Tag outdoors

Clear Creek SP – Beartown Rocks & Mechanistic Brewing

hikesandhopsblog 1 Comment

Clarion, PA

Our final excursion during our New Years Weekend in Clarion was Beartown Rocks in Clear Creek State Park. I loved this hike because we had the trail almost completely to ourselves and I felt so at peace following the creek. The weather for us during this hike wasn’t the greatest for us, being a bit cold and rainy so this trail was a bit treacherous at times. We encountered a lot of mud and slippery spots. Is it really winter hiking if you don’t fall a few times? The tumbles were worth it though for the view at the Rocks. These were really incredible geological features that I highly encourage you to take the time to explore! After a chilly, muddy hike, the best way to warm up is with a brew at Mechanistic Brewing in downtown Clarion. I can’t imagine a better way to end a winter hike than with their Spruce Tip IPA!

THE HIKE: Beartown Rocks

Length: 4.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 700ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Trail use: Hiking and leashed pets
Parking: Large lot at trailhead with pit toilets
H&H: 5/5

Clear Creek State Park is located in Jefferson County and encompasses just shy of 2,000 acres. Due to its proximity to Cook Forest, it’s a great addition to a weekend in the PA Wilds! The land that makes up Clear Creek was a key part of the lumber industry in the 1800s for Northwestern PA. Its access to the nearby Clarion River made it a prime area for logging. Eventually water power was replaced by steam power and logging tapered off in the area. The land was sold in 1919 to the state and within a decade it became a camping destination. Like many parks, Clear Creek benefited from FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps which planted trees, built facilities, and trails in the area. Several of the buildings from this era are still in use and are on the National Register of Historic Places. The state park abuts the Clear Creek State Forest in which the majority of this hike actually takes place.

Beartown Rocks can be accessed by car via Corbett Road. This is a dirt State Forest road that may not be maintained during the winter months so travelat your own risk! There are also trails around the area if you prefer to hike to Beartown Rocks. We parked at the Clear Creek State Park at the swimming beach lot off Route 949. The parking lot is really big and has pit toilets so it was an ideal place to start our hike! The Beartown Rocks trail begins across the street and is very clearly labeled. You’ll be following this same trail all the way to the Rocks! This is a moderately difficult hike as there are some small stream crossings (no wet feet!) and a few steep inclines. I thought it was the perfect end to our hiking weekend because we saw so many different types of forests from conifer-lined streams to rhododendron covered hills! This is another area that I would love to come back when the flowers are blooming. 

The Rocks themselves are well-worth the heart-pumping final descent. These unique features just seem to rise up out of the ground completely unexpectedly. They are likely remnants of the last Ice Age, due to the speckles and pitting on their surface. There is a nice platform on the top of the largest rock that allows you to see out over the valley. It was hauntingly beautiful in winter especially since we hadn’t seen a soul the whole hike. There was a dense fog hanging over the treetops that was beautiful. I think this would be a lovely fall hike too! To get back to the parking lot, just retrace your steps but be careful! Some of those steep inclines were really slippery going back down! I will fully admit that I took a few tumbles. Thankfully not into this river this time (ahem, here’s looking at you, first day hike in 2021). 

This was an excellent hike and a big shoutout to MyTrailsAreMany for suggesting it! I would have never found this one on my own and I’m so glad we went out of our way to check it out. Crossing off another PA State Park! 

THE BEER: Mechanistic Brewing Co.

Address: 538 Liberty St, Clarion, PA 16214
Distance from Trail Head: 24 miles, 32 mins 
Website: https://www.mechanisticbrewing.com/
Food?: Food Trucks or BYOB
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside

Mechanistic Brewing is another craft beer taproom in the heart of Clarion. It’s right off the main drag and boasts a super cool taproom and lounge. They don’t have an onsite kitchen, but often host food trucks in the warmer seasons and welcome BYOF. They have a huge outdoor patio space and welcome all to their taproom, families included! Their tagline is “Beer as a mechanism to bring people together”. Well I love that! We couldn’t have had a nicer time at this taproom. All of the staff were so nice and we had some great chats about the area and their beer. By far, the standout for favorite beer was their Little Full, Whole Lotta Sap IPA which was made with spruce tips. I was hesitant because I haven’t liked piney beers in the past but this one was so good! It smelled incredible and managed to balance the pine with a sweet hazy beer. It was delicious and honestly I couldn’t imagine a better beer to have after walking in the woods! I didn’t realize it until I was doing some research for the blog, but the two staff holding down the fort at the bar the day we visited were actually the owners, a husband and wife team! No wonder the place had such a lovely neighborhood vibe. If it wasn’t so far, I’d be back all the time! 

