Stony valley has had much support through the years to preserve its natural state. As part of PA gamelands, there are a number of trails worth checking out. Web maps displaying these trails are found at the PA game commission website.
I took my hard-tailed mt. bike out to ride up rattling run rd (on the horseshoe trail) to the top. Reached the radio towers and unsure where to go from there, I beared right, through another gated access road. Along Stony ridge, several wildlife habitat fields were passed on the left of the trail/road before having to make another left/right decision. Left slighly ascended, ending up to be the right choice. The tower was in sight soon after.
A magnificent fire tower, gated to restrict access, the tower provides one of only a handful of 360 degree views in PA. From the valley, the tower can be reached within an hour by bike. 6pm was the perfect time to depart for the top on the last day of July. Just in time for the sunset on the tower. I do not recommend out-and-backs, but will have to explore other trails down the mt for another time, as daylight was fading. I have seen the distance to the tower listed as 4.2 mi, which seems fairly accurate.
Camping in the valley is readily available along the creek. A HQ-CWF, stony creek provides great water source, and swimming in various pools. FYI-water tank trail to the creek. There is a pool deeper than my height.
As it Ebbs the Colorado River Comes Alive
2 years ago
