In response to Josh_johnstown's message:

RE: Yough River Trail
The links posted for Lens Rails to Trails are outdated the site moved to it's own domain and can be found here. http://www.rails2trails.net/index.html I saw today he has some winter pictures from up at Ohio Pile posted.

After 11 years of running Lens Rails to Trails I've decided it's time had come to shut the site done. Many Thanks to all of you that visted over the years . Len Shean

In response to Adam Wessmiller's message:

RE: Yough River Trail
Hi Dean thanks for the link to Lens Rails to Trails, I enjoyed the snowed covered trail pictures up at Ohio Pyle on that site. Thanks again for posting the link. https://home.comcast.net/~lenshean/

The links posted for Lens Rails to Trails are outdated the site moved to it's own domain and can be found here. http://www.rails2trails.net/index.html I saw today he has some winter pictures from up at Ohio Pile posted.

In response to Dean Wenworth's message:

RE: Yough River Trail
I've always enjoyed riding on the yough river trail, but you have Lens Rails to trail link wrong it's https://home.comcast.net/~lenshean/ when I first rode on the trail I rode on it because of the photo's I saw on his site.

Hi Dean thanks for the link to Lens Rails to Trails, I enjoyed the snowed covered trail pictures up at Ohio Pyle on that site. Thanks again for posting the link. https://home.comcast.net/~lenshean/

In response to Bryan Ryan's message:

Yough River Trail
I've enjoyed ridiing on the yough river trail. It's such a nice trail. Had it not been for Len's S.W. Pennsylvania Rails To Trails I might have never made the trip down to ride this trail. This site has some really great pictures of the Yough Trail and some of the other local trails. http://www.talkinaboutit.com/railtrail

I've always enjoyed riding on the yough river trail, but you have Lens Rails to trail link wrong it's https://home.comcast.net/~lenshean/ when I first rode on the trail I rode on it because of the photo's I saw on his site.

My favorite place for camping is Bear Run Nature Reserve thats between Ohiopyle and Mill Run. If you don't mind hiking with your camping gear for up to two miles, then this too may be the place for you. The price is right, free.
You arrive at the parking lot above the barn where you'll find a giant board with a map of the reserve and its trails and campgrounds. You fill out a form and reserve your site (honor system) and then you begin your hike crossing your fingers that no one is there. After a scenic hike of a mile or two, you arrive at a clean, pristine, and postcard perfect camp site where the nearest camper could be a distance of a mile or more. Such rustic camping isn't for everybody but the solitude is worthwhile.

In response to Jessy far Away's message:

Perryopolis Flea Market
Does the Perry flea market still exist? Every other Sunday during the warmer weather my mother would drag me there as a kid and then shop for hours... I hated it then but kind of look back on it with a bit of nostalgia now ... I remember you could find almost anything there. We both moved out of the area back in the mid 90s.

Yep, it still exists... I normally make a visit about once or twice a year and that is enough to fill my basement with someone else's junk.

In response to Dan's message:

RE: Yough River Trail
The ride from c'ville to ohiopyle is breathtaking in places. But I do like the shorter route between Ohiopyle and Confluence, it is a much easier ride I agree. But I still do the cville and ohiopyle round trip, or at least ride from cville to the scenic overlook and back, for that has most of the nice scenery before the trail veers away from the river a little bit. The mountain slopes coming down to the river are stunning... It's a beautiful place, I wish that camp were a public facility -- I'd stay there.

That would be a nice place for a retreat or a campground!!! The problem with the trail is there aren't many convenient places to stay along it if you're only bike riding. I'd love to do the bike ride / camp thing but the only campgrounds along it are some place near Adelaide (looks more like a trailer park than a campground) and I don't know of any others!! Ohiopyle's campground is on top of the mountain and I just can't do that ride at my age anymore. Camp Carmel would be the perfect place for a public campground, though I bet the road from Dunbar would be too rough for most cars so you'd almost have to ride your bike to stay there.

In response to Enviro's message:

Dimple Rock
I recall reading a while back that the whitewater concessionaires wanted the state park to blow up Dimple Rock as its the tough spot in the yough where often people get kicked out of the boat and drown resulting in many fatalities over the years. I was wondering if there were still pressure to do this, as I cannot believe the arrogance of altering nature to suit man's short term needs. That same river these people make money off of shouldn't be altered to make it easier. Who knows what the consequences of removing that rock or altering that rapid would be in the long run. If they don't like the river then work somewhere else.

I think it was the state that was looking into removing some rocks. I don't think the rafting companies had anything to do with it, at least not publicly. Besides in a few hundred years, that rock won't be but a dimple compared to the other boulders.