Our Beer:

  • Little Full, Whole Lotta Sap – Spruce Tip West Coast IPA – 6.1%
  • Snow Angel – IPA – 5.6%
  • Belgian Saison – Farmhouse Ale – 4.6%
  • Cali Blonde – Blonde Ale – 4.4%

Cook Forest SP – Forest Cathedral & Lost in the Wilds Brewing

hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Shippensville, PA

Another incredible hike in Cook Forest State Park is the Forest Cathedral. These trails meander through the old growth section of the woods which means you’ll see some enormous conifer trees! There’s a lot of interweaving trails here but we took the Longfellow loop for a nice 2 mile trek. The terrain is a bit bumpy at times and you can expect some areas of elevation. Also, if you’re hiking in the winter, you’re likely to encounter ice on these trails as the dense trees keep the sun from warming up the forest floor. Crampons are a must! This is a great trail to slow down and see what you can see.

THE HIKE: Forest Cathedral – Cook Forest State Park

Length: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 272 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1 hour
Trail use: Hiking, Leashed Pets
Parking: Large lot at log cabin with pit toilets
H&H: 5/5

Another of our hikes from our New Year’s trip to Cook Forest State Park was the Forest Cathedral area. This area is full of ancient conifers that stretch far into the sky. Even in winter, their green needles dapple the sunlight and create a soft, quiet underbrush. Some of these trees are the tallest in the eastern US! These trees make up what is called an “Old-growth Forest” and are some of the oldest trees in Pennsylvania. This area is so unique and of ecological significance that it is a National Natural Landmark. 

There are several ways to get to the Forest Cathedral, with the most easily accessible starting at the Log Cabin learning center on Forest Road, just up the road from the Cook Forest Visitor Center. Although the cabin itself was closed for the season, there were bathrooms available and a large parking lot. From here, we hopped on the Longfellow trail which immediately led us into the dense forest. We were stunned by the majesty of the enormous trees and also humbled by the downed trunks. It can be a little intimidating to imagine the force wind and storms would have to have to take down one of these giants! The trail was quiet but with some inclines and bumpy terrain. We had a lovely time in the winter, but the icy trails can be dangerous! We followed the Longfellow trail until it reached the stream. At this point, another small trail leads up to Forest road where there are a few other parking spots. If you follow this trail, you will be on the North Country Scenic Trail. From here, we meandered along the easy and wide Tom’s Run trail which follows the stream. Under normal circumstances, you can follow this trail over the stream and it will lead back to the Log Cabin parking lot. However, they are currently replacing the footbridges so we had to bushwhack our way to the parking lot. Not my favorite thing to do but sometimes you have to be resourceful! 

This trail was so beautiful in the icy winter but I would also love to see it during the height of rhododendron season. I think the juxtaposition of the towering hemlocks and white pines with the exuberant blooms would be beautiful! Overall, Forest Cathedral is a must-do hike in PA and I hope you get the chance to see it! 

THE BEER: Lost in the Wilds Brewing

Address: 21964 PA-66, Shippenville, PA 16254
Distance from Trail Head: 15.3 miles, 23 mins 
Website: http://lostinthewildsbrewing.com/
Food?: BYOF, Food Trucks in summer
Details: Outdoor seating, Dog friendly outside, Bike trail nearby

Lost in the Wilds is a fairly new brewery in Clarion county that has pretty much everything you’d want in a watering hole in the woods. They’ve got a bright sunny taproom with a wide selection of house-made beer and other local booze, a huge outdoor space that often hosts concerts and food trucks, and are located right on Route 66 Trail which is popular for walking, biking and even cross country skiing. I found this space to be so incredibly inviting and I loved that there were people from all walks of life in the taproom enjoying a brew. It definitely felt like a gathering place for the community! 

Despite being pretty new, Lost in the Wilds has already garnered some big attention! They were featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette among a list of “Notable Restaurants and Breweries along Bike Trails” and Travel Mag gave them a nod on their list of “10 Must-Visit Pennsylvania Breweries”. It sounds like things are going to just keep getting better here! 

With their large outdoor space, Lost in the Wilds is very family friendly and invites fuzzy friends on the patio and grounds only. Since they have no kitchen, you’re also welcome to bring food or order from a food truck. Check out their website for the list of trucks starting in April. 

