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EVENT #10: August 8-11, 2024
BEAVER MEADOWS |
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What we have planned
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--LOGISTICS--
IF YOU'RE COMING JUST FOR THE DAY / ARRIVING IN THE MORNING:
>Meet us at: Upper Loop Camping Area Campsites 10-12 (this has changed, as of 7/24/24, from the Sugar Run group campsite) at Allegheny National Forest's Loleta Recreation Area, 7:30 AM.
***NOTE: NOT the private Loleta Bear Claw Campground, which is a little farther north.***
>Follow KTA signs through the park
>Map/directions to Upper Loop campsites (coordinates 41.404217, -79.080828): https://maps.app.goo.gl/ez7NZdNJSWE3i1b49
>Loleta Recreation Campground sits along the east branch of Millstone Creek in the southwestern corner of the Allegheny National Forest in Forest County. It is about 30 minutes north of I-80, and about six miles south of the village of Marienville via South Forest Street (between the Pennzoil station and the Bucktail Hotel) on a paved road.
>Meet us at: Upper Loop Camping Area Campsites 10-12 (this has changed, as of 7/24/24, from the Sugar Run group campsite) at Allegheny National Forest's Loleta Recreation Area, 7:30 AM.
***NOTE: NOT the private Loleta Bear Claw Campground, which is a little farther north.***
>Follow KTA signs through the park
>Map/directions to Upper Loop campsites (coordinates 41.404217, -79.080828): https://maps.app.goo.gl/ez7NZdNJSWE3i1b49
>Loleta Recreation Campground sits along the east branch of Millstone Creek in the southwestern corner of the Allegheny National Forest in Forest County. It is about 30 minutes north of I-80, and about six miles south of the village of Marienville via South Forest Street (between the Pennzoil station and the Bucktail Hotel) on a paved road.
IF YOU'RE STAYING OVERNIGHT:
*****PLEASE NOTE THE CAMPSITE(S) HAS CHANGED AS OF 7/24/24*****
Tent/ Hammock/ Car Camp at sites 110, 11, 12 at Loleta Recreation Area:
Amenities:
You bring:
OR:
Make your own arrangements
Loleta Recreation Area info from USFS:
This area has been recently nominated and accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places. The area was once a bustling logging town, established in 1889, with over 600 inhabitants. The town had a large sawmill, shingle mill, broom handle factory and a rail connection for shipping products to Sheffield, PA. Once the timber supply was exhausted in 1913, the mills shut down and the town was deserted.
The Federal Government purchased the site in 1925, adding it to the newly formed Allegheny National Forest. In the 1930s, the Forest Service (using CCC labor) reconstructed the mill pond, added a bathhouse, swimming area, picnic shelters, and landscaping. The distinctive quality of CCC workmanship is evident today in the dam stonework and the log construction of the old bathhouse. The camping loops were added in the 1960s.
Trout fishing is good in Millstone Creek. The picturesque Clarion River, about four miles south of the campground, offers excellent fishing and canoeing. A three-mile long hiking trail, marked with off-white diamonds, starts and ends at Loleta, from the parking lot near the group camping site through the woods around the upper camping loop and comes back in between the upper loop and the group site. Buzzard Swamp offers 10 miles of trail, 5 miles North of Loleta Recreation Area.
View/Print Site Brochure - pdf
*****PLEASE NOTE THE CAMPSITE(S) HAS CHANGED AS OF 7/24/24*****
Tent/ Hammock/ Car Camp at sites 110, 11, 12 at Loleta Recreation Area:
Amenities:
- At the camp site (encircled in red on the map above): potable water
- Vault toilets and a dumpster are a short walk away, between sites 14 and 15
- **Electricity is not available at the campsites; plan to charge devices in your car, etc.
- These sites are somewhat secluded, so it should be fairly quiet
- Flush toilets and showers (blue circle on map above) are a short (~0.9 mile) drive away, near the Beach Area
You bring:
- All usual camping equipment
OR:
Make your own arrangements
- You're welcome to procure your own campsite at Loleta, or lodging nearby.
