Ohiopyle State Park, PA - Johnathan Run

ABOUT THE PARK:

Ohiopyle State Park -  Pennsylvania DCNR

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.891847, -79.507867

Johnathan Run Trailhead Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP: 

Ohiopyle State Park Map - Pennsylvania DCNR

Ohiopyle - Laurel Highlands Purple Lizard Map - Purple Lizard Maps

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.1 miles

THE HIKE: 

Drive 'n hike New Jersey to Missouri to help my mother who recently had hip replacement surgery.  This is hike 2 of 2 on the day 1.  Where I usually would drive 4 hours, hike 8-10 miles, then drive another 4 hours, I broke this down into shorter drives with two shorter hikes because of where I am  with working my way back to full speed after my hip replacement surgery.

The Johnathan Run Trail starts right from the parking lot.  Where this is a very busy trail on weekends, I had it all to myself on a weekday. 

The trail soon starts to follow Johnathan Run.

The yellow blazes denote hiking only trail,  Later on the blazes will be red denoting hiking and biking.

More and more cascades the farther along we went.

Nice sturdy bridges on all water crossings.

I remembered there was something to see on the Sugar Run Trail (I had left my map in the car, doh! There was no cell service and I hadn't downloaded the map on my Gaia app so I could not see the trails on my phone.  That is what I get for changing my plan at the last minute due to weather changes and not checking the details.)

We headed up the Sugar Run Trail and I would not know it until we headed back but the main attraction was on the right a short distance after this bridge.

It was a very pretty trail with lots of views just before the leaves all pop out.

This trail allows hiking and biking but doesn't seem to be used much.  We turned around at the blow down and headed back as the trail was veering off in the wrong direction for us.

Heading back.

It is on the way back that I could see a huge waterfall to the left and a trail heading down but it was hard going with tons of downed trees to go over and under.

I believe it was Fetcher Run Falls we could see in the distance but we passed by this smaller waterfall on the way down.  Or this might be Fetcher Run Falls, not sure.

At Fetcher Run ...

... the huge waterfall could not be seen at all.  But it was pretty down there nonetheless.

Heading back up to the Sugar Run Trail.

After crossing that little bridge, left to continue on the Johnathan Run Trail.

This was the only shot I was able to get of a raccoon crossing the trail ahead of us and disappearing into the woods.

Coming up on the Great Allegheny Passage ...

... where we turned left.

Great Allegheny Passage

In less than a quarter of a mile, left on the Mitchell Field Trail.

This leads up steeply in a short distance to Sugar Run Falls.

We continued on up thinking there might be some views up there.

There were no views so we headed back down.

Back to the Great Allegheny Passage.

Before turning right on the Johnathan Run Trail to retrace ...

... a break at that bench.  It was Brodie's first hard treat in 2 weeks as he was on soft food only after having his molar extracted.  He really savored that cookie.

Taking some short side trails on the right to check out other falls down below but they just don't show up well in pictures.

Back at the car.

It had spritzed off and on throughout the hike and of course the sun came out the moment we arrived back at the car.

Sugar Run Falls:

 

Ohiopyle State Park, PA - Falls Area with Ferncliff Natural Area

ABOUT THE PARK:
Ohiopyle State Park - Pennsylvania DCNR

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.868358, -79.494410

In the afternoon people are circling for a parking spot so best to get there early.

TRAIL MAP:
Ohiopyle State Park Trail Map - Pennsylvania DCNR

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HIKE DISTANCE:  5.5 miles

THE HIKE:

We started by heading towards the bridge which is the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail.  We would be on a bit of that later.

For now crossing the river on the pedestrian part of the road bridge.

The Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage.

Just after the bridge, left into the parking lot and straight through to the far end...

... to the Ferncliff Natural Area

We went left on the Ferncliff Trail.

The trail comes out at the river and follows a very scenic stretch on rock slabs.

Three common merganser ladies.

The visitor center observation decks across the river.

Continuing the loop at a higher level with the river down below to the left.

This trail is blazed black/blue but sometimes the blazes are hard to see.

Staying left on the Ferncliff Trail when the Fernwood Trail goes right.

The trail makes a sharp right but it also goes straight a short distance to underneath the Great Allegheny Passage where it ends.

We backtracked and followed where the trail turned up to the Great Allegeheny passage and turned left to ...

... cross the bridge.

Youghiogheny River from the Great Allegheny Passage

Just after the bridge, left on the Great Gorge Trail.

This is a smooth, wide trail all the way out to ...

.. left over a bridge.

Just after the bridge, left after the Cucumber Falls Sign.

Cucumber Falls which is insanely crowded because there is a parking lot to get to it.

Descending to the bottom of Cucumber Falls.

It was impossible to get a picture without other people in it.

Continuing on past the falls on the yellow-blazed trail.

Looking back at Cucumber Falls from the yellow trail.

The Meadow Run Trail, also blazed yellow goes up to the right.

This is a very rugged trail where I found unprepared and elderly people unaware of how challenging this trail is.

The trail passes along the river with great views.

At the sign, a short out and back to the Slides.

I didn't zoom in far enough but there were people riding down the chute in the distance like they were in a water park.

Heading back to that last sign where we turned left up to the road.

Left on the road ...

... and follow the yellow footprints back to the visitor center.

At the visitor center heading back to where we parked.

Brodie is all vacationed out. After this hike, a little over 5 hours to home.  2,390 miles of driving and 50 miles of hiking over 10 days in 4 states..