Just be aware that Lost in the Wilds is taking a January Break! They’ll be back open and doing their thing on January 26th. 

Our Beer:

  • Bear Fox – NEIPA – 7%
  • Cran Cherry Sour – Cranberry and Cherry Sour – 6.5%
  • Oatmeal Stout – Stout – 6.8%
  • Hot Cocoa Stout – Stout – 5.7%

Cook Forest SP – Fire Tower, Seneca Viewpoint via North Country Trail & Clarion River Brewing

hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Clarion, PA

One of my absolute favorite hiking traditions has been getting out for a First Day Hike. Whether you go on your own or join a group, this is the perfect way to kick off the New Year and set some intentions for the rest of the year. We joined a First Day Hike in Cook Forest State Park that had a surprisingly large turnout! It was great to see so many different people joining in. This hike started at the Ridge Campground and included Seneca Viewpoint and the Firetower. We then went on a walk along the Clarion River on the North Country Trail.

THE HIKE: Fire Tower, Seneca Viewpoint & River Trail – Cook Forest SP

Length: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Trail use: Hiking, Leashed Pets
Parking: Large lot at trailhead with pit toilets
H&H: 4/5

This holiday and work season ended up being rather busy for us. We didn’t do much hiking in December and honestly didn’t see each other a lot. So we decided on a whim to book a cabin in Cook Forest State Park for the New Year. The cabin had a wood burning fireplace, no wifi, and very little cell signal. It was perfect!

There’s actually a lot to explore in the Cook Forest area, including the nearest large town of Clarion. One thing to be aware of though is the camping season. Since we went in January and on a holiday, a LOT of places were closed. Make sure to do a little research before you leave to see what might be open! Some things are very spread out so I’d hate for you to make the drive only to find out that a certain place is closed for the season! Thankfully, the great outdoors is never closed! However, make sure to always be prepared for the weather. Luckily, our visit coincided with a warm spell that brought temps in the low 50s and melted a lot of the snow and ice. I was surprised though how much ice there was still on the forest floor! You never know when you’ll wish you brought crampons!

So as I mentioned, this was our first day hike! If you’ve never done one before, a lot of parks will have a ranger-led hike on January 1st to get people outdoors together. I couldn’t believe how many people showed up for this loop! Special thanks to the Friends of Cook Forest for leading this hike. This was an easy loop that meandered along the Fire Tower road up to the Seneca viewpoint and then to the Firetower. We parked at the Ridge Campground where there were several spots right by the first pavilion. Walking along the dirt and gravel road was easy but if you’re looking for a different route, you can also get on the Baker/North Country Trail and follow that to the viewpoint area. It might be a little longer though since you have to start in the Forest Cathedral area. This is probably the trail we would have chosen if not joining the first day hike group.

The total loop along the Fire Tower Road was around 3 miles. We lingered at the Seneca Overlook and J was even brave even to go up the Fire tower! That was a no thank you from me. From there, we left the group and continued along the baker/North Country Trail down to the Clarion River. Despite how warm it had gotten, it was crazy to see the ice chunks floating down the river! I can only imagine how frozen everything was over Christmas. This trail was so peaceful and we only saw one other family. My absolute favorite part though was seeing a beaver on the trail!! I’ve only ever seen evidence of their chomping so it was so cool to see the actual animals on the trail. He slunk away as we got closer and disappeared into the water. 

Beaver!

From here you can really continue along as far as you want. We followed the trail to the Henry Run Sawmill Waterfall. This is a really unique feature that doesn’t appear on the park map! Henry Run is a small tributary of the Clarion River and this section was dammed during the logging boom of the late 19th century. Although the mill no longer exists, the rock wall from the dam is still standing and creates a beautiful little waterfall. Around this time it has started to get misty, so we decided to turn around before we got too soaked. On the way back, we got on the River Trail which leads back up to the Fire Tower Road without going all the way back to the overlook area. Beware though, this is a really steep climb back up! Our hearts were definitely pumping by the time we made it back to the road. 

There’s also an alternative way of visiting these sites, which I learned of thanks to Tory at My Trails are Many and Jim at UncoveringPA. You can come at these trails from a different way if you park at the trailhead on Gravel Lick Road. We wanted to go this way but Gravel Lick road was closed for the winter! From there, you just get on the Baker/North Country Trail and go along the water. From this way, the waterfall will be the first site you encounter. From there, you can continue along until you see the Fire Tower and Seneca Overlook. This would be a great place to take a break before turning around! This would end up being about a 5-mile out and back trek to see the waterfall, fire tower, and overlook. Check it would below:

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/henry-run-falls-fc03d48?u=i

Stay tuned for more of our hikes in Cook Forest! 

