Saturday, May 20, 2023, 1:00 PM

Leader: Robert Coxe; 814-775-0005; robcoxe@gmail.com

Directions: Take I-79 north to Exit 116 to head east on I‑80. Travel I-80 east to Exit 29 Barkeyville/PA 8. Travel PA 8 north about 16 miles to Franklin. In Franklin, turn left onto 13th Street to pick up US322 West and PA 417. Travel PA 417 north 12 miles. Turn left onto PA 8 North in Cherrytree and continue about 6 1/2 miles to Titusville. 

At the traffic light just before the Oil Creek bridge, turn right onto Bloss St toward Drake Well Museum.  Go a mile or so to the Jersey Bridge Parking Area on the right, before the other bridge over Oil Creek.  Meet at the parking lot.

GPS coordinates: 41.6159, -79.6582

Old railroad grades are noted for a diversity of wildflowers, and the Oil Creek Bike Trail is exceptionally diverse. Afterwards, Robert has invited us to visit the native plant gardens and nursery at his McMullen House B&B. 

Great Gorge Trail, Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County

Leader: Mark Bowers; monarda55@gmail.com; cell: (724) 454-4012

Directions: From Pittsburgh, take the PA Turnpike to Exit 91 – Donegal. Turn left onto PA 31 East and travel 2.1 miles. Turn right at a traffic light onto PA 711/ PA 381 South and continue 10 miles to a T in Normalville. Turn left onto PA 381 and continue 11 miles to Ohiopyle. Drive through the town and make a right onto SR 2019/Kentuck Road. Travel less than a half mile and turn right into the parking lot for Cucumber Falls.

GPS coordinates: 39.8629, -79.5027

Triangle Lake Bog and Herrick Fen State Natural Area, near Ravenna, Ohio

Leader: Mary Schilstra; cell: (330) 354-1694; or kmschilstra@gmail.com

Directions: Take the PA Turnpike into Ohio and continue to Exit 218 Jackson Interchange for I-76W. Travel I-76 west for 21 miles to Exit 38 (OH‑5/OH‑44). Turn right onto OH-44 for 1/2 mile then keep left to continue on S Prospect St for 1/2 mile. Turn left onto Sandy Lake Rd. Travel 1.1 mile to the Nature Preserve’s parking area on the left. Meet in the parking lot. 

GPS coordinates: 41.1235, -81.2631

We will explore the blooming leatherleaf and budding tamaracks at this “kettle hole” bog with a cold deepwater lake at its center. After we explore Triangle, we will head 10 miles north to explore fen, bog, woodland and beaver ponds of Herrick Fen Nature Preserve. The sites can be enjoyed from the boardwalk and trails, so there is no need to wear waterproof knee boots. No pets are allowed in these state natural areas.

Sunday March 26, 2023 1:00 PM

Little Sewickley Creek outside of Herminie, Westmoreland County
This is a favorite trip for early spring ephemerals and Snow Trillium. The walk is along a muddy old railroad grade with some minor obstacles.
Directions: We will meet at a large community parking lot and then carpool about 1/2 mile downhill to the walking trail.

GPS coordinates of the parking lot = (40.26126, -79.72123). This is across from the Dairy Queen (1493 Herminie West Newton Rd) and the local convenience store/gas station. If you are late, you can join us at the trailhead (40.26050, -79.72700), but parking may be tricky.

GPS coordinates: 40.26126, -79.72123.

If you need written directions to the site, please contact Loree at loreespeedy@gmail.com or 724-518-6022.

Saturday, January 21, 2023, 1:00 PM

Cedar Creek Gorge, Westmoreland County

Leaders: Mark Bowers, cell 724-454-4012; monarda55@gmail.com

Directions:  From Pittsburgh, travel PA 51 south to its junction with PA 201 (just after Bills and Willowbrook Plaza). Continuing on PA 51, travel 2 additional miles to the traffic light for Concord Ln (Honda and Ford car dealership on right) and turn left.  Traveling on Concord Ln, turn left onto Municipal Dr. Continue about 0.6 mile past Timm’s Lane, and turn left into the main entrance to Cedar Creek Park. Follow this road downhill, cross the bike trail, and turn left to continue through a series of parking lots until you reach the farthest parking lot, near the Gorge Trail.

GPS coordinates: 40.17830, -79.77820

Sunday, January 1, 2023, NOON

Monroe Trailhead, Butler Freeport Trail, Butler County

Directions: From Pittsburgh: take PA-28 North to Exit 17 (PA-356/Butler/Freeport). At end of ramp, turn right to travel PA-356 for a little less than a mile. At the Sheetz, turn right onto Monroe Road and travel about 0.8 mile to the parking for the Buffalo Creek Nature Center on the left.  

GPS coordinates: 40.7076, -79.7131  

This trip could be canceled due to unsafe driving conditions with ice and snow (BUT THE FORECAST LOOKS PRETTY GOOD!); to learn if the trip is canceled when weather conditions are uncertain, please call or text Loree at 724-518-6022 the day of the hike.