Forbes State Forest, PA - Roaring Run Natural Area

ABOUT THE PARK:
Forbes State Forest - PA DCNR
Agency Spotlight: Forbes State Forest - PA DCNR
Roaring Run Natural Area - PA DCNR
Roaring Run Calls from Pennsylvania - The Denver Post (nice article describing the hike)

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.04788, -79.28859

Roaring Run Trail Parking

TRAIL MAP:
Roaring Run Natural Area Brochure - PA DCNR

HIKE DISTANCE:  7.3 miles

THE HIKE:
This hike is southeast of Pittsburgh and was done to break up our drive on a road trip from New Jersey to St. Louis, MO.

The Roaring Run trail head from the parking area.

Yellow blazes denote foot traffic only.  Blue blazes are for cross-country skiing.

Although blazes are old and faded and sometimes infrequent, intersections seem to be well marked with signs.

The upper part of Roaring Run.

We left the Roaring Run Trail and headed to Painter Rock Road to form a loop returning along Roaring Run, which turned out to be a very good idea.

This shallow crossing is so misleading for what is yet to come.

The parking lot at Painter Rock Road is where I had intended to park but had to turn around and head to a different lot because the I would still be sitting there with my car stuck in ruts had I continued on.

From the parking lot keep left on Painter Rock Road, a gravel road blazed red (no idea what red blazes mean).

On the right, a memorial.

According the the article linked above, these three children died in a sleigh accident.

Continuing up on Painter Rock Road.

Although the rest of the world is turning green, at this higher elevation not much green yet but flowers are blooming.

Painter Rock Road becomes a dirt road as it continues upward.

The blue blazes indicating it's a cross-country ski trail.

Yes, that is snow!

It had snowed the night before up at 2600+ feet and there were patches everywhere.

The McKenna Trail connects to the Painter Rock Trail which is a foot traffic only path.

The Painter Rock Trail runs all along the ridge with seasonal views.  There is supposed to be a "prominent rock break offering numerous vistas of the Roaring Run Valley" according to the brochure, but unfortunately, I did not find this, only partial winter views through the trees.

I was a little perplexed at the yellow/blue blazes.  It's been a footpath but now all of a sudden it is a cross-country ski trail also?  I suppose you have to walk your skis in?

Spring wildflowers everywhere.

Descending down to Roaring Run.

It is ROARING and DEEP and SWIFT and we are supposed to cross here?

That was not happening but I found a woods road on this side that connected back to the blazed trail until...

Yet another deep and swift crossing but this one not as bad as the first.  No problem - I have those nifty boot covers for just such an occasion.

After crossing, the trail, a former logging railroad grade, is nice and smooth and easy until...

... another crossing??!?!?

The boot covers turned out to be a major fail in this case because after about 4 crossings they sprung leaks and filled up before I could completely cross.

It's a gorgeous valley with Roaring Run all along the way.

Thing is, the railroad grade is straight and Roaring Run is curvy so in all I had estimated 30 crossings.

The article referenced above says 28-32 crossings and I read that after the fact so I was not far off.

Stopping to smell the skunk cabbage.

Another one of the 28-32 crossings.

Well, eventually I just gave in and plodded on through even though it was in the 40's with wind chill in the 30's.

Just as my shoes would somewhat drain out, time to cross again.  And again.  And again.

I would guess there were 28-30 bridges back in the day and this might be evidence of that.

Equally tired of crossing Roaring Run.

Thrilled that nobody else was in the lot because I had to go digging in my luggage for dry pants and socks and do a major wardrobe change right there in the parking lot.  Took my toes a loooooong time to warm back up!  But what a gorgeous hike!  Just come on a warmer day and bring water shoes!

Warm, dry and having a snack.

On to Columbus, OH...

... where Shawnee slept in a motel for the night before continuing on to St. Louis.