THE BEER: Clarion River Brewing Company

Address: 600 Main St, Clarion, PA 16214
Distance from Trail Head: 30 miles, 50 mins 
Website: http://clarionriverbrew.com/
Food?: Full Menu
Details: Outdoor seating (seasonal)

After spending the day hiking along the Clarion River, it almost feels inevitable that you should grab some food and a beverage from Clarion River Brewing Company! This brewpub is located in downtown Clarion right on the main street. The venue is split into two sections: the bar area and a large dining room, although you can have a meal in either. With hearty sandwiches and burgers, I’m sure this is a popular place when school is in session! We were lucky to pretty much have the place to ourselves when we were in town. Clarion River brews in house but also features other local brews on their taplist. Unfortunately when we visited, they were in between brewers so they didn’t have any of their own headliners on the menu. No worries, we were able to get a flight of all their in-house stuff and sampled some other local brews too. 

Their food was filling and just what we needed to warm up. Like most breweries with a full kitchen, I wouldn’t say it was stellar but it got the job done! I hope that their hunt for a new brewer moves forward without a hitch so they can get their taplist back! Overall, Clarion River Brewing was worth the stop if you’re in town, but I would definitely suggest including it as part of brewery crawl so you can sample the other area offerings 

Our Beer:

  • Betta Weatha – Cream Ale – 5.1%
  • Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A Beer – Peach Milkshake IPA – 6.5%
  • Ol’ Chap – ESB – 6.1%
  • Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut, Sometimes a Stout – Vanilla Coconut Stout – 5%

SUM UP: Cook Forest State Park is a great weekend getaway from Pittsburgh. The area is full of campsites and cabins and has lots of little restaurants during the season. The state park is a beautiful area for hiking, famous for its old growth forest. This hike takes you to the old Fire Tower, a beautiful lookout at Seneca Rocks, and a secret waterfall! The 5 mile loop is rated moderately challenging due to some steep sections and proper footwear is recommended. Check the weather before heading out! Afterwards, warm up with a brew a burger at Clarion River Brewing if staying in Clarion or the Clarion River Lodge if camping or staying in a cabin in the State Park. You can’t go wrong with a weekend in the PA Wilds!

Wolf Rocks (Laurel Summit SP) & Helltown Brewing (Mt. Pleasant Taproom)

hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Rector, PA

Each Fall, J and I try to make time for a weekend leaf peeping trip in mid-October. We always try to plan it juuuuust right to see peak foliage. This year, life got a little crazy so we ended up sticking to a day trip. But there are plenty of incredible spots to see fall foliage in the area surrounding Pittsburgh! For this hike we drove out to Westmoreland County to do the very popular Wolf Rocks Trail. This trailhead is in Laurel Summit State Park and is very close to several other beautiful state parks, so you should definitely make a day of it!

THE HIKE: Wolf Rocks Trail & Bog Trail

Length: 5.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 270 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2-2.5 hours
Trail use: hiking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lot with bathrooms and picnic tables
H&H: 5/5

I have a new goal of going to as many Pennsylvania State Parks as I can thanks to my trusty new PA Parks Passport from the Friends of PA Parks & Forests. It’s a nifty little book that has all the state parks and forests and you can get stamps when you visit them! Well a great place to start from Pittsburgh is the Laurel Mountain region. There’s a cluster of so many beautiful parks! For this hike, we started out in Laurel Summit State park, hiked into Forbes State Forest, then drove through Laurel Mountain and Linn Run State Parks. Four in one day?! But we’ll definitely be back to actually do some hiking in the latter two. Linn Run was absolutely gorgeous to drive through and I definitely want to come back and camp or stay in a cabin.

Okay, back to this hike. The trailhead for the Wolf Rocks trail is in Laurel Summit State Park, one of the smaller parks in the state. This area is best known for having access to this trail and the Spruce Flats Bog. Laurel Summit State Park encompasses 6-acres and offers a picnic area, a pavilion, and restrooms. We started our hike out in the morning, hoping to beat some of the crowds as this is a fairly popular hike. Be aware that Google Maps is only so good in this area so have an idea of where you are going first. Our app took us on a logging road to get to the trailhead for some reason, but there is a main road we should have taken. 

