Rockwood

Rockwood. A Highlight of the Laurel Highlands/Trail Map and Points of Interest. , (Front):, ■ The town of Rockwood sits at a central location from which to access the variety of natural wonders the Laurel Highlands offer. Just a few miles south of here is Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. West, just beyond Confluence, is the state's deepest water gap. East is the Berlin-Salisbury Basin, Eastern Continental Divide, and the Ridge and Valley Province which introduces Maryland, accompanied by great vistas of forests, farmlands, and villages. ■ Besides having challenged railroad builders to cope with the landscape by producing the series of fantastic bridges and tunnels that trail users now enjoy, the geographic variety around you creates many displays of ecology to discover. Around you, northern hardwoods predominate, as evidenced by birch, beech, cherry, oak, and dark groves of hemlock. Yet, the differing slopes, folds, and aspects of the hillsides also create microbiomes for unique species, such as the endangered green salamander and Allegheny wood rat, not to mention the flora. Keep your eyes peeled and your identification guides opened., [Caption]: Established: 1857 . Elevation: 1831' . Population: 890 . County: Somerset, [Photo Captions]:, The Earth at Work: Beside the trail nearby are a great many rivulets that cut the mountains down from on high. Eroding the hillsides, the streams carry sediment and add power to the Casselman River, which in turn continues its millions-years-old task of carving the valley. Here, a small waterfall slices through visible layers of ancient sedimentary rock. , Photo courtesy of Trail Town Program, Life on Display: The difficult topography made this area of the Allegheny Mountains hard to settle, but in turn leaves a wealth of wilderness to enjoy throughout the seasons. Here, watch out for flowers like trout lily (above) and trillium to announce spring on the cool hillsides, followed by the rare Marshallia by summer (right), and asters and goldenrod in exposed areas towards fall. , Photographs courtesy of John Barna and Ohiopyle State Park., Highs and Lows: This section of trail follows the Casselman River through the Negro Mountain water gap, formed as uplift raised the land while the river sliced through it to create the valley. Upstream, the Casselman ambles through the Berlin-Salisbury Basin dividing Big Savage Mountain and Negro Mountain, which you cross from over 100 ft above by riding over the Salisbury Viaduct. , Photograph courtesy of Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, (Rear):, Ferncliff Peninsula , 29 miles north, A sharp bend in the Youghiogheny River creates the Ferncliff Peninsula, edged with steep rocky ledges that also form the dramatic Ohiopyle Falls. Designated a National Natural Landmark, Ferncliff is home to an oak forest and many rare plants. The trail crosses its neck and the river twice in less than half a mile. , Photo courtesy of Ohiopyle State Park, Confluence , 18 miles north, Confluence sits at the junction of three waterways: the Casselman River, Laurel Hill Creek, and the Youghiogheny River. Annual events like the Pumpkin Fest and Old Home Days are held in its town square. Local diners, riverside restaurants, and a variety of lodging offer visitors places to enjoy and relax. , Photo courtesy of Allegheny Trail Alliance, Meyersdale , 12 miles south, Meyersdale introduces itself on the trail with a restored Western Maryland Railroad station, which serves as a visitor center and historical exhibit area. The town is the highest along the trail, and proudly wears its celebrated history as a major producer of maple syrup as well as a former transportation hub. , Photo by William Prince, Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail follows the spine of Laurel Mountain for seventy miles, from Conemaugh Gorge by Johnstown to Ohiopyle. Part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, it is popular among backpackers and other wilderness seekers and yet another of great recreational opportunities in the region. , Photo by Dylan Winters Courtesy of Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Salisbury Viaduct , 10 miles south, Trail users cross Rte. 219, an active railroad, and the Casselman River on the 1,908-foot long Salisbury Viaduct, which is more than 100 feet above the ground at its highest point. Eight workers lost their lives during the original construction in 1911. , Photo by Kevin Scanlon, (Sidebar):, The Great Allegheny Passage is part of a trail system that connects Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC. Conceived in 1975, the 150-mile-long Passage connects to the C&O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, MD. , Together, they make up a significant segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, a component of the National Trail System.