Coopers Rock State Forest & Screech Owl Brewing

August 25, 2024August 24, 2024hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Bruceton Mills, PA

Just over the Pennsylvania border is a land of soaring vistas and rocky crevices. Coopers Rock State Park in West Virginia offers over 50 miles of hiking trails, rocking climbing and bouldering, historical sites, and access to the Cheat River for rafting. This route loops through some park highlights and ends at the iconic Coopers Rock overlook. Afterward, head to Screech Owl Brewing for a large line-up of craft beer and a delicious full kitchen menu.

THE HIKE: Cooper’s Rock Loop

Length: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,160 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Time: 4 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets

Coopers Rock State Forest spans nearly 13,000 acres in West Virginia, making it the state’s largest state forest. It’s just 13 miles from Morgantown and is a great day trip from SW Pennsylvania. The park is popular for its wealth of outdoor activities. The forest is named for the series of rocks that jut out above the Cheat River. Legend has it that a barrel maker (known as a cooper) hid among these rocks after running from the law and continued his barrel-making from the shelter of the woods.

Access and Parking: Cooper’s Rock State Forest is free to visit! Park near the main overlook, use coordinates 39.63807011575319, -79.81564713061613.

The Route: There are miles and miles of trails in Coopers Rock from challenging wooded trails to wide gravel paths. This route makes a wide loop of the park to hit some of the major highlights: Raven Rock, Henry Clay Furnace, Rock City, and the stunning Coopers Rock Overlook.

Begin your trek at the main parking lot for the park by the main overlook, but don’t head there quite yet! We’ll end the trek with a dramatic view. Instead, head into the woods to the right following the signs for climbing access. This trail, while not always super well-marked, leads past huge sandstone boulders that are popular for climbers. It’s very impressive to see folks free-climbing and bouldering across the ancient stones.

After one mile, the access trail reaches a junction with the Raven Rocks Trail. Turn right to start an out-and-back 2-mile trail to an overlook. The way is wide and you’re likely to encounter others on this popular trail. You’ll follow the wide yet rocky path downhill among a sea of green ferns. After 0.75 miles, it starts to ascend upwards and you’ll find yourself suddenly open huge rocks with power lines stretching across. You’ll pass under the powerlines and reach Raven Rock overlook. The wide rock offers expansive views of the Cheat River Gorge below. Although the power lines stretch out from the rocks, there’s plenty to see without the visual obstruction.

After enjoying the vista, continue back along the Raven Rock Trail until it reaches the main park access road. Carefully cross the road and get onto the Roadside Trail heading to the right. Follow this for a half mile before reaching a trail junction. Bear to the left and follow the unmarked trail as it skirts around the small pond. Just before the trail heads back into the trees, turn left to get on the Clay Run Trail. The beginning of this trail is open and gravelly and frankly not too interesting. But after 0.5 miles, the tree cover returns and the trail becomes peacefully wooded once again.

At 5.5 miles into the journey, you’ll emerge onto another trail junction. Turn right to cross the stream and visit the Henry Clay Furnace, the first iron blast furnace in West Virginia. The pyramid structure stands tall at the juncture of the left and rock forks of Clay Run. After exploring, cross back over the bridge and take the Rhododendron Trail up the hill to the right. After a half mile of a steady uphill climb, turn right on the Bench Trail. In only 0.2 miles, Bench becomes Ridge, and then in a few hundred feet, turn left to get on Rock City Trail. This was by far my favorite trail in the park. Suddenly, the trail dips down into a rock crevice and you feel like you’ve entered another world. Tall cliffs rise up on either side and spindle rhododendron bushes twist out of corners. The way becomes quite rocky and steep, but the views are so beautiful, you almost don’t notice the effort! This section of the trail is only 0.3 miles and then you’ll continue on the Rattlesnake Trail to the right which follows along the cliffside as you slowly ascend toward your final goal: Coopers Rock Overlook.

At 7.5 miles, the trail lets out onto a flat wooded area not far from the parking lot. Follow the trail signs for the overlook. You’ll emerge onto a huge rock face lined with a wood fence. It looks out over the river gorge and is stunning at any time of the year. After enjoying the view, follow the trail back to the parking lot. Bonus – a West Virginia swing is nestled between two pavilions!

