The Slippery Rock Gorge Trail is a

hiking trail A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. The ...

in western

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, which follows

Slippery Rock Creek Slippery Rock Creek is a stream in western Pennsylvania, a tributary of Connoquenessing Creek. Course and history From its source in Hilliards in Butler County, it flows through McConnells Mill State Park before flowing into the Connoquene ...

and then Hell Run within

McConnells Mill State Park McConnells Mill State Park is a List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania state park in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Perry and Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock Townships, Lawrence County, ...

. Part of the route is within Slippery Rock Gorge, which is a

National Natural Landmark The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best ...

. It has been named one of the most challenging and scenic hiking trails in Pennsylvania.

History and route

The Slippery Rock Gorge Trail was first proposed in 1990 by Pennsylvania trail care volunteers, who felt that the western part of the state needed more scenic and rugged trails. The tough topography in Slippery Rock Gorge slowed down construction efforts, and the trail was finally christened in 1994. The route is traditionally described as beginning at the Eckert and Breakneck Bridges Area off of Cheeseman Road in a fairly remote area of

. The trail begins at Eckert Bridge, along the right bank of

and following it downstream, to the southwest. The trail gradually rises above the creek and at 1.1 miles traverses a bench carved into a cliff.Thwaites, p. 177 The trail then descends to the creek and rises back up several times, occasionally heading away from the creek to tackle side gorges formed by tributary streams. This area frequently experiences landslides. At 3.8 miles the trail turns sharply to the northwest and climbs up the side gorge formed by Hell Run.Cramer, p. 118 At 4.6 miles, the trail encounters two small

natural bridges A natural arch, natural bridge, or (less commonly) rock arch is a natural landform where an arch has formed with an opening underneath. Natural arches commonly form where inland cliffs, coastal cliffs, fins or stacks are subject to erosion ...

where side streams eroded under the bedrock. When the leaves are down, there is a view of Hell's Hollow Falls below the trail to the left. Near the top of the side gorge, the trail crosses Hell Run on footbridges twice, and ends at a parking lot off of Shaffer Road at the far western edge of McConnells Mill State Park.Thwaites, p. 177 The entire route of the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail has since been added to the

North Country National Scenic Trail The North Country National Scenic Trail, generally known as the North Country Trail or simply the NCT, is a footpath stretching over from Middlebury in central Vermont to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota in the United States; ...

References

{{PennsylvaniaTrails Hiking trails in Pennsylvania