Park Rambles

Country Road

Dafodill Season

Spring Sunset

Blue Skies at Hemlock Lake

Wood Turtle Hibernation

Wood turtles spend the winter in streams usually along a stream bank in a tangled mass of tree roots to avoid predation. This Wood Turtle, observed in late March, was lying on the stream bottom soaking up some early Spring sunshine. In a few weeks female Wood Turtles will mate and leave the streams to lay eggs on land.

Baker Furnace

Baker Furnace no longer exists but this photo shows a layout the would be similar to what the Eliza Furnace would have had when it was in operation. The water wheel operated a blowing tub that forced air into the heat exchanger system. Baker furnace was located along PA Route 403, 1/8 of a mile south of Cramer. The furnace construction dates from 1847 - 1848.

GTT - 25th Anniversary Year - 2019

Sculpin

Sculpins are bottom dwelling fish found on the bottoms of water bodies. Their pectoral fins are smooth on the upper edge and webbed with sharp rays along the lower edge, a modification that makes them specialized for gripping the substrate. This adaptation helps the fish anchor in fast-flowing water.

Tanoma Wetlands - Evergreen Conservancy

The Tanoma Wetlands is owned and operated by the Evergreen Conservancy. The treatment ponds here help clean abandoned mine water from Crooked Creek. The Conservancy also sponsors education programs at the site.

Ice Fishing at Blue Spruce Park

On February 2, 2019 there were at least 8 inches of ice on the lake allowing for ice fishing to take place.

The Eclipse Bridge in Snow

Memorial Park - February 2, 2019

A snowy day at Memorial Park, on the same day the groundhog did not see his shadow in Punxsutawney. Spring is on the way.

Waterworks Snowman

Visitors to the Waterworks Conservation Area built this snowman during a recent snowy day. January 23, 2019.

Pennsyvania Conservation Corps - October 1988

The Pennsylvania Conservation Corps played an important role in improving Blue Spruce Park and other parks and trails in our park system. From 1984 through the late 1990s PCC crews worked throughout our parks. The legacy of the PCC lives on today in facilities and improvements that our visitors still enjoy today. The Hemlock Tree the crew planted in this photo still grows near the park's Lakeside Center.

Bow Tunnel at Conemaugh Dam

Before There Were Indoor Ice Rinks

Before indoor ice rinks many people skated and played hockey on the lake at Blue Spruce Park.

Buttermilk Falls - January 18, 2019

Hemlock Lake Wood Duck Box

Colorful Wood Ducks will use nesting boxes at Hemlock Lake. Each winter the boxes are cleaned out and a fresh layer of sawdust is placed inside for nesting material.

Landscape Study in Black and White

Blue Spruce Lake

Winter Sun at Blacklick Valley Natural Area

The David and Penny Russell Memorial Shelter is a good place to stop on a winter hike to enjoy the winter sunshine. The Russells donated 675 acres of land which comprise the now 719 acre site.

Snake Catchers at Sun Cliff

This photo appeared in a 1915 edition of a Philadelphia newspaper in a section called Images Across America. R.W. who was Indiana County's master naturalist appears with Fred Prosser and Raymond Smith. The caption reads, "the only weapons they use are fast legs and a forked stick". Sun Cliff is located outside the boundary of Yellow Creek State Park. The property is now private property but for many years was used by IUP classes as a field trip site.

Winter View at Blue Spruce Lake

Shadow Tree

The winter sun casts the shadow of a Sugar Maple tree onto the spillway of Cummings Dam.

Winter Bloom

Inside the Blue Spruce Lakeside Center the geraniums bloom year-round adding a touch of color, even in January when this photo was taken.

Lacy Ice

Wind and wave action creates a lacy edge to the ice formation on Blue Spruce Lake. On January 11, 2019 when this photo was taken ice was just beginning to form on the lake.