Post by GaliWalker on Aug 21, 2022 8:01:56 GMT -8
Sullivan County waterfalls (Aug 20, 2022)
It had been quite a few years since I'd made my only trip to Big Falls, located in Sullivan County near the mouth of Heberly Run. I really wanted to make a return trip to experience the waterfall and its glen, but since it had taken me a bit of effort to get in there the first time, I couldn't just make it an add-on trip. Big Falls had to be the main objective, and then I could add on other waterfalls.
Waterfalls of Heberly Run
After a 5hr drive from Pittsburgh, which included a half-hour stop for a nap, I began hiking up Grassy Hollow Road at 6:15am. On my first visit to Big Falls, I'd dropped down into Heberly Creek and painstakingly worked my way upstream to the waterfall. I'd found that there was now a steep trail down, which I planned to take as my access route. There was even supposed to be a sign marking the start of this trail. Around 0.5mi up the gravel road, at which point I could hear the waterfall, I found the trail. (I initially overshot it, because the sign had disappeared, and my directions said it should be 0.8mi in. I backtracked and selected the most established side-trail out of three options, and where the sound of the waterfall was the loudest.) The way down was steep – about 45-50° after the first quarter – and took me straight down into the stunning Big Falls gorge. With summer well advanced, here wasn't a lot of water in the falls, but the primordial setting is so gorgeous – cliffs, big mossy boulders, lush greenery abound – that it scarcely mattered.
Big Falls
With Big Falls out of the way, everything else was gravy. I'd decided I'd tackle the rest of the waterfalls of Heberly Run. I began with Lewis Falls, located 1.8mi up Grassy Hollow Road. From the road a short trail took me to the top of the falls, after which a steep bushwack deposited me down into the gorge. Another stunning setting.
Lewis Falls
Lewis Falls glen
With my two favorites of Heberly Run out of the way, I retraced my steps for about three quarters of a mile down Grassy Hollow Road. Another steep, but this time short, drop took me down to Upper Twin Falls. The sun was out by now, so I was unable to photograph Lower Twin Falls, but was just about able to get a couple of shots of the upper waterfall. The mossy bedrock between the two falls was the star.
Upper Twin Falls
Mossy bedrock
Sullivan Falls and Bear Run Falls
Just one valley over lay Sullivan Falls. From the parking lot a short and steep trail took me down to the waterfall. Surprisingly, given the ease of access, I had the place to myself. Some patchy clouds had developed, which would fleetingly block the sun. It was during those instances that I would fire off my shots.
Sullivan Falls
Sullivan Falls glen
For Bear Run Falls, I left my car at the parking lot for Sullivan Falls and walked up the road for a few hundred yards. The falls lay right beside the road but can be easily missed. I was able to clamber down some (class-3) talus to the base of the falls.
Bear Run Falls
The way down and up
Dutchman Falls
My final waterfall lay in Loyalsock State Forest, a half-hour's drive away. This waterfall can be a real stunner. Unfortunately, for me it was a mere trickle, so I will definitely have to make a return trip in better conditions.
Dutchman Falls
It had been quite a few years since I'd made my only trip to Big Falls, located in Sullivan County near the mouth of Heberly Run. I really wanted to make a return trip to experience the waterfall and its glen, but since it had taken me a bit of effort to get in there the first time, I couldn't just make it an add-on trip. Big Falls had to be the main objective, and then I could add on other waterfalls.
Waterfalls of Heberly Run
After a 5hr drive from Pittsburgh, which included a half-hour stop for a nap, I began hiking up Grassy Hollow Road at 6:15am. On my first visit to Big Falls, I'd dropped down into Heberly Creek and painstakingly worked my way upstream to the waterfall. I'd found that there was now a steep trail down, which I planned to take as my access route. There was even supposed to be a sign marking the start of this trail. Around 0.5mi up the gravel road, at which point I could hear the waterfall, I found the trail. (I initially overshot it, because the sign had disappeared, and my directions said it should be 0.8mi in. I backtracked and selected the most established side-trail out of three options, and where the sound of the waterfall was the loudest.) The way down was steep – about 45-50° after the first quarter – and took me straight down into the stunning Big Falls gorge. With summer well advanced, here wasn't a lot of water in the falls, but the primordial setting is so gorgeous – cliffs, big mossy boulders, lush greenery abound – that it scarcely mattered.
Big Falls
With Big Falls out of the way, everything else was gravy. I'd decided I'd tackle the rest of the waterfalls of Heberly Run. I began with Lewis Falls, located 1.8mi up Grassy Hollow Road. From the road a short trail took me to the top of the falls, after which a steep bushwack deposited me down into the gorge. Another stunning setting.
Lewis Falls
Lewis Falls glen
With my two favorites of Heberly Run out of the way, I retraced my steps for about three quarters of a mile down Grassy Hollow Road. Another steep, but this time short, drop took me down to Upper Twin Falls. The sun was out by now, so I was unable to photograph Lower Twin Falls, but was just about able to get a couple of shots of the upper waterfall. The mossy bedrock between the two falls was the star.
Upper Twin Falls
Mossy bedrock
Sullivan Falls and Bear Run Falls
Just one valley over lay Sullivan Falls. From the parking lot a short and steep trail took me down to the waterfall. Surprisingly, given the ease of access, I had the place to myself. Some patchy clouds had developed, which would fleetingly block the sun. It was during those instances that I would fire off my shots.
Sullivan Falls
Sullivan Falls glen
For Bear Run Falls, I left my car at the parking lot for Sullivan Falls and walked up the road for a few hundred yards. The falls lay right beside the road but can be easily missed. I was able to clamber down some (class-3) talus to the base of the falls.
Bear Run Falls
The way down and up
Dutchman Falls
My final waterfall lay in Loyalsock State Forest, a half-hour's drive away. This waterfall can be a real stunner. Unfortunately, for me it was a mere trickle, so I will definitely have to make a return trip in better conditions.
Dutchman Falls