I recall reading a while back that the whitewater concessionaires wanted the state park to blow up Dimple Rock as its the tough spot in the yough where often people get kicked out of the boat and drown resulting in many fatalities over the years. I was wondering if there were still pressure to do this, as I cannot believe the arrogance of altering nature to suit man's short term needs. That same river these people make money off of shouldn't be altered to make it easier. Who knows what the consequences of removing that rock or altering that rapid would be in the long run. If they don't like the river then work somewhere else.

In response to grd's message:

RE: Yough River Trail
several years ago, I rode from Connellsville to Ohio pyle. Almost died ! Ohio pyle to confluence is much better. The grade is so mild it feels as it is almost level. The ride back was the same. A most enjoyable route. Beautiful scenery. When I rode there was a dairy queen up there where you could get lunch and ride back. Try it. I have since given my bike to my daughter, who rides with her son regularly.

The ride from c'ville to ohiopyle is breathtaking in places. But I do like the shorter route between Ohiopyle and Confluence, it is a much easier ride I agree. But I still do the cville and ohiopyle round trip, or at least ride from cville to the scenic overlook and back, for that has most of the nice scenery before the trail veers away from the river a little bit. The mountain slopes coming down to the river are stunning... It's a beautiful place, I wish that camp were a public facility -- I'd stay there.

Does the Perry flea market still exist? Every other Sunday during the warmer weather my mother would drag me there as a kid and then shop for hours... I hated it then but kind of look back on it with a bit of nostalgia now ... I remember you could find almost anything there. We both moved out of the area back in the mid 90s.

In response to Conway's message:

RE: Yough River Trail
Bryan, what was your favorite area of the trail?? I've rode from Layton to Connellsville and a little bit south of Connellsville (I liked that part the best, sorry fellow Vanderbilt people). I haven't tried Ohiopyle or anywhere north of there.

several years ago, I rode from Connellsville to Ohio pyle. Almost died ! Ohio pyle to confluence is much better. The grade is so mild it feels as it is almost level. The ride back was the same. A most enjoyable route. Beautiful scenery. When I rode there was a dairy queen up there where you could get lunch and ride back. Try it. I have since given my bike to my daughter, who rides with her son regularly.

In response to Help's message:

RE: Caves
I don't know about any natural caves in Casparis. The main caves were stone quarry caves, but the State (DEP?) blasted them shut and only left enough space for bats and other wildlife to get in and out. As far as I know, they are now off limits.

There is a natural cave in the casparis area known as Opperman's cave. I know the general location but I was a kid when I was taken there by my uncle so my memory is kind of sketchy. I believe after passing the creek we turned right and followed it down to where it turns down the mountain, there the cave's opening was in a large rock formation with a spring of water coming out of the bottom. It's a skinny opening and we didn't actually go in because we would have gotten our feet wet. I heard someone say that getting to the cave from the river is easier. Basically go past rod and gun club and you'll see a trail going up the mountainside along a stream. Follow it up and eventually you find the cave coming out of the mountain. best of luck.

In response to Allen confidential's message:

Caves
I cannot believe how hard it is to find caves in the area. Anyone know of any caves that are not commercialized or on private property that I can explore??? The only one I know of is the natural cave up near connellsville mountains in an area called Casparis. But the only ones I was able to find were old mines, still haven't had any luck finding the natural cave. I'd like directions, and a reason why finding these are so difficult!!! Youd think it was a military secret.

I don't know about any natural caves in Casparis. The main caves were stone quarry caves, but the State (DEP?) blasted them shut and only left enough space for bats and other wildlife to get in and out. As far as I know, they are now off limits.

In response to Bryan Ryan's message:

Yough River Trail
I've enjoyed ridiing on the yough river trail. It's such a nice trail. Had it not been for Len's S.W. Pennsylvania Rails To Trails I might have never made the trip down to ride this trail. This site has some really great pictures of the Yough Trail and some of the other local trails. http://www.talkinaboutit.com/railtrail

Bryan, what was your favorite area of the trail?? I've rode from Layton to Connellsville and a little bit south of Connellsville (I liked that part the best, sorry fellow Vanderbilt people). I haven't tried Ohiopyle or anywhere north of there.

I've enjoyed ridiing on the yough river trail. It's such a nice trail. Had it not been for Len's S.W. Pennsylvania Rails To Trails I might have never made the trip down to ride this trail. This site has some really great pictures of the Yough Trail and some of the other local trails. http://www.talkinaboutit.com/railtrail