Ohiopyle State Park
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| Ohiopyle State Park | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 19,052 acres (77.1 km²) |
| Established: | 1965 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Ohiopyle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 19,052 acres (77.1 km²) in Fayette County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The focal point of the park is the more than 14 miles of the Youghiogheny River Gorge that passes through the park. The river provides some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern United States. Ohiopyle State Park is bisected by Pennsylvania Route 381 south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The park opened to the public in 1965, but was not officially dedicated until 1971.
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[edit] Natural History
[edit] Waterfalls
Ohiopyle State Park features several waterfalls.
- Ohiopyle Falls is a 20 foot waterfall that spans the Youghiogheny River and is surrounded by the Falls Day Use Area located at the center of the park.
- Cucumber Falls is a 30 foot bridal veil waterfall on Cucumber Run, a small creek which flows into the Youghiogheny River. It can be reached from Meadow Run Trail.
- Cascades is a woodland waterfall that is near the park office and is very popular with anglers.
- Johnathan Run Falls is a series of rhododendron lined water falls on Johnathan Run that can be seen by hiking on Johnathan Run Trail.
- Meadow Run Waterslides have unique geologic formations for exploration. There are ripples and potholes that have been carved into the stone my years and years of powerful currents and spinning rocks. Visitors to the park are permitted to ride these natural waterslides.
[edit] Ferncliff Peninsula National Natural Landmark
Ferncliff Peninsula is a 100 acre peninsula with a unique habitat with many rare and unusual, for Pennsylvania, plants. The peninsula is created by a meander in the Youghiogeny River which flows north into Pennsylvania from West Virginia and Maryland. The river brings seeds from plants that normally grow further to the south. These seeds sprout in the gorge that is warmer than the surrouding area allowing them to thrive in an area where they normally would not. Ferncliff Peninsula National Natural Landmark was designated as such by the U.S. Congress in 1973 and was named a State Park Natural Area in 1992. These acts will prevent all further development in the peninsula area.
[edit] Recreation
Ohiopyle State park is a popular destination for rafting, but it also has over 100 mile of trails that are open to hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, mountain bikes and snow mobiles. The trails pass by several of the parks a waterfalls and ascend the mountains to scenic overlooks. The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, part of the larger Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, has its southern terminus at Ohiopyle State Park.
[edit] Rafting
The Youghiogheny River is the busiest section of whitewater east of the Mississippi River. The Lower Yough, a 7 mile run, begins at Ohiopyle Falls and ends at the Bruner Run take-out. And the Middle Yough begins at the Ramcat put-in near Confluence and ends just above the falls in Ohiopyle. Only rubber rafts, closed topped canoes and kayaks are permitted in the river. All visitors are required life jackets that are certified by the United States Coast Guard. The Youghiogheny River is rated a Class I to Class IV, on the International Scale of River Difficulty, depending on water conditions. All watercraft must display a state permit that can be purchased at the main park office. Boating must be in accordance with the American Whitewater Affliliation Safety Code. There are several private outfitters that offer guided trips down the rapids. Inexperienced visitors to the park are encouraged to hire one of the outfitters.
[edit] Hunting and fishing
Hunting is permitted on 18,000 acres (72 km²) of Ohiopyle State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Loaded firearms are not permitted within 50 feet of the river. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission assures that anglers will have plenty of chances to catch fish by stocking trout in the waters of Youghiogheny River. All fishermen are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the fish commission.
[edit] Camping and picnicking
Visitors interested in staying overnight at Ohiopyle State Park have two choices. They can use a space at Kentuck Campground or rent a cottage. The campground has 226 campsites with 27 of them being walk-in, tent only sites. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring. The campround also has modern restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. There are four playgrounds at the campground. The rustic cottages have electricity, but lack running water. Each cottage can sleep up to five people in single or double bunks.
There are two picnic areas at Ohiopyle State Park. Both areas have tables, grills, restrooms, and pavilions. Cucumber Run Picnic Area is near Cucumber Run. Tharp Knob Picnic Area is near the Tharp Knob Overlook. It has a large ballfield, volleyball cour, playground and two pavilions.
[edit] History
[edit] Native Americans
The first known group of people to inhabit the Ohiopyle area were the Monongahela, a clan of the Mound Builders. These Native Americans disappeared from the scene just as Eurpoean colonists were beginning to arrive in North America. As the east coast was being settled, the Native Americans who had lived closer to the Atlantic Ocean were exterminated or force to flee to the west. Various tribe inhabited the Ohiopyle area at this time, preceding their ulimate removal following the French and Indian War. One of the few remnants of American Indian culture that can be found in the area is in the name. "Ohiopyle" (Ohio-pile) is thought to have been derived from the American Indian word ohiopehhla which means white frothy water.
