Backpacking and Hiking Forum - Backpackers' Basecamp

GaliWalker
Trail Wise!

Have camera, will use.

Posts: 3,395

Slippery Rock Gorge waterworks (Pennsylvania 3/20/'22) Mar 21, 2022 4:36:11 GMT -8 jazzmom, Coolkat, and 1 more like this

Post by GaliWalker on Mar 21, 2022 4:36:11 GMT -8

Slippery Rock Gorge waterworks (Pennsylvania, Mar/20/2022)

A rainy hike in the Slippery Rock Gorge, in western Pennsylvania. I began by checking out Hells Hollow Falls, which had just the perfect amount of flow. Then, I hiked down alongside Hells Creek to its intersection with Slippery Rock Creek. I then hiked beside Slippery Rock Creek to McConnells Mill; then retraced my steps back to the car. (15.4mi, 2900ft elevation gain, 8hrs.)

Hells Hollow Falls

In my magic spot (selfie beside Hells Creek)

Hells Creek

Hells Creek terminus

Slippery Rock Creek

Twin falls in Slippery Rock Gorge

Coolkat
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Posts: 2,789

Slippery Rock Gorge waterworks (Pennsylvania 3/20/'22) Mar 21, 2022 6:19:36 GMT -8 nickhowes likes this

Post by Coolkat on Mar 21, 2022 6:19:36 GMT -8

As always very good pics! The last time I was there was Jan of 2018. It sounds like by your description that you picked up the trail at the intersection of the creek? Is that also where you took your selfie? Here are a couple of pics from the last time I was there. Not the quality of yours but a different time of year.

Before I knew how to correct a crooked "horizon"

By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest. -- E. White

GaliWalker
Trail Wise!

Have camera, will use.

Posts: 3,395

Slippery Rock Gorge waterworks (Pennsylvania 3/20/'22) Mar 21, 2022 9:10:43 GMT -8

Post by GaliWalker on Mar 21, 2022 9:10:43 GMT -8

Mar 21, 2022 6:19:36 GMT -8 Coolkat said:

It sounds like by your description that you picked up the trail at the intersection of the creek? Is that also where you took your selfie?

Head downhill from the Hells Hollow Parking lot, making a left at the 0.1mi mark, so not towards Hells Hollow Falls. At the 2.1mi mark you reach Slippery Rock Gorge. At this point you are 50+ft higher than the creek, and the trail makes a sharp left turn. At that turn a social trail, which is much more apparent now than it used to be, heads to the right and steeply downhill. At the base of the drop is the confluence of Slippery Rock Creek and Hells Creek. That's where I took the selfie.