THE BEER: Screech Owl Brewing

Address: 2323 Ralph Livengood Rd Rd, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
Distance from Trail Head: 15 miles, 22 mins
Website: http://screechowlbrewing.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen Menu (Spent Grain Cafe)
Details: Indoor and outdoor seating, kid playground

Spent Grain Brewing is Preston County’s first brewery. It grew from a newly discovered passion of Roger Jameson. After retiring from a long career of truck-driving, Roger began brewing beer and quickly discovered a love for the craft. He and his wife Crista built a small brewery in their garage in 2015. Since then, Screech Owl Brewing has become far more than they ever could have imagined! With a full restaurant and brewery, the family-run business has grown into a community staple. You’ll catch Roger and Krista greeting guests while their son Jameson mans the grills and daughter-in-law Kristin minds the kegs.

And if delicious beer wasn’t enough, the restaurant features homemade bread made from the spent grains from the brewing process.

Our Beer:

Muddy Creek Ale – Blonde/Pale Ale – 6.2%
Class IV Zinger – IPA – 5.9%
Wild & Wonderful Strawberry Ale – Fruit Ale – 6.2%
Hoo’s Your Daddy – IPA – 6.4%

Looking for more Hikes & Hops in West Virginia? Check out Grandview Rim to Turkey Spur & Weathered Ground Brewery, Long Point Trail & Bridge Brew Works, or Endless Wall & Free Folk

Skippack Creek Loop & Trouble’s End Brewing

March 10, 2024hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Collegeville, PA

Evansburg State Park is a small state park along the Skippack Creek in Southeastern PA. The full Skippack Creek Loop Trail takes you around the whole park, along the creek’s edge and up along a ridge. Although it was pretty muddy when we visited, this seems like it would be a great place to visit in the drier summer months!

THE HIKE: Skippack Creek Trail

Length: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 262 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Mountain biking, Horseback riding,
Parking: Small lot at trailhead

Find the Parking Lot: Park at Pavilion A off Mayhill Road. Use 40.1980458, -75.4042884 to find the trailhead

Evansburg State Park encompasses 3,300 acres of green space in Montgomery County, PA. Its main feature is the Skippack Creek, making it a popular spot for fishing. There are 26 miles of trails for hikers, some of which are also open for mountain biking and horseback riding. In the winter, you can still get out on the trails for cross-country skiing.

History

This area was once the land of the Delaware or Lenni Lenape people. Their society spanned most of modern day New Jersey into the PA Lehigh Valley and up to the New York Catskills. Sadly, their matrilineal clans were greatly impacted by European diseases by the time William Penn made his 1684 “purchase” of the American province that would become Pennsylvania. Although WIlliam Penn, a Quaker who founding PA for religious freedom, approached the Lenni Lenape people with peace treaties and payment for their land, his descendents were not so peaceful. In the early 1700s many Lenni Lenape were forcibly removed from their lands in eastern Pennsylvania.

As the population of Philadelphia exploded in the 1700s, the surrounding area also began to grow to support trade and industry. The Skippack Creek valley was connected to the main city by the construction of the Skippack Pike and the 8-arch bridge over the creek. Built in 1792, this bridge still exists today and is one of the oldest continuously used bridges in the state.

The land surrounding the modern state park was once home to German Mennonite families seeking religious freedom in Penn’s new colony. They used the waters of the Skippack to power their mills and remnants of these buildings can still be seen along the creek today.

The Hike

The Skippack Creek Loop is a fairly easy 5 miles loop around the park with only a few difficult uphill sections and two portions on the road. Although you can park at various places through the park to access the point, we parked at Pavilion A where there was sufficient parking and bathroom facilities.

From the parking lot, head down the gravel road until you reach the rounded turn around spot. The trail starts to the left and is marked by yellow blazes with a sign for Skippack Creek Loop. We choose to go clockwise (turning to the left to begin) and this is probably the way I would suggest to begin.

Immediately you’ll head downhill on a single track direct path towards the creekside. Along this route, you’ll cross over several small bridges and the way may be muddy. Continuing along, notice interpretive signs about the geology and wildlife of the area. You’ll stay on the Skippack Loop the whole time so ignore the signs for the Farmstead.

After the trail reaches the river, it gets slightly confusing with horseriders and hiking having created a meandering crisscross of trails. They all lead generally the main directions and following alongside the creek will send you on the right path. About a mile in the hike, there is a stream crossing that could be easy in the summer but in the spring was pretty wide and slightly difficult to cross. We managed to make a couple wide leaps to stones without getting feet wet but this one might be hard for little legs.