[edit] French and Indian War
The colonial powers of New France and the British Thirteen Colonies fought for control of the trading routes in the Ohio River Valley in what was at the time the northwestern frontier of America. The French were the first to explore the upper reaches of the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. They built several forts in what is now western Pennsylvania, including Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh. Fort Duquesne was built on the remains of Fort Prince George which the French had seized from the British. George Washington was sent by the colonial governor of Virginia to try to retake the all important fort at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. He was on two expeditions that passed through the Ohiopyle area. Washington tried to use the Youghiogheny River as a means to reach Fort Duquesne quickly, but was forced to abandon the river passage by the waterfalls in the Ohiopyle area. Still Washington pressed on to the Pittsburgh area. His tropps encounterd and routed a small party of French soldiers in the Battle of Jumonville Glen. One of these soldiers escaped to Fort Duquesne. Washington was forced to quicky build a fort to prepare for the oncoming French attack. Fort Necessity is just to the southwest of Ohiopyle State Park. The Colonial forces of Washington were overwhelmed by the French and their Indian allies. The Battle of the Great Meadows at Fort Necessity and the earlier Battle of Jumonville Glen are are considered the opening shots of the French and Indian War which would spread to the Old World and become the Seven Years' War. The loss at Fort Necessity marked George Washington's only military surrender. The British ultimately won the French and Indian war and the French were forced to leave western Pennsylvania.
[edit] Pennsylvania or Virginia?
King George III declared that the area be an Indian Territory and that all European settlers were to leave. They settlers refused to leave and King George "bought" the land from the Iroquois in 1768. The land was claimed by both Pennsylvania and Virginia. The dispute of the territory lasted through the American Revolution and was not resolved until 1784.
[edit] Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a major test for the new government of the United States following the Revolution. The citizens of western Pennsylvania, mostly near Washington were not pleased with the excise tax on liquor and distilled drinks. This tax had been proposed by United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Washington in 1791. The tensions of the whiskey tax intensified over the next three years and in 1794 there was a state of insurrection in the area. 13,000 militiamen under the direct command of George Washington were sent to put down the insurrection. They passed through the Ohiopyle area on their way to arrest the rebels. The rebels "could never be found," according to Thomas Jefferson, but the militia rounded up 20 prisoners, clearly demonstrating Federalist authority in the national government. The men were imprisoned, where one died, while two were convicted of treason and sentenced to death by hanging. Washington, however, pardoned them on the grounds that one was a "simpleton," and the other, "insane." The military suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion set a precedent that U.S. citizens who wished to change the law had to do so peacefully through constitutional means; otherwise, the government would meet any threats to disturb the peace with force.
[edit] Lumbering and tourism
The earliest settlers to the Ohiopyle area were farmers, trappers and hunters. The population of the area expanded after the building of the National Road in 1811. This road that passed near Ohiopyle increased the accessibility of the area and connected it the the eastern markets. Lumbering became the dominant industry. Cooperages, tanneries, salt mining and coal mining were some of the smaller industries in the area.
The construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Western Maryland Railroad greatly accelerated the progress of the lumbering operations in Ohiopyle. Both railroads had stations in the borough. Several narrow gauge railroads were built up into the surrounding mountains. These smaller railways were able to efficiently transport to lumber to the sawmills and rail stations of Ohiopyle.
The railroads alo brought tourists to Ohiopyle. The round trip ride from Pittsburgh to Ohiopyle was one dollar. Tourists flocked to the area to see the waterfalls and stay at the resorts that quickly sprouted up along the Youghiogheny River. The resorts had boardwalks, dancing pavilions, bowling alleys, fountains, tennis courts, and hiking trails. The rise of the automobile brought about the end of the resorts at Ohiopyle. The buildings were torn down and the forests were allowed to regrow. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy purchased the land and then sold it to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ohiopyle State Park was opened to the public in the 1960s.
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Ohiopyle State Park:
- Big Run State Park (Maryland)
- Casselman River Bridge State Park (Maryland)
- Deep Creek Lake State Park (Maryland)
- Herrington Manor State Park (Maryland)
- Laurel Hill State Park (Somerset County)
- Laurel Mountain State Park (Westmoreland County)
- Laurel Ridge State Park (Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties)
- Laurel Summit State Park (Westmoreland County)
- Linn Run State Park (Westmoreland County)
- New Germany State Park (Maryland)
- Shallow Creek Falls State Park (Maryland)
[edit] References
- Map Reference for Ohiopyle State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on January 6, 2007.
- Ohiopyle State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on April 10, 2006.
- United States Geological Survey. Ohiopyle State Park, USGS Ohiopyle (PA) Topo Map. TopoZone. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
- Ohiopyle State Park Park Guide. Michael D. McCumber for FayWest.com. Retrieved on January 27, 2007.