Loleta Recreation Area info from USFS:
This area has been recently nominated and accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places. The area was once a bustling logging town, established in 1889, with over 600 inhabitants. The town had a large sawmill, shingle mill, broom handle factory and a rail connection for shipping products to Sheffield, PA. Once the timber supply was exhausted in 1913, the mills shut down and the town was deserted.
The Federal Government purchased the site in 1925, adding it to the newly formed Allegheny National Forest. In the 1930s, the Forest Service (using CCC labor) reconstructed the mill pond, added a bathhouse, swimming area, picnic shelters, and landscaping. The distinctive quality of CCC workmanship is evident today in the dam stonework and the log construction of the old bathhouse. The camping loops were added in the 1960s.
Trout fishing is good in Millstone Creek. The picturesque Clarion River, about four miles south of the campground, offers excellent fishing and canoeing. A three-mile long hiking trail, marked with off-white diamonds, starts and ends at Loleta, from the parking lot near the group camping site through the woods around the upper camping loop and comes back in between the upper loop and the group site. Buzzard Swamp offers 10 miles of trail, 5 miles North of Loleta Recreation Area.
View/Print Site Brochure - pdf
Important notes:
Cell phone coverage: Service at Loleta is reportedly non-existent. If one were to drive out of the valley, there are two bars. Service at Beaver meadows is reported as "fair".
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up. Tony typically cooks a Friday night meal for us. If you’d like, you can join us for dinner out, Dutch treat, on Saturday evening.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316 with any questions.
Cell phone coverage: Service at Loleta is reportedly non-existent. If one were to drive out of the valley, there are two bars. Service at Beaver meadows is reported as "fair".
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up. Tony typically cooks a Friday night meal for us. If you’d like, you can join us for dinner out, Dutch treat, on Saturday evening.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316 with any questions.
--Trail Work Details--
Work days:
Friday and Saturday approximately 8-4, Sunday 8-noon. Camping available starting Thursday >3pm.
Description of work:
Work areas will focus on the southern half of the WRT:
Beaver Meadows Trails (from USFS website)
The terrain around the lake is gentle, offering a leisurely hike. Opportunities to view wildlife are plentiful.
Here's a description of the trails from Jeff MItchell from December 2020: link
Friday and Saturday approximately 8-4, Sunday 8-noon. Camping available starting Thursday >3pm.
Description of work:
Work areas will focus on the southern half of the WRT:
- Construction of bridges and boardwalks
- Brushing back blueberries
- Trimming encroaching pine saplings
- Freshening blazes and marking a confusing area
- We will NOT be working on the floating boardwalk/pontoon bridge - above our pay grade
Beaver Meadows Trails (from USFS website)
The terrain around the lake is gentle, offering a leisurely hike. Opportunities to view wildlife are plentiful.
- Beaver Meadows Loop - This 3.0 mile loop is marked with off-white diamonds. South of the lake, the trail passes through a grassy savannah dotted with spruce and pine trees. As the trail nears the headwaters of the lake, look for the small fenced areas that protect blueberry plants from deer browsing. The trail then passes over the lake on a floating boardwalk. North of the lake, the trail climbs to a forest of black cherry and red maple.
- Seldom Seen Trail - This trail is 1.2 miles long and is marked with blue diamonds. It passes through a mature forest of black cherry, red maple, beech and red pine. The highlight of the trail is the half-acre blueberry patch. Enjoy the blueberries in late July and August.
- Salmon Creek Loop - This loop trail is 1.3 miles long, and is marked with blue diamonds. It is dominated by a peaceful red pine and spruce forest. Several beavers make their home in Salmon Creek. If you are quiet, you may be able to see one.
- Penoke Path - This trail is 1.1 miles long and is marked with blue diamonds. As it follows Penoke Run, it passes through a grassy savannah on an old railroad grade. The large old stumps in the savannah are the remnants of a forest that was cut at the turn of the century.
- Lakeside Loop - This short 0.5 mile trail is marked with blue diamonds. It takes you closer to the lake to enjoy the scenery, view wildlife, or fish.
Here's a description of the trails from Jeff MItchell from December 2020: link
SIGN UP FOR 2024 TRAIL CARE #10 - Beaver Meadows, Aug. 8-11, HERE:
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through -- please go directly to the form through this link.)
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through -- please go directly to the form through this link.)
--PHOTO GALLERY--