Eventually the trail emerges onto Kratz road and you will turn right to cross the bridge along the shoulder. Be very careful as this is an active road. On the other side of the bridge is another parking area for the trail. The route begins around at the back right corner of the parking lot and heads into a field before descending back into the woods. This side of the creek is much hillier as the trail travels along a ridge overlooking the creek. You’ll also pass by some ruins along the creek which may have been an old gristmill.

Finally the trail lets out onto Water Street Road which you’ll follow for about 0.5 miles. Although this is a quiet street, this was my least favorite part of the hike because there is no sidewalk and only a narrow median before the guardrail. Finally you’ll reach a pedestrian bridge to the right and use it to cross over the creek. Turn to the right to get back on the Skippack Creek Trail and finish the loop.

PA Park Passport: Sticker at kiosk outside the Park Main Office

THE BEER: Trouble’s End Brewing

Address: 50 W Third Ave STE 310, Collegeville, PA 19426
Distance from Trail Head: 3.6 miles, 11 mins
Website: www.troublesendbrewing.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Summer beer garden, no pets, live music

Tucked in the small town of Collegeville, just shy of 4 miles from the state park is Troubles End Brewpub. Located on the top floor of an old industrial building, this pub has some of the coolest vibes I’ve seen. The rustic beams lend to a farmhouse style, but the brightly painted furniture and strings of multicolor lights bring a sense of whimsy. Whimsy is definitely a way to describe their robust beer menu. Full of unique takes on classic styles, you can’t help but notice the interesting tasting notes. While I’m not exactly sure how my porter tasted like “one single piece of salted licorice in a wool coat pocket”, they definitely get an A+ for creativity!

While we didn’t have any food at the pub, they had a delicious sounding menu of gastropub favorites as well as a more upscale entrée list that included wild boar meatloaf and crab cakes. Tucked into the corner of the large space was a stage complete with a flower studded piano. Clearly this brewpub knows how to jam! Check out their events calendar on their website for upcoming shows

Our Beer:

Conductor – Porter – 5%
Fallen Branches – Wheat – 4.7%
The Editor – ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
Tutto Pils – Italian Pilsner

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail 31-29 & Forbes Trail Brewing

January 7, 2024hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Laurel Highlands, PA

We had a snowy first day hike on the Laurel Highlands Hiking trail! Despite how many times I’ve been hiking in the LH region, this is actually my first time on the 70 miles LHHT. While this short section didn’t have any major views or points of interest, it was incredibly peaceful walking through woods blanketed in fresh snow. After our group hike, we moseyed out to Forbes Trail Brewing in Stoystown for some delicious brews in a cozy taproom.

THE HIKE: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (31-29)

Length: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours (due to snow)
Trail use: Foot traffic only
Parking: Space for about 30 cars at the Route 31 parking area. No facilities

Find the Parking lot: 40.06082620624829, -79.27375174542976. Turn right off Route 31 onto Fire Tower route, there will be a sign for Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park. The parking lot will be on the left just under a mile down the road. Be aware that this road is unpaved and likely won’t be maintained in the winter.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) is a 70.3 mile backpacking trail in western pa that stretches from Ohiopyle to Seward. This trail is known for its incredible beauty but also its challenging and rugged terrain. If you’re considering a thru hike, be sure to check out Tory’s awesome guide at Mytrailsaremany.com. However, this is also a fantastic trail for section day hikes too! There are many trailheads and access points along the 70 miles to pop on for a few miles.

The LHHT is maintained by the PA DCNR and the majority of the trail runs through Laurel Ridge State Park. If you’re looking for a full map of the trail, check out the PA DCNR website.

The Hike

For this group first day, we met at the Route 31 parking lot for the LHHT. Interestingly, this was also near mile 31 of the trail! There were at least 50 people on this delightful hike led by Kim, an educator at Laurel Ridge SP.

Especially in the winter, it can be easy to lose your way on trails. Be sure to look for the yellow blazes on the trees. This trail also has a stone mile marker every mile so you’ll always know how far you’ve gone! Many sections of the LHHT, including this one, cross over roads from large ones to wooded access roads. Always look for a band of yellow on the trees that indicates a road crossing!

Remember, the LHHT is point to point trail so make sure you have a game plan of when to turn around and head back to your car!

