So, the dog and I went to Heberly Run, to a valley that I haven’t visited since 1983 – time sure does fly. Heberly Run arises on the Allegheny Plateau of northcentral Pennsylvania, although some folks would argue that it’s actually in the northeastern part of the state. The entire watershed is on State Game Land #13, and so is open to the public for hiking, hunting, fishing and just plain enjoying the outdoors.
One hundred years after the lumber company that
had once owned the land sawed the last log at its mill in Jamison City, the
forest and the streams have mostly recovered. The original grandeur of the old growth
forest is gone, but the new forest is beautiful and signs of the old
logging operations are hard to find.
The Heberly Run watershed has a number of
waterfalls, some on the main stream and others on tributaries. We started
walking where Heberly Run joins the larger Fishing Creek and proceeded up
Heberly.
The first waterfall is Big Falls, the highest
(34 feet) on the stream. Unfortunately, a crystal clear blue sky day isn’t the
best for photographing waterfalls, especially when the stream’s course means
that parts of the falls may be in full frontal sunshine.
Next up is Lower Twin Falls and then Upper
Twin Falls (except the falls really aren’t twins, they’re just close together) –
We only had time to get to Lewis Falls with its circular plunge pool,
what in my opinion is the prettiest waterfall of the three, before turning
around and heading back downstream –
Heberly Run and its tributaries have
waterfalls beyond counting, some fairly large, some small, but all beautiful. With
its steep hillsides, cliffs, wet slippery rocks and wild character Heberly Run
isn’t a place for those not prepared to take some chances and bear the
consequences – the dog with her four feet, claws and low center of gravity had
it easy.
Always like a stream with waterfalls! Amazing how nature can recreate a natural forest!
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