Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Haystacks


The Haystack Rapids are a series of rock formations that look like "haystacks", in the Loyalsock Creek.  They are a really neat sight to see, and also a great place to swim.
Located  off the Loyalsock Trail, near Laporte in Sullivan County PA.  From Hughesville, it's about a 40 minute drive.  Take 220 N, and turn left on Mead Rd, which will be just a bit past the turn for downtown Laporte.  Dutchman Falls are near the parking area, as well.  

Mead road leads right into the Loyalsock Trail parking area.    From there you will find the trail to the haystacks well marked.  It's about 2.5 miles from the parking area to the Haystacks.  





From the LT parking area (which is nice, with a picnic table, and non flush bathroom) you can walk straight down and to the left to Dutchman falls. It's a short hike down, but a steep climb back up.

pretty rock tunnel near Dutchman Falls

 Above Dutchman falls - the first part of the waterfall
Dutchman Falls

Half way from the parking lot to the falls, you cross this railway bed. This is the easy hike to the Haystacks - it's about 2.25 miles, with 2 of them on a flat easy surface, shown above.

 This was on a Sunday afternoon - it wasn't crowded, but there were other groups of people here.
There are lots of flat rocks around here too, perfect for napping, and picnics.

This is at the start of one of the rock "slides".  The water carries you right through here, and over a very small waterfall at the end.


Looking downstream

Looking upstream

This is the end of the hike to the haystacks - it's still pretty level, and easy.  The only difficult part at all is the climb back up to the parking lot at the end.  



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Places To Hike

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Visiting Reptiland in Allenwood


 They have short presentations at set times:


after the show you can touch the snake and crocodile that we learned about:


  




The Butterfly House Was A Special Exhibit for a few years.











Our fresh air kid, George, liked that the butterfly landed on his foot.

 There is a croc talk a couple of times a day - it's very informative, and a great way to learn about the alligators.  On week-ends and Wednesdays, they feed the alligators.


This turtle is my favorite!  He almost never moves...




This is the first we had seen the Dinosaur exhibit, and I was so impressed!  We walked around it a couple of times..  the moving eyes, the spitting dinosaur, the sound effects..  this is an awesome display!






  

  

  












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