THE BEER: Forbes Trail Brewing

Address: 6108 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, PA 15563
Distance from Trail Head: 36 mins, 25 miles
Website: http://www.forbestrailbrewing.com/
Food?: Food truck & BYOF
Details: Outdoor seating, pets outside

Forbes Trail Brewing opened on Lincoln Highway less than a mile from the Flight 93 memorial in 2022. One of the owners had been homebrewing for nearly a decade then working professionally as a brewer, before his dream of opening a taproom became a reality! Along with his wife and former homebrew supporters turned business partners, Forbes Trail Brewing has quickly become a staple in the Laurel Highlands region. Although it was cold and snowy when we visited, I was impressed with the huge outdoor space complete with firepits that complemented the cozy indoor taproom. We popped at a seat at the bar and instantly felt like part of a family as the owners and other drinkers looped us right into their conversation. Although it’s a bit of a drive from the Burgh I cannot recommend this brewery enough and I know we will definitely be back!

A fun history fact: the brewery’s name refers to the early road that linked forts Duquesne, Ligonier, and Bedford during the French and Indian War. This road was pioneered by British General John Forbes and eventually became the Lincoln Highway (Route 30).

Our Beer:

Taste the Rainbow – Sour – 5%
Haze Lawdy Mama – NEIPA – 6.5%
Edmunds Swamp: Peppermint – Oatmeal Stout – 5%
Trail Rider Pale Ale – Pale Ale – 6%

Loving the Laurel Highlands craft beverages? Be sure to get a Pour Tour Passport from the GO Laurel Highlands!

Looking for more hikes & hops in the Laurel Highlands? Check out Wolf Rocks & Helltown, Ohiopyle & Yough River , Duff Park & Devout, Powdermill Nature Reserve & Four Seasons, and Linn Run & Unity Brewing .

PA Grand Canyon & Wellsboro House

November 26, 2023hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Wellsboro, PA

The Pine Creek Gorge is one of the best places in the state for stunning vistas, especially in the fall! Also known as the PA Grand Canyon, Leonard Harrision State Park is one of the best places to view this beautiful natural area. The Turkey Path Trail switchbacks down the hillside from the overlook to Pine Creek for a unique experience of seeing both the top and bottom of the Gorge. This hike is difficult though so after your challenge, you’ve earned a beer at the Wellsboro House. This restaurant and brewery in the small town of Wellboro, packs charm and small-town hospitality into a surprisingly robust taplist and delicious kitchen menu.

THE HIKE: Leonard Harrison State Park: Turkey Path

Length: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 958 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at park office, facilities
H&H: 5/5

One of the must see areas in the state is the PA Grand Canyon. This deep gorge was carved out by a 47-mile section of Pine Creek. Several areas have been preserved as National Natural Landmarks, including the section encompassed by Leonard Harrison State Park. This park covered over 500 acres on the east side of the rim, with Colton State Park on the west side.

The canyon has long been an important spot for the region. In prehistoric times, it was used as a major travel route, much of which followed the same path as the modern Pine Creek Rail Trail. A logging boom led to the settling of the area where the creek was used to transport the felled trees. Later, train tracks replaced the old Native American paths along the creek and transported millions of tons of cargo along the rail lines. Like many areas in the state, this industry caused mass deforestation and a huge loss of habitat. It took many years before the deciduous forest began to recover and nature species like elk, otters, bald eagles, and beavers returned to the area. The park is named for businessman Leonard Harrison who built a career in the logging industry, but then protected the overlook areas of the gorge and eventually donated the land to the state in the 1920s for the building of a state park.

The park underwent renovations in 2023 and now sports a new visitor center. This hike starts with a steep trek along steps and natural paths down into the gorge to view waterfalls and get up close to Pine Creek. Afterward, be prepared for a heart pumping hike back up the hillside. From there, it’s an easy one mile loop to view the stunning overlook that peers deep down into the gorge.

THE BEER: Wellsboro House Restaurant & Brewery

Address: 34 Charleston St, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Distance from Trail Head: 11 miles, 19 mins
Website: http://thewellsborohouse.com/
Food?: Full Kitchen
Details: Indoor and outdoor seating

The owners at Wellsboro House opened their popular restaurant back in 2008 after lovingly restoring the 1862 building it is housed in. Then in 2013, they began adding house- brewed beer to their menu, officially becoming the Wellsboro House Restaurant & Brewery. Demand quickly forced them to grow their operations and now they brew in a historic train depot just across the street from the main restaurant. This is fitting as Wellsboro has a long connection to the

A visit wouldn’t be complete without a taste of Dan Smith’s Chocolate Stout, made with real chocolates from the popular Dan Smith’s Chocolates in Brookeville, PA.

