Rector, PA

Powdermill Nature Preserve is a hidden gem tucked in the Laurel Highlands about an hour outside of Pittsburgh. Often overlooked by its better known neighbors, this small reserve has about 5 miles of hiking trails and a beautiful visitor center with educational exhibits that are fun and interesting for the whole family. Full of signs with nature facts and tree identifications, these peaceful trails taught me so much! After a peaceful, secluded hike, you can head over to Four Seasons Brewing in Latrobe for a pour in their spacious taproom.

THE HIKE: Powdermill Nature Reserve Trails

Length: 4.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 725 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2-2.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at nature center
H&H: 5/5

Powdermill Nature Reserve really flies under the radar in the Laurel Highlands as there are so many other more popular places to hike (ahem, here’s looking at you Ohiopyle) but I would highly recommend planning a visit out here. Powdermill is actually a part of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and functions as its environmental research center. So in addition to educational programming in the visitor center, Powdermill is also a field station and research laboratory. There’s a lot going on at Powdermill but one of their biggest projects is the Avian Research Center which tracks birds in the area to see how these creatures  are adapting to the changing world. Check out the Avian Research Center’s website for more info on the current research projects! 

As you may tell from my hikes, I love learning more about nature and the environment. Powdermill has been on my radar for a while and I’m so glad I finally made the time to visit! Be aware that the trails do not appear on AllTrails so be sure to check out the trail map on Powdermill’s website beforehand. Also, the area is a bit of a deadzone, so downloading the area to Google Maps is a great idea! The trail is also posted outside of the visitor center. 

There are a few different trails to explore here, all of a fairly manageable length. The longest is Porcupine Ridge which is 3 miles out-and-back from the visitor center. There is also a small system of trails behind the visitor center which add up to about 1.5 miles. I did a big loop of all the trails to experience the whole space! 

To start, carefully cross the street from the visitor center to find the Porcupine Ridge Trailhead. From here, you immediately head into dense woods. These trails are pretty secluded so you’re pretty likely to have the place to yourself! Not long after starting, there’s the option to add on the Sugar Camp Trail. I highly recommend this as it was full of cool fungi and had lots of interpretative signs about the flora and fauna of the area. I learned so much! After about 0.5 miles, the Sugar Camp Trail meets back up with the Porcupine Ridge Trail and you can continue towards the overlook. At one point, the trail crosses over a private road so be sure to stay on the trail! After the road crossing, the trail becomes more rocky and heads uphill. This is the most difficult part of the trail and can be muddy. The trail also passes through an area that suffered tornado damage some years ago. New trees have been planted and it’s critical to stay on the trail here so as not to disturb the reforestation. Finally, you’ll take the last hill up to the overlook. There is a small platform with a bench to take in the view of the hills. It’s not the most incredible view especially for the Laurel Highlands, but I thought it was a nice place to relax. Then, you can just retrace your steps back to the visitor center! From there, definitely explore the shorter trails behind the Visitor Center. There’s a beautiful spot where two creeks come together. I also really appreciated how many of the plants were labeled so that I could work on my identification skills! 

Finally, after your hike, be sure to check out the exhibits in the visitor center! I was particularly interested in their “marsh machine” that filters waste water. They also have some nice exhibits about the animals that can be found in the area. Plus, there’s a fun flow chart about finding out what bird you are. Apparently I’m a hawk! 

THE BEER: Four Seasons Brewing Co.

Address: 745 Lloyd Ave Exd, Latrobe, PA 15650
Distance from Trail Head: 18 miles, 25 mins
Website: http://www.fsbrewing.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Outdoor seating, Pets outside

Four Seasons has been brewing up delicious brews in Latrobe since 2013. They’ve got a huge indoor taproom complete with an in-house restaurant and outdoor seating. Their warehouse taproom vibe is complemented by artwork by renowned illustrator Mark Brewer, whose work is also featured on cans from Four Seasons. The owner and head brewer is born and raised in Latrobe, which is evident from the neighborhood vibe of the place. It very much feels like a place for locals, although always welcome to out of towners! Head over for live music on the weekends! You can also find them pouring local wines, ciders, and liquors for you non-beer drinkers. Next time you’re in Latrobe, be sure to check out Four Seasons!

Our Beer:

• Bluegrass Ale w/ Blueberries – Wheat Ale – 5.5%
• Latrobe Lager – Lager – 5.4%
• Hall of Fame – Hefeweizen – 5.8%
• Catlas – Witbier – 5.1% 

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in the Laurel Highlands? Check out Wolf Rocks & Helltown and Ohiopyle & Bloom Brew