One of the great things about this park is that it is already over 2,000 ft above sea level and the parking ridge is up on the ridge. So unlike a lot of overlook hikes, you don’t actually have to do a lot of uphill climbing! The trail is a little rocky at times, but we encountered plenty of kids and elderly folks on the trail so it’s a good one for all ages! We loved hiking this during peak fall colors but it would also be beautiful in late spring because the beginning of the trail is surrounded by mountain laurels and rhododendrons. It would be magical to walk through them when they are in full bloom! 

As I mentioned, this is a pretty popular hike which was evident when we got to the overlook. It was pretty full of families and hiking groups, although there was still plenty of room for everyone. If you like to have the scenic point to yourself, try to get up early or go on a weekday! It was totally understandable why so many people were visiting the overlook; the colors were simply stunning. It was an incredible day to be out hiking, so warm for late October! We had a lovely time sitting on the rocks and chatting with strangers. It’s beautiful to see how nature brings people together! 

This loop clocked in just under 5 miles, which is the perfect length for us weekend hikers. When we got back to the considerably fuller parking lot, we headed over to the Spruce Flats Bog boardwalk. This quick 0.25 mile path takes you out to one of the most unique features of the Laurel Highlands area. A bog is a type of wetland that gets all of its moisture from snow and rain, rather than runoff or groundwater. The Spruce Flats Bog is so unique because it is 2,700ft above sea level on a mountain depression! Bogs end up being highly acidic so only specific types of plant life can survive there. Look closely when you visit this bog to see if you can spot carnivorous plants like pitcher plants and sundew! 

We highly recommend this trail and next time, we’d probably stay the weekend and check out the other trails and parks in the area. Add it to our very long list of places we need to go! 

THE BEER: Helltown Brewing (Mt. Pleasant Taproom)

Address: 13 Henry C Frick St, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666
Distance from Trail Head: 26 miles, 40 mins 
Website: http://helltownbrewing.com/
Food?: Food Trucks/ BYOF
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly

Helltown has been kicking it around the Burgh since 2011. The Mt. Pleasant taproom is actually the original location and the namesake of the brewery. I love this little tidbit: the area that is now Mt. Pleasant was a hotbed of violence and protest during the Whiskey rebellion in the 1790s that became known as Helltown. When Mt. Pleasant was incorporated as a borough, it was given the zip 15666 as a nod to its historical roots. Since the name Helltown Brewing and the devil imagery. 

These days Helltown is quite a staple in the region. They have 4 taprooms, including the original taproom in Mt. Pleasant, one in Houston, The Strip District, and Export. They’ve grown so much that they now also export throughout PA and selection counties in WV and MD. Helltown makes some “devilishly good” beer and their taprooms are definitely worth a visit! I’ve been to all but the Export location and each place has a great atmosphere with outdoor seating. 

When J and I visited Mt. Pleasant, there was a cornhole tournament going on which made for some fun entertainment! Also I shouldn’t have been surprised, but Helltown goes ALL OUT with Halloween decorations! After a day of gorgeous fall colors, settling in with some spooky beers was the perfect way to spend a late October weekend!

Our Beer:

  • HFK – Kolsch – 5.1%
  • Eve’s Fall – Marzen – 6%
  • Sin – IPA – 6.8%
  • Headless Wylie – Pumpkin Beer – 8.1%

SUM UP: Wolf Rocks is a popular trail with gorgeous views of the Laurel Highlands. The trail starts in the small Laurel Summit State Park and travels through Forbes State Forest. The trail doesn’t have a lot of incline, but it is rocky in sections so bring your ankle support boots! The rocky overlook is a great spot to rest and take in the views. I also highly recommend adding the short boardwalk trail out to Spruce Flat Bog when you finish the Wolf Rocks Loop, to see a unique high elevation bog! We really loved hiking and driving thru this area, so try to make a day of it! Then, as you’re making your way back towards Pittsburgh, stop for a brew at Helltown in Mt. Pleasant. They got great beer, plenty of cozy outdoor seating, and usually have a food truck!

North Park & Cinderlands Taproom

hikesandhopsblog Leave a comment

Wexford, PA

A head cold can’t stop me from going leaf peeping around Pittsburgh! Hoping for an easy, woodsy hike, we headed up to North Park after work. I am definitely going to miss the evening sunlight! We’ve been hiking in North Park before, but this time we combined sections of the Rachel Carson trail, white, and blue blazes to make a nice loop. This was a quiet loop on a Friday evening and would be a great hike to bring the kids on! After our walk, we went to Cinderlands’ new Wexford location which had a fantastic outdoor space with a firepit. Enjoy these last few days of autumn colors around Western PA!