Our Beer:

Dan Smith’s Chocolate Stout – Stout – 5.5%
South of the Border Porter – Porter – 6.6%
Bavarian Steam Beer – Wheat Beer – 6.6%
Pumpkin Wheat – Wheat Beer – 5.6%
Juicy Lucy – NEIPA – 7.5%
Nessmuk Lager – Amber Lager – 6.6%

Duff Park & Devout Brewing

September 17, 2023September 16, 2023hikesandhopsblog 4 Comments

Murrysville, PA

Despite having driven down Route 22 many times, I never knew a beautiful park was tucked in the woods just off this major road. Duff Park is a peaceful natural area with bike trails along a stream and single track trails meandering through the woods. It’s a designated plant sanctuary and the fall wildflowers are beautiful right now! After a walk through the woods, check out Devout Brewing just up the road. They have a delicious Marzen on right now and a sweet potato beer coming soon!

THE HIKE: Duff Park Outer Loop

Length: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 525 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Running, some sections open to bikes
Parking: Large lot off School Rd

Duff Park is a 220 acre wooded park east of Pittsburgh and is located just off Route 22. It is owned and managed by the Municipality of Murrysville with help from the volunteers at Murrysville Trail Alliance and the Friends of Murrysville Parks.

The park includes 1.5 miles of flat bike trail along Turtle Creek. There is also a bridge connecting this trail to the large Westmoreland Heritage Trail, so this is a great place for biking, running, and for those with limited mobility. The rest of the park features hilly single track trails that meander up the hillside. There are about 7.5 miles of trails in the woods, so there’s plenty of space to get a nice long hike in! Duff park is also connected by a trail to Pleasant Valley Park. I haven’t been to Pleasant Valley Park but from what I’ve read, it’s very peaceful but a bit more remote feeling than Duff Park. I’ll have to check it out for myself though!

We visited Duff Park on a Friday after work as part of the Oboz Trail Experience to do this 3.4 loop. I was blown away by how beautiful the place was despite being so close to a major road. Of course, this does mean that the road noises can be quite loud. But frankly, they faded to the background for me as we hiked along Turtle Creek, admiring the clear water and reading the signs identifying the trees along the way. This part of the trail was flat and very easy to follow. Eventually the outer loop leaves the Funk Bikeway trail to switchback up the hillside on the Forbes trail. This was definitely a section that got our hearts pounding! The trail continues to be moderate difficulty as you turn onto the Sumac trail. We hardly saw anyone else on these sections and being further away from the traffic noises really made for a peaceful hike. The trails were all very clearly labeled and we had no problem eventually completing the loop and finding ourselves back at the parking lot.

I would definitely visit this park again! It does seem to be pretty popular so parking could be an issue on the weekends. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot and also picnic tables under the pavilion. I also really appreciated the large interpretive signs discussing the local flora and fauna. We will definitely have to visit in the spring as this park is a designated wild plant sanctuary! Perhaps it will be a new favorite place for spring wildflowers.

THE BEER: Devout Brewery

Address: 1301 Pontiac Ct #101, Export, PA 15632
Distance from Trail Head: 4.4 miles, 9 mins
Website: http://www.devoutbrewingco.com/
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks
Details: Outdoor Seating, Pet Friendly

Devout Brewing has been pouring beers at their Export location since 2018. Nestled in the back of an industrial park, Devout feels like a hidden gem. With outdoor seating covered by a sunshade and a large indoor taproom, there’s plenty of space to relax here! When we visited, there was a surprisingly large selection, up to 16 taps! They also offer locally made cider, wine, and mead if that’s more your speed. While they don’t have a kitchen of their own, Devout frequently has a rotating food truck schedule or you can bring your own food! Your four legged friends are also welcome on the outdoor patio. We had such a good time at this brewery because it felt like having a beer with new friends! Everyone, customers and staff alike, were so friendly and eager to make conversation. It was an all around great place to spend a Saturday night.

I was pretty excited to check out Devout Brewing because I finally remembered to bring my Laurel Highlands Pour Tour booklet! Although I’ve been to several of the breweries listed, it was the first time I got an official stamp. Will this start a new obsession? Just wait and see!

Our Beer: