Boyce MaviewPark Waterfalls

Boyce Mayview Park is a local park in Upper St. Clair, Pa.  It has several hiking trails and a few small waterfalls.

We used this map to find the waterfalls:  http://www.twpusc.org/rec/parks/boycemay/trails/map_front.pdf

We parked on the street and walked down to the Morton trail to see Morton Falls.


Then we drove to the little falls trail and tried to see little falls but it had not water, and this was after a huge rain storm.  The trail is super narrow and very muddy.  It was very slippery and somewhat dangerous in parts.

We also took the Woodlands Trail to the biggest waterfall in the park which we just call boyce-mayview falls.



We saw this side falls also

Mineral Springs Waterfall

Mineral Springs is a small waterfall in Racoon State Park.  You enter the park and just follow the road and there will be signs on your left and a small parking lot.  You can take the trail to the left to follow the water or take the trail to the right to go up higher.  Both will take you right to the falls.

These falls are seasonal.  I would visit late winter or early spring to make sure it has water.

Settlers Cabin Park Waterfall

Settlers Cabin Park is mostly known for its wave pool but it also has several hiking trails.  One of the trails will take you to a small waterfall.  It is not the biggest waterfall but it is nice none the less.

Once you go to the park you will follow the green loop trails.  Directions are here:
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/maps/sctrailnotes.pdf
To get to the waterfall you have to climb down a small hill off to the side.  It can be muddy!

Big Run Falls

Big Run Falls are located in Cascade Park in New Castle. This park used to be an old amusement park.   The park is located off of route 65.

You can park in the main parking lot and head down into the park.  Follow the water to the waterfall.  For a clear view you need to stay above on the path.  We tried to go down and get a head on shot but there were so many plants and trees you could not get through.

There are also several other smaller waterfalls if you follow the trails in the park.

Springfield Falls

Springfield falls is a small waterfall near Grove City.  You can find directions to it here:
http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/springfield.shtml

We went with our young baby and just saw it from above.  It was muddy and the way down for a better view of the falls did not seem possible that day.

Photos taken in March.

Waterfalls of McConnell's Mill

McConnell's Mill has a bunch of waterfalls.  We have not even seen them all yet.  Many of the falls dry up by early summer.

The first waterfall is Alpha falls.  We park in the first parking lot and head back up the road a little bit and you will see a trail sign.  Follow it down the trail/hill.  There are some stairs.  The falls are to the left.  You may have to climb up off the trail to get a good look.


After you are done with Alpha falls head back to the trail and head towards the mill.

The mill has a dam area that has a man made waterfall.


To get to to Kildoo falls keep walking past the mill and the covered bridge to stay on trail.  When you get to a small bridge you can look up and see Kildoo falls.  We usually go off the bridge and climb around.  Kildoo falls is several different levels with the main part at the top.

Also in McConnell's mill is Breakneck falls.  We drove to small parking area and the rest of the road was blocked.  We ended up right above breakneck falls.  It is way to dangerous to hike down that way.  So we walked down the road and made a left and followed the water.  There wasn't much of a path.  Then when we go to the falls area we started rock hoping up.  Our camera battery died after all of that !  So we have a couple of phone photos.  THis was before iphones and good camera phones.


Hells Hollow hike also has a waterfall at the end of it.  It is a short easy hike and you pass a limekin on the way.

Other falls are that we haven't seen yet in McConnell's mill are:
Walnut falls
Eckert falls

Ohiopyle Waterfalls

Ohiopyle is a state park in the Laurel Highland Mountains.  It is a popular spot for hiking, biking, camping, and rafting.  There are also several waterfalls.

Cucumber Falls is one of the more popular waterfalls in Western Pa.  Take Kentuck Road to the intersection with 381.  There is a marked parking lot above the falls to your left. You can take the stairs down to see the falls.You can walk along the rocks and go behind the falls if you choose (if the water levels aren't too high).

After visiting Cucumber falls, continue down the road to the main parking area.  You will see Ohiopyle falls on your left.  There are several observation decks to view the falls.



You can also visit the Ohiopyle Cascades.  This requires a short but pretty easy hike.  Go to the Meadow Run Trail.  This can be found by heading back towards Cucumber Falls (from Ohiopyle falls) on 381.  Stay on 381 past the Kentuck road intersection.  Eventually the Meadow Run Parking lot will be on your left.  Take the trail on the right to head towards the cascades.


The cascades are a fun place to play and swim later in the summer when the water levels are lower.  They look better in the spring when the water level is higher though.

Pack a lunch.  There is a huge flat rock perfect for a picnic.

While you are in Ohiopyle check out the natural water slides.  They are waterfall like.  :)
They are right across the street from the intersection of Kentuck Road and 381.  The parking lot is small though.


Other falls in Ohiopyle that we haven't visited yet are:
Jonathon Run Falls

Sugar Run Falls

Quakerton Falls

Quakerton falls are not too far from McConnell's mill heading towards the Ohio border.  The falls themselves are very nice but it is hard to get a good view of them.  We saw them from slightly above and to the side and there were lots of tree branches in the way.

You can find the falls by following US 224 towards the Ohio border.  The falls will be on the right side of the road about a mile from the ohio border.  There is small area to pull off but no official parking. 

We saw these falls in march.

Falls Run Falls

Falls Run Falls are located in Shaler at Falls Run Park.  We use this address to find directions:  187 Fall Run Park, Glenshaw, PA  15116.  

The falls are located in a small park and have a nice shaded trails with wooden bridges to cross the stream.  You will pass a few cascades also.  The trail is about a mile to the waterfall but it is a nice easy walk.


We have visited the falls in in late winter and early summer. The falls do not have a lot of water by the end of May.  In the summer we saw kids sliding down the end of the falls like a water slide.
The picutres you see here were taken in late winter.

Near this park, just off of Route 8 near the Burger King is this unnamed (at least to me) waterfall.  It is a fairly nice size so if you like waterfalls check it out.  We currently call it the Route 8 waterfall  :)

Freedom Falls

Freedom falls is a nice waterfall but a little tricky to get to.  I used directions form this site:
http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/freedom.shtml  but we still got lost a few times. 

The roads were a little narrow and "back country". You got the feeling that a flash flood was a real possibility during a storm.  The falls were worth the effort though and we had them to ourselves.  (It was a weekday). Apparently they can get busy on the weekend.

Pictures taken in May.

Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk falls is in the Buttermilk Falls Natural Area outside of Pittsburgh. It is in Homewood, Pa off of Route 18.  Take exit 13 from I-76 and go south on Route 18.  The area is on your right and there will be signs.  It is a short walk to the falls.

You will pass some smaller, cascade type falls on the way.



Keep walking up the trail and you will come to the main falls.  There were some down trees in the view of the falls but they are still very nice.  You can walk up right behind them if you like.

  

You can continue up the trail to go above the falls if you like.  We didn't do that this trip.

All photos taken early May.