in from the left at a campground.
The North Country Trail leaves to the left.
Minister Creek can be heard down below.
Crossing Minister Creek
A small waterfall on the opposite side of Minister Creek.
Where the North Loop turns right, we stayed straight on the Fishing Trail.
Through the campground ...
... and across the street to the parking lot which was filling up with weekend backpackers.