The Buttermilk Falls Access Project was awarded the Eagle Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors, Western PA Chapter. The award is the highest award the group designates. The project contractor was Vince Building Company of Greensburg, PA and the architect was Thomas Harly Architects of Indiana, PA.

By mid-May Box Turtles have started to move and can be seen crossing our rural roads, especially on rainy days. This turtle was a young male Box Turtle found crossing Blue Spruce Road.

The Spring rains of 2018 have resulted in lots of water going over the falls at Blue Spruce.

Baby Snapper

By mid-May, Snapping Turtles begin to move to a new habitat. This small Snapper was found crossing Wehrum Road near the Ghost Town Trail.

Eliza Furnace Historic Site

We lease the Eliza Furnace Historic Site from the Cambria County Historical Society. The lease is for 99 years.

Early Evening at Mahoning Creek

Eclipse Bridge at Buttermilk Falls

Fawn Season

By mid-May fawns are being born and can be seen throughout our parks. We encountered this fawn along one of our park roads. It had just crossed the road and decided to hide by hunkering down in a ditch. After a few minutes, it was up and safely in the nearby woods.

Time to Get the Boat Out

Some anglers try their luck at some early season fishing on the waters of Hemlock Lake.

Mayapple Season

After the Storm

After a storm of high winds and rain the evening sky turns into a fiery sunset.

Dutchman's Breeches

Look for the distinctive flower of the Dutchman's Breeches in moist shady areas of our parks and trails.

Bluebird Nest

By the end of April the Bluebirds at our parks have started to lay their eggs. If the nest is removed after the first baby Bluebirds have fledged then they will often have a second nesting.

Trout Lily Blooming

While there are hundreds of Trout Lily growing an area usually only a small number of the plants bloom each year. This one was blooming at the Blacklick Valley Natural Area on April 27, 2018.

Blairsville Riverfront Trail

This 1.7-mile trail provides access to the loop of the Conemaugh River in Blairsville, PA.

Red Mill Bridge on the Ghost Town Trail

The REd Mill Bridge is located on the Rexis Branch of the Ghost Town Trail. The bridge replaces a railroad bridge that was washed away in the 1977 Flood. The bridge is located on the North Branch of Blacklick Creek.

Spring Sunset at Blue Spruce Park

Buttermilk Falls - Open Daily from 8 am to Sunset.

Waterworks Mallard

We saw this single mallard duck cruising in the wetland area of the Waterworks Conservation Area.

Blue Spruce Lakeside Center

Penn State Master Gardeners held their first meeting of the year at the Blue Spruce Lakeside Center. The group is gearing up for another year of volunteer work to maintain our gardens in the park.

April 10, 2018 Sunset at Blue Spruce Park

April Snow

It's the day after April Fools, but no fooling, we received about three inches of wet snow on April 2, 2018.

Red Dog Road

One of the best and last of the Red Dog Roads in Indiana County is located in Young Township. Red dog, which came from the waste coal piles, i.e. 'bony piles', in the county was used for back roads and driveways throughout the county. Red Dog is fine shale that was created when coal in bony piles caught on fire.

Spring Snow - March 21, 2018

Blue Spruce Lake - March 21, 2018

Blue Sky Day

March 2018 has been a cloudy and unseasonably cold month so we are especially enjoying some brief blue sky in our parks.

History Along the Ghost Town Trail

Throughout the length of the Ghost Town Trail, there are historical markers that tell the history of the mining, iron-making and ghost towns that were once found here. This marker includes information about Wehrum, the largest of the towns that are now gone.

Nature Sounds by Lang Elliott

A site that we highly recommend is Lang Elliott's Music of Nature. Lang celebrates the voices of the natural world by sharing recordings, photos and videos of native birds, frogs, insects, mammals … and more. The above photo is from his podcast entitled Forest Drizzle Meditation. Check out Lang's website for great audio recordings and photos. https://musicofnature.com/blog/

Congress in Session

The massing of Spottted Salamanders is known as a Congress. As of March 14, 2018 the SPotted Salamander migration in Indiana County has not started yet. Although we had some very warm weather in February it has not been warm enough in March for the migration to begin. But soon the Congress will be in session.