PA - Laurel Ridge State Park - Route 653 Area

Last, but not least in my endeavor to complete my birthday journey across the ridge is the state park actually named after the Laurel Ridge, and is named as such. It completes the Laurel Hill / Linn Rum Complexes on the ridge. As I head from the southern end of Laurel Hill via the Barron Church and Ream Roads before stopping at the Barronvale and Kings covered bridges, ironically connected by a legislative road named Covered bridge road that. Finally I head west on PA 653 through a combination of woodland and forest land before crossing back into my native Fayette County and the park. 

Noticing that the Park Office has since been shuttered and only the facility is utilized. I proceed to the Cross-Country Ski / Picnic Area / Trail Head. Laurel Ridge is a very fragmented park and was created first for the purpose of establishing the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and as such many of the fragments of park land are for that purpose. However, this area, while near the southern end of the ridge is where administrative features were once centralized.

Concession Building

This trail-head was expanded in the 1980s by the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps, and initiative to train young Pennsylvanians in a way that the Civilian Conservation Corps did in the 1930s during the great depression. One of the first things they did over two seasons was construct the Cross Country Ski Concession that was once able to be opened up in the warmer months for a pavilion. This also gave the ability to have modern multiple occupancy restrooms for the users and serve as a picnic area. Now, this building is only opened on winter weekends during concession season as conditions allow. 

Warming Hut

As such, over a decade ago, the concessionaire in cooperation with DCNR constructed a warming hut a short distance away that contains a single use restroom for skiers that is opened in the winter when the concession is closed and fees are not collected to maintain the ski trails. During the warmer months, other than the picnic tables, closed buildings and signage, unless you rent the concession out, all you can use for comfort is a portable toilet in the parking area. 

As in all LHHT trail heads, there are parking spots, and informational kiosk and a pair of metal mailboxes at each trail head approach that serve as voluntary registration points. There is a water spigot at this one and a historical marker from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy noting the establishment of the park.

The trail, The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail specifically, extends 70.5 miles across Laurel Ridge from Ohiopyle, 18 miles south to Seward near Johnstown, about 50 miles north of here. There are "shelter areas" 8-10 miles apart from each area that provided by DCNR as conditions allow, but down and dead wood is allowed to be used. A fee is collected for overnight use of these areas.