THE HIKE: North Park Loop

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/pennsylvania/rachel-carson-trail–5

Length: 2.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 331 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Trail use: Hiking, mountain biking, leashed pets
Parking: Large lots around the park
H&H: 4/5

North Park is such a huge park that it can be hard to figure out where to hike! For some reason, we always end up in the same area near the pool but we never end up on the same path! There’s so much to choose from around here that it’s good to have a map or an AllTrails route picked out. This particular path was a nice easy wander through the woods which was exactly what I needed with a head cold! It’s always shocking how exhausted I feel when I’m sick. We had great intentions of a bigger loop but it just wasn’t in the cards that day! This 2.6 mile loop includes sections of the Rachel Carson trail, the white trail, and the blue trail and there’s plenty of opportunity to add more to your route! If you want to learn more about the Rachel Carson trail, I talk about it more in this post: https://hikesandhops.org/2022/05/29/rachel-carson-trail-acrospire-brewing-co/

North Park is the biggest of the county parks here in Allegheny County and it has pretty much any outdoor activity you could possibly want. There’s a pool, miles of trails, a golf course, a large lake for kayaking and fishing, an ice rink, several ball courts, and much more! North Park was envisioned by lumber baron E.V. Babock when he was named County Commissioner. He dreamed of creating “people’s country clubs” around the county that would offer a preserved green space for people to enjoy the beauty of nature. Coming at the high of the Industrial Revolution here in Pittsburgh, this idea for preserving greenspace was widely mocked. However, Babcock forged ahead, creating both North and South Park in 1927. We know who’s laughing now almost 100 years later! 

As you can imagine, North Park is pretty popular so be prepared to share the trail with other hikers, mountain bikers, and families as you explore nature. We only encountered a few other folks but I imagine the trails would be busy on a nice weekend. Especially at this time of year keep your eyes peeled for fungi too! We saw these huge white mushrooms on a dead snag, let me know if you have an ID! I love hiking in the fall and seeing all of the colors of the woods slowly change and fade. This was the first year I really saw the golden color of the undergrowth ferns before they die back in the winter. Overall this is a lovely hike to take any time of the year, but it was especially beautiful in the fall!

THE BEER: Cinderlands Taproom

Address: 171 Wexford Bayne Rd Ste 101, Wexford, PA 15090
Distance from Trail Head: 6 miles, 12 mins
Website: http://www.cinderlands.com/
Food?: Bar Snacks
Details: Outdoor seating, dog friendly outside

After our stroll, we wanted to check out the Wexford branch of Cinderlands. I’ve only ever been to their location in the Strip District which is very nice but so big! The Wexford location is their newest expansion, opening in 2021. The team describes this location as a stripped down version of Cinderlands, focusing in on the beer experience. Unlike the other locations, there’s not a full kitchen  although some bar snacks are available. At this taproom, there’s a wide selection of cans and merch available to-go. We saw lots of people come in to stock up for their weekend! This Cinderlands experience feels much more intimate than the larger Strip District location. The inside space is cozy with the tables thoughtfully placed so you can have a large group or just sit with a partner. We especially liked the outdoor space with tables and a firepit. The set up really encouraged friendly camaraderie with the other folks enjoying a beer. And the firepit was really a nice touch as these evenings really get cooler! 

I’ve had several Cinderlands beers before but I was most looking forward to trying their fall offering. This year, Cinderlands took a different approach to the pumpkin beer craze. They created a pumpkin beer in their Star Crumb sour line! It’s described as “Pumpkin pie in a glass”. I shamelessly love pumpkin beer so I had to try it. Sadly, this was not the one for me. I wasn’t a fan of the acidity of a sour beer and the sweetness of pumpkin. It was popular with the folks around us though so it must just be me! 

OUR BEER: 

  • Full Squish – NEIPA – 6.5%
  • Star Crumb: Pumpkin Pie – Sour – 8.2%
  • Archive Series: Amber Ale – Red Ale – 5.5%

SUM UP: North Park is the largest of the County Parks here in Allegheny County and it offers over 200 miles of multi-use trails! We stuck to a loop around the pool that stays completely in the woods and almost makes you forget how close to civilization you are! The trail is mostly easy with one steeper incline at the very end and a few rocky spots. Although I’ve rated it as moderate, I still think a novice hiker could do this one! After enjoying a stroll in nature, head over to Wexford to relax at Cinderland’s Taproom. Try to snag a spot at the firepit for the perfect fall evening!