Waterfall Wonderland Trip Report

“What an epic hike.

I met Spindle, RichB, Walk-fu and his friend Joe at the trailhead. The weather was sunny, with plenty of water from recent rains. We really lucked out on the conditions.

We promptly got our feet wet and proceeded up to Heberly Run as the sun shone down the gorge, illuminating leaves. We reached incredible Big Falls- it was flowing great, with a cascade on the left. We scrambled around Big Falls and continued among chutes and cascades to Twin Falls as it emptied into an aquamarine pool. We visited a hidden falls and proceeded up to impressive Lewis Falls and we just stood there in awe as the water plummetted down in a rocky grotto.

We began the climb over the plateau, when I decided to take the crew to The Secret Place for lunch. We rested in the sun on ledges, surrounded by waterfalls, and an incredible swimming hole below us. It was awesome.

We continued the climb over the plateau through a diverse forest of hemlock, beech, oak and fern fields. Some of the trees were pretty big, especially at the Hemlock Ledge.

We passed through meadows of hayscented ferns as we descended to Sullivan Branch. The trail over the plateau isn't blazed well, but over the years it has become more established and there is often a treadway. More and more people are exploring this spectacular place.

The trail down to Sullivan Branch was wonderful as we passed waterfalls and cascades in a deepening gorge with boulders through a beautiful forest. A real joy to hike. We reached Ore Run, our turn off point from the trail. We reached beautiful bedrock slides over red sandstone. It was technicolor dream of white and red bedrock, green dripping moss, green foliage, crystal clear water slipping through chutes and slides.

Next was a little slot chasm that we hiked down followed by more cascades. We soon reached a fern meadow.

It is here where things goes nuts.

Just below was an impressive tiered falls surrounded by cliffs. We scrambed down the face of the falls. RichB took pics of us from above.

It was falls after falls, cascade after cascade. Some of us slipped, but everyone had a blast. Cliffs rose around us; side streams cascaded down to the creek. Awesome, awesome place. Deep swimming holes, wide bedrock slides and chutes carpeted with moss.

You simply have to see this place.

We picked our way carefully down this gorge and reached Pigeon Run Falls.

A hike back to the trail, forded Big Run and we stopped at the final falls- impressive Sullivan Falls with a huge plunge pool. The chute above the falls was cool.

We hiked back to the cars, changed, had some beverages, socialized, and went on our way. Walk-fue gave me some of his homebrew; I guess it was my fee for leading the hike.

It was great to meet Walk-fu (Tom) and Joe. Always a pleasure to hike with Rich and Spindle.

A truly amazing hike with great company. A wonderful day in a phenomenal place here in PA.


http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/573755871RouznQ?vhost=outdoors&start=12”

“Jmitch thanks for the excellent hike yesterday. It was great hiking with you and Spindle and a pleasure to meet Walk Fu and Joe. I'm glad we had such nice weather for hiking and photography. We really couldn't have had better weather. I was suprised that the bugs weren't too bad at all out there.

The stretch of the hike down Sullivan branch was pretty extreme. Kind of like the Man vs. Wild show you see on TV. LOL... I couldn't take the risk of sliding into a pool in there breathing the way I do, but it was cool watching while I hiked the side of the gorge. That wasn't easy hiking up there. It was very steep and blowdowns everywhere. I found a few deer trails to follow in some places. There was waterfall on a side hollow about halfway down that was running pretty good from the rain. It was very rugged in there and pretty cool. I'll have to look on a map and see what the name of that was. My pictures are in this album”

“Jmitch, you sure don't mess around with keeping your promises.

Thank you! It's so beautiful there. The weather was perfect, and the company was the best sort.

We promise not to talk about The Secret Spot. ;)

RichB, so glad you made it out. :)

I think we'll keep the new guys too. Those gents can hike!

Here are my pics: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/573955431dDlNYc”

“Excellent pictures and such a nice hike with great company. I'll bet those streams are really roaring today. It rained yesterday and some of the counties out that way had a flood watch. I'm glad we went on Saturday.”

“We definitely got the best day of the two.”

“We promise not to talk about The Secret Spot. ;)

There are wayz to make her talk......”

“No. He made us swear.

Vow swear, not cuss swear..which we(I) were(was) doing anyway”

“Oh, I reckon there coulda been some cussin'.”

“Just a little.

Next time we do this you must